ADVENT 2026 · COLMAR · ALSACE, FRANCE
Colmar Christmas market 2026: dates, places and opening times
Colmar's six Christmas markets are open from 23 November to 29 December 2026. The Marché gourmand stays open longer, until 3 January 2027. Here you will find the locations, the regular hours and the holiday days that need a second check.
When are the Colmar Christmas markets open in 2026?
The main Christmas markets in Colmar run 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. On 24 December the markets open from 11:00 to 17:00, on 25 December from 10:00 to 20:00. For 26 and 27 December some individual listings give an 11:00 start instead of 10:00. The Marché gourmand continues until 3 January 2027, daily from 11:00 to 22:00, but closes at 17:00 on 31 December.
- Main season
- 23 Nov – 29 Dec 2026
- Mon–Thu
- 11:00–19:00
- Fri–Sun
- 10:00–20:00
- Marché gourmand
- until 3 Jan 2027
Which Christmas markets are there in Colmar in 2026?
The official overview counts six markets on different squares and in one indoor venue. Each has its own focus, so it helps to choose by interest rather than try to see them all.
Place des Dominicains
Christmas decorations and small gifts in front of the Dominican church, whose illuminated windows frame the stalls. A good first stop if you want something to hang up or set on the table. Visiting the market does not include entry to the church or to the neighbouring Dominican Library, which have their own entrances and hours.
Place de l'Ancienne Douane
The outdoor market around the Schwendi Fountain, with the canal beside it. The official description mentions both traditional and contemporary offerings, so this is a square for browsing without a fixed list. Use the fountain as your landmark and expect the stalls to change the most direct route across the square.
Koïfhus, 29 Grand'Rue
The only indoor market of the six, counted separately from Ancienne Douane outside. The organiser names ceramics, glass, wood, hats and jewellery. Entry is free. It is a sales venue rather than a rest area, and a checked step-free route through the building has not been established, so ask about access if you need it.
Place Jeanne d'Arc
The food-focused stop for things to take home, with regional products such as Christmas biscuits and gingerbread. Ask about ingredients, shelf life and storage before you buy delicate items. For 26 December its own listing gives 11:00 to 20:00, while the general overview starts at 10:00.
Petite Venise
Search for Place des Six Montagnes Noires, because the Petite Venise neighbourhood is larger than the market itself. The official listing mentions a carousel and a large Christmas letterbox. Market entry is free, rides are not necessarily. On 26 and 27 December the market's own calendar gives an 11:00 start.
Marché gourmand
On the Plateau sportif de la Montagne Verte, Rue de la Montagne Verte. Nine huts with nine chefs and standing tables, focused on prepared food. Open daily from 23 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 11:00 to 22:00, and until 17:00 on 31 December. Entry is free; food and drinks are paid separately.
What are the Colmar Christmas market hours over Christmas 2026?
The holiday days follow their own rules, and on two dates the sources do not agree. These are the details that change a plan.
Christmas Eve: 11:00 to 17:00
On Thursday 24 December the overview lists the main markets as opening at 11:00 and closing at 17:00, earlier than a normal weekday. The Dominican Library museum trail closes at 15:30 that day, and the Unterlinden light show does not run. Plan an early afternoon visit and an evening elsewhere.
Christmas Day: markets open, museums closed
On 25 December the overview gives market hours of 10:00 to 20:00. The Toy Museum, the Unterlinden Museum and the Dominican Library are all closed, and there is no light show. A day built around the markets alone works; a museum plan does not.
Conflicting start times
For 26 December the general overview and map give a 10:00 start, while the listings for Jeanne d'Arc, Koïfhus and Petite Venise give 11:00. Petite Venise also lists 11:00 on 27 December. Closing is 20:00 in each case. Arriving from 11:00 avoids the discrepancy; check the detail page again before you leave.
What else is on in Colmar during the Christmas markets?
A few dated events and attractions run alongside the markets. They have their own calendars and are not extra Christmas markets.
Unterlinden cloister projections
Announced for 25 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, except Tuesdays and 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Projections start every fifteen minutes between 17:00 and 18:30 and last about ten minutes. Event admission is €8 from age 12, younger children free, with entry from 16:00