Colmar Christmas Market 2026: Dates and Opening Hours
The six Christmas markets in Colmar run from 23 November to 29 December 2026, and the Marché gourmand stays open until 3 January 2027. Here are the regular hours and the holiday days to check twice.
The Colmar Christmas markets are open from Monday 23 November to Tuesday 29 December 2026. The official overview lists Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 19:00 and Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. The Marché gourmand, the food market, continues until 3 January 2027 and opens daily from 11:00 to 22:00. The full calendar, with every holiday exception, is in the Colmar Christmas markets guide (PDF).
The regular season at a glance
Colmar counts six Christmas markets, and five of them share the same season and hours: Place des Dominicains, Place de l'Ancienne Douane, the indoor market in the Koïfhus, Place Jeanne d'Arc and Petite Venise on Place des Six Montagnes Noires. The sixth, the Marché gourmand on Rue de la Montagne Verte, follows its own longer calendar.
Main season: 23 November to 29 December 2026
Monday to Thursday: 11:00 to 19:00
Friday to Sunday: 10:00 to 20:00
Marché gourmand: 23 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, daily 11:00 to 22:00, closing at 17:00 on 31 December
Entry: free; food, drinks and rides are paid separately
On a normal weekday there is no point arriving before 11:00. A weekend visit gives you an extra hour in the morning and in the evening. The food market's later closing time makes it a natural place to end the day once the other squares have shut.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the days after
The holiday days follow their own rules, and this is where most plans go wrong.
24 December: the main markets open from 11:00 to 17:00.
25 December: the markets open from 10:00 to 20:00, but the Toy Museum, the Unterlinden Museum and the Dominican Library are closed.
26 December: the general overview and the official map give a 10:00 start, while the listings for Jeanne d'Arc, Koïfhus and Petite Venise give 11:00. Closing is 20:00.
27 December: Petite Venise lists 11:00, whereas the overview's Sunday rule suggests 10:00.
29 December: last day of the main markets.
For 26 and 27 December, plan to arrive from 11:00. That avoids the discrepancy, although it does not replace a last check of the detail page before you leave.
Other dates worth knowing
A few events run alongside the markets. They are not extra Christmas markets and they keep their own calendars.
Unterlinden light show: 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, no shows on Tuesdays or on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Projections begin at 17:00.
Children singing on boats: Saturday 12 December 2026, 17:00 to 18:00, around Pont Turenne and Quai de la Poissonnerie, free access.
Place Rapp: the Ferris wheel and attractions share the Marché gourmand's later end date of 3 January 2027.
Park and ride: on 28 and 29 November and 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December only.
How to use the dates when you plan
Season dates answer the first question. For your chosen day, three more checks matter. First, opening hours for that weekday or holiday. Second, whether a museum or event you want to add is open, because a market open on Sunday or on 25 December does not mean the neighbouring institutions are. Third, your journey home, since a market closing at 20:00 or 22:00 does not guarantee a bus or train at that time.
If you travel after Christmas, set your expectations clearly. Until 29 December you can choose from six markets. From 30 December the plan centres on the Marché gourmand and individually checked additions such as the light show or a museum.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Colmar Christmas market start in 2026?
The main markets and the Marché gourmand both open on Monday 23 November 2026. On that first Monday the regular weekday hours apply, from 11:00 to 19:00 for the main markets.
When does the Colmar Christmas market end?
The five main markets end on Tuesday 29 December 2026. The Marché gourmand continues until Sunday 3 January 2027, with a 17:00 closing on New Year's Eve.
Are the sources always consistent?
Not on every date. For 26 and 27 December the general overview and individual market listings give different start times. The guide marks these conflicts instead of choosing one.
