Events in France in December for Festive Fun

Events in France in December 2026 are, as you would expect, spectacular. Throughout France Christmas markets spring up in the streets and squares. Many places light up their buildings in glorious technicoulor. Then it’s time for a short Christmas holiday (only Dec 25th is a public holiday), before gearing up for New Year’s Eve. Events in December 2026 in France are many, varied and exciting.

French school holidays (les Vacances de Noël) run from December 20, 2026, to January 4, 2027. It’s a busy time so plan your stay in advance.

Chambord at Christmas showing group of Renaissance musicians dressed in part playing old instruments — Chambord at Christmas © Chambord

More on How the French Celebrate Christmas
And most importantly, what they eat. French Christmas food is a serious matter!

Events in France in December 2026

To Dec 6, 2026: The Herring and Coquilles Saint-Jacques Festivals in Normandy are superb and the chance to celebrate these famous fishes, so necessary to Normandy. Join the 100,000 odd enthusiasts for tastings, discussing the merits of, and enjoying every kind of cured herring and Coquille Saint-Jacques. Dieppe Festival is the best known.

Herring Festival Dieppe with man cooking herrings on grill over fire — Herring Festival in Dieppe © J. Decaux – Normandy Tourism

There are many other ports along the Alabaster Coast that celebrate herrings and scallops, Granville, Ouistreham, Villers-sur-Mer, Port-en-Bessin, Dieppe, Courseulles-sur-Mer, Grandcamp-Maisy, Trouville-sur-Mer.

If you’re there, check out the Normandy D-Day Landing beaches.

To Dec 6, 2026: Cannes Dance Festival was founded in 1984. Internationally famous, it is particularly strong on contemporary dance, introducing new choreographers as well as supporting well-known dance companies.

Cannes Dance Festival with two figures - lady with back gowards us in full skirt and bikini style top with strange figures looking like a Martian opposite — Cannes Dance Festival with Castafiore group © castafiore-systems

To Dec 6, 2026: La Festival de Sainte-Barbe in Lens-Liévin, Pas de Calais. The main towns are holding celebrations of the saint who was martyred for her Christian faith on December 4, c. 2,000AD. One of 14 Holy Helpers, she’s invoked in thunderstorms so has become the patron saint of miners, armourers, artillerymen, military engineers and others who work with explosives. Look out for great theatrical and musical events in Lens, Liéven, Loos-en-Gohelle and Oignes.

Sainte barbe festival in lens with huge steel structure lit up with fireworks — Festival de la Sainte Barbe ©Florent Burton

To Dec 13, 2026: Biennale of Contemporary Art, Lyon. Every two years the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennal alternates with the Dance Biennal. This is a huge and important contemporary art festival, with work from around the world.

Lyon Art Biennal huge industrial style space, empty — Lyon Art Biennal takes over huge industrial spaces

To Dec 20, 2026: Paris Autumn Festival is a huge arts events, taking in every discipline and taking place in different venues throughout Paris. Around 50 events cover the new and the avant-garde. It was created in 1972 by Michel Guy under the impetus of Georges Pompidou who wanted Paris to become a cultural capital. He succeeded; today around 150,000 people attend one of the events.

Paris Festival Wichaya Artamat with stuffed penguin in front or man in yellow robes and surreal strange background — Paris Festival: Wichaya Artamat

To Jan 4, 2026: Nancy in east France is a spectacular festival with a special weekend December 6 & 7, 2025. Over 70 exhibitors attend the event in brightly lit chalets, offering the public original gift ideas, art and craft objects and local specialities.

Nancy chirstmas with St Nicholas carriedi n big throne and surrounded by people — Nancy and St Nicolas

To January 2026: Christmas Markets take place all over France. Strasbourg is particularly important in east France; in north France make for Arras. It’s a good way to celebrate Christmas in France.

I will update the Christmas Market articles as soon as possible. Many of them take place on similar dates, so the information below is relevant.

Christmas Markets in North France in 2025
Christmas Markets in the rest of France in 2025

All month: Many towns and cities light up their buildings. Chartres is one of the best known (and one of the first), but you’ll find others throughout the country. I thoroughly recommend Le Puy-en-Velay, in the middle of the remote southern Auvergne. The buildings half way up its extraordinary volcanic outcrops look as if they are suspended in the sky. Magical.

