Arras Christmas market 2026: dates and opening hours
The Ville de Noël on Grand Place runs from 27 November to 27 December 2026. Here are the published hours, the Christmas rules and the points that still need checking.
The Arras Christmas market, the Ville de Noël on Grand Place, is announced for 27 November to 27 December 2026. It opens at noon every day and closes at 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday and at 10.30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. On 24 December it closes at 5 pm, and it is closed on 25 December. For an overview of all dates and places, see our page on the Arras Christmas market 2026.
What has been announced for 2026
Both the city website and the tourism office's detailed event page give the same season: Friday 27 November to Sunday 27 December 2026. The published event address is Grand Place, in the centre of Arras. That is the market location this article and our guide treat as confirmed. Entrances, stalls and structures can change from year to year, so follow the signs on site when you arrive.
There is one inconsistency worth knowing about. The tourism office's general events list ends the season on 24 December, not 27 December. The specific seasonal announcements are more detailed, so the guide follows them. If your trip falls after Christmas, check the official pages again shortly before you travel.
Opening hours by day
Sunday to Thursday: noon to 9 pm
Friday and Saturday: noon to 10.30 pm
Thursday 24 December: noon to 5 pm
Friday 25 December: closed
These hours apply to the Christmas event described in the listing. They do not automatically apply to shops, cafés, restaurants or cultural sites around the squares. A shop on Place des Héros may close well before the market does, and a café may keep its own holiday hours. If a particular purchase or meal matters to you, check that place's hours separately.
Other dates that affect your plans
A few dates outside the market's own timetable can shape your visit:
Belfry closure: the tourism office says the ascent of the town hall belfry is unavailable from 2 to 27 November. On opening day, view the tower from outside and keep the market as your focus.
The Boves on 25 December: the underground tours beneath the town hall are closed on Christmas Day, like the market.
Sundays and evenings: the free Ma Citadine shuttle runs Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 8 pm, excluding public holidays. It does not cover Sundays or the later market hours.
Three schedules to check separately
Market hours do not tell you when your last train leaves or whether your chosen tour is running. The guide suggests keeping three timetables apart: the market, any cultural visit and your journey home. For a day trip, choose your latest sensible train home first, then decide when to arrive. Save the official pages alongside your bookings so you can look at them again on the day.
If you want to see the neighbourhood Christmas activities that took place around Rietz and on Place Verlaine in 2025, note that no confirmed dates for 2026 were available at the time of research. Check the city's Christmas website and look for the event year inside each notice before planning an extra journey.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Arras Christmas market open on Sundays?
Yes. The published hours are noon to 9 pm on Sundays. Plan your transport without the regular Citadine shuttle, which does not run on Sundays.
Does the market close on 24 or 27 December?
The city and the tourism office's detailed page give 27 December. The general events list ends on 24 December. Check again before travelling after Christmas.
Is there an entrance fee?
The guide does not list an admission charge for the market and does not give unconfirmed prices. Check portion sizes and total prices at each stall before ordering.
Research status: 28 October 2026. Dates, opening times and other details are planning information and can change, so check the official sources before travelling.
