Christmas Markets on the French Riviera 2026: Nice, Cannes, Antibes and Monaco

From late November, the French Riviera swaps beach umbrellas for wooden chalets, fairy lights and the smell of mulled wine. The Christmas markets here are smaller than the famous ones in Alsace or Germany, but you get them under palm trees, often in sunshine at lunchtime, with the Mediterranean a few steps away. Below are the four main markets of the 2026 season — dates, locations, what to expect — and how to see several of them in one trip.

For everything else happening this month — concerts, ballets, New Year's Eve — see our guide to December on the French Riviera.

None of the four towns has published its 2026 opening hours yet. We will update this page as the programmes are announced; until then, the hours of the 2025 editions mentioned below are a good guide.

Nice runs the largest market on the coast, in the Jardin Albert-Ier and around Place Masséna, between the old town and the Promenade des Anglais. Expect more than 60 chalets selling crafts, decorations, local products and hot food, plus a Ferris wheel and an ice rink. Entry is free; the rides and the rink are paid.

Go at dusk, when the lights come on along Avenue Jean-Médecin and Place Masséna, and try socca — the chickpea pancake of Nice — between two cups of vin chaud. The tram stops Masséna and Jean-Médecin are right next to the market. To fill the rest of your evening, see the events in Nice.

Cannes sets up its market on the Allées de la Liberté and the cours Félix Faure, by the old port and a short walk from the Palais des Festivals and the Croisette. Entry is free. Combine it with a walk up to Le Suquet, the old quarter on the hill, for the view over the bay once the lights are on — and check the events in Cannes for a concert or a show the same night.

Antibes Juan-les-Pins traditionally holds its Christmas market from the end of November to the first weekend of January. In 2025 the chalets stood on Place des Prêcheurs in the old town, open daily from 11am to 9pm and until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The 2026 dates have not been confirmed yet; the most likely window is 29 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Antibes is the most compact of the four, which makes it a good choice with children: combine the market with the Provençal covered market on cours Masséna in the morning and a walk along the ramparts. More ideas: events in Antibes.

Monaco's village is set up on the Quai Albert-Ier at Port Hercule, with the yachts of the harbour as a backdrop. It usually opens a week later than the others: the 2025 edition ran from 5 December to 4 January, and the 2026 one is expected from around 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, open daily from 11am (to be confirmed).

Beyond the chalets, Monaco is worth the trip for its decorations: Casino Square and the grand hotels of Monte-Carlo go all out in December. The port is a short walk from Monaco-Monte-Carlo station. See also the events in Monaco.

All four towns are on the same coastal train line (TER), so you do not need a car. Nice is the most practical base: Monaco is about 20 minutes away by train, Antibes about 20–25 minutes and Cannes 30–40 minutes. A relaxed three-day plan:

Coming at the very end of November? Focus on Nice, Cannes and Antibes: Monaco usually opens in the first week of December.

Plan the rest of your trip with our calendar of upcoming events on the French Riviera.