December on the French Riviera: events and trip ideas

December on the French Riviera is no longer about the beach. It is the month of Christmas markets, illuminated squares, ballet, concerts and short city breaks, with mild, often sunny days that are ideal for walking by the sea. Nice, Cannes, Monaco and Antibes are linked by regional TER trains along the coast, so a single base is enough to see several Christmas villages in one trip. Start with the French Riviera events calendar to see what is on during your dates.

Nice has the region’s largest Christmas village, in the Jardin Albert 1er and on Place Masséna. The 2026 edition is announced from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with more than 60 chalets selling food, crafts and gifts, and entry is free. In Cannes, the festive season is listed for the same period, and the Christmas village on the Allées de la Liberté traditionally includes an outdoor ice rink.

Monaco sets up its Christmas village at Port Hercule, on Quai Albert Ier. In recent years it has opened in the first week of December and run until early January, with parades, concerts and workshops for children. Antibes usually begins its festivities at the end of November; in 2025 its ice rink ran from 19 December to 4 January. Monaco and Antibes normally publish their exact dates in November, so check the official city websites before you travel.

Beyond the Christmas village, Nice has the busiest stage programme on the coast. At Palais Nikaïa, Christophe Maé performs on 4 December and Florent Pagny on 7 December, while Yannick Noah plays the Théâtre Lino Ventura on 4 December. English speakers can catch English Comedy at the Bobar Comedy Club on 13 and 27 December. For a festive evening, there is Gospel Dream at the Église Saint-Marc on 19 December and Love Actually in concert, the film screened with its score played live, at OcéaNice on 23 December.

Between shows, wander through Old Nice and the Cours Saleya market, climb Castle Hill for the view over the Baie des Anges, or spend a rainy afternoon at the Musée Matisse or the Musée Marc Chagall. The full list is in the December programme in Nice.

December is Nutcracker season. In Nice, the ballet comes to Palais Nikaïa twice: Casse-Noisette – Ballet Féerique on 8 December and Casse-Noisette with orchestra on 17 December. In Cannes, the Imperial Heritage Ballet dances it at the Théâtre Croisette on 18 December. With children, also look at Frozen on ice at Palais Nikaïa on 1 December and Shrek the Musical at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco from 11 to 13 December.

The Cannes – Côte d’Azur Dance Festival closes with its final performances at the Palais des Festivals on 5 and 6 December. Later in the month, La Soirée du Gospel comes to the Église Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage on 11 December, and impressionist Laurent Gerra takes the Grand Auditorium on 17 December. Pair an evening show with a walk along the Croisette, the old quarter of Le Suquet and Marché Forville. For more dates, see what’s on in Cannes.

In Monaco, spend a day between Monaco-Ville, the Oceanographic Museum, Port Hercule and the Place du Casino in Monte-Carlo, which is lavishly decorated for the holidays, then finish at the Christmas village. A show at the Grimaldi Forum is an easy way to extend the day into the evening; see what’s on in Monaco.

Antibes is quieter and works well as a half-day trip from Nice or Cannes: the old town, the ramparts, Port Vauban and the Musée Picasso in the Château Grimaldi. Check events in Antibes before you go.

For 31 December, book early: restaurants in Nice, Cannes and Monaco often sell out their New Year’s Eve dinners weeks in advance. In Cannes, the dance show Murmuration Level 2, choreographed by Sadeck Berrabah, plays the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals on 31 December and again on 1 January. Christmas markets and ice rinks often close early on 24 and 31 December and open later on 25 December and 1 January, so build the evening around a reservation rather than the markets.

Expect daytime highs of around 13–15 °C and nights of 5–7 °C on the coast, with bright, sunny spells as well as days of heavy rain. The sea stays at about 14 °C: perfect for a walk on the beach, too cold for most swimmers. It gets dark before 5 pm, so plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and keep the evenings for markets and shows. Most theatre and comedy is in French, but ballet, ice shows, concerts and ciné-concerts need no translation.

For a change from the cities, Bellet, the small wine appellation in the hills of Nice, is close enough for a half-day visit. Compare duration, group size and tastings in wine tours from Nice or all French Riviera wine tours. Planning further ahead? See our guides to the French Riviera in November and the best festivals by season.