Paris Christmas season opens today: La Défense market launches, Galeries Lafayette windows unveiled tonight

PARIS, Nov 12 — Paris's 2026 Christmas season opens today: the La Défense Christmas market launches with about 300 stalls, the Galeries Lafayette Christmas windows are unveiled at 6 p.m. tonight, and the Tuileries garden market follows on Nov. 14.

La Défense market opens today

The La Défense Christmas market opens today and runs until Dec. 31; the festive "Le Sommet" area, which includes an ice rink, continues until Jan. 3, 2027. With about 300 stalls, it is the largest Christmas market in the Paris region. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Take Metro line 1 or RER A to La Défense–Grande Arche station.

Galeries Lafayette windows unveiled tonight

The Galeries Lafayette Christmas windows on Boulevard Haussmann will be unveiled at 6 p.m. tonight and remain on display until Jan. 3, 2027. This year's windows were designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, with Provençal santons — traditional nativity figurines — reimagined as fashion icons. The store's Christmas season runs from Nov. 10 to Jan. 5, 2027, and its rooftop ice rink opens on Nov. 24.

More markets to follow

The Tuileries garden market runs Nov. 14 to Jan. 3, 2027; the Champs-Élysées market returns after nearly a decade away, Nov. 22 to Jan. 4, 2027; and the market on the square in front of Notre-Dame runs Nov. 26 to Dec. 27.

(Sources: Francophiles Anonymes; OUISTARS Travel; Parents-Voyageurs.)