Le Puy en Velay mairie lit up with red white and blue — Le Puy-en-Velay illuminations Luc Olivier

To Jan 4, 2026: Chartres en lumières sees this wonderful city illuminated for its annual festival of light. It’s nightly so there’s no excuse to miss it.

Chartres lit up with multi coloured lights on the cathedral — Chartres lit up © Chartres Tourist Office

Events in France starting in December 2026

Dec 2-6, 2026: Les Trans Musicales Festival in Rennes, Brittany. Seeking out new musical trends, and new musicians since 1979, Les Trans has become synonymous with innovative, international music. Taking place at Rennes’ Exhibition Park, it produces some great new experiences.

Les Trans Musicales view of audience from behind with airms raised and lights on stage — Les Trans Musicales

Dec 4-6, 2026: Chestnut Fair (Fiera di a Castagna) in Bocognano in Celavo, Corsica is called the chestnut festival but it includes cheeses, olive oil, honey, wine and more. In fact all the goodies grown and produced in Corsica from over 150 agri-food producers plus music, crafts like pottery, knife-making and woodwork, and more.
More about food festivals in France throughout the year.

Close-up of sweet chesnut in broken open casing with two sweet chestnuts inside — Chestnuts Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Dec 4-6, 2026: Salon du Cheval de Paris. The Paris Horse Show is important, with over 500 horses and 150 riders taking part in the diverse events from show jumping to dressage, eventing to the Arabian horse championship. 500 horses and ponies and 150 riders take part.

Horse and rider jumping over high fence at Salon du cheval Paris — Show jumping at the Salon du cheval, Paris

December 4-7, 2026: Fête des Lumières, Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. This wonderful Festival started on Dec 8, 1852 when people in Lyon lit candles in their windows to celebrate the statue of the Virgin Mary being erected on Fourvière hill. It’s lost the religious meaning today but remains a fabulous city with over 30 new creations of light each year.

Lyon Lumieres fete with 5 people projected onto an orange building — Lyon Light Festival © Brice-Robert BD

Dec 5-12, 2026: Rise Festival, Les Deux Alpes. As they say: “We’re music-at-altitude, we’re 220km of pistes, we’re France’s second-oldest ski resort found on Europe’s largest skiable glacier, we’re six nights and seven days of partying and skiing.” Want to go to Rise Festival?

Les Deux Alpes red sign on snowy mountain with skiers jumping over it — Rise Festival © huvj

Dec 11-13, 2026: Les Habits de Lumière at Épernay in Champagne is a great public celebration before Christmas. The lit up city puts on a big parade, fireworks, exhibitions, music, cellar tours, cookery demonstrations and bubbly tastings. And on Sunday there’s a vintage car parade. Visit some of the smaller houses and make your own discoveries.
I went in 2022; it was spectacular. Read about it here.
If you’re in Reims, consider a visit to one of the great Champagne Houses.

procession in street at Les Habits de Lumiere festival in epernay with figures dressed in weird blue costumes and fire on ground — Les Habits de Lumière © Mary Anne Evans

DATE TO BE CONFIRMED: Dec 13-14, 2026: Licques Turkey Festival, Licques, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France. It’s a wonderfully strange festival where take top billing. Hundreds of turkeys are released to ‘rampage’ through the streets accompanied by local brotherhoods and dignitaries in all their finery! There’s also a gastronomic fair with wine tasting and food for all your Christmas luxuries.

Licques Turkey Parade with black turkeys being driven through the steets by people in costume — Licques Turkey Parade

Christmas in France 2026

Night at Avignon Christmas Market with people in street, two very tall men holding girl between them in middle, all in old medieval costume — Avignon Christmas Market © OTresson / Avignon Tourisme

Dec 24-26, 2026: Christmas Eve is the time when French families and friends get together for an almighty feast with oysters, salmon, beef and more. On Christmas Day some families go to church; other people gather in bars in the morning. Many shops are open, but only to noon or 1pm. It’s a quiet day!

Dec 31, 2026: Le Réveillon, or New Year’s Eve, is very much a public holiday. So book a restaurant and get merry with the French who certainly know how to enjoy themselves. And stay in a city which celebrates it superbly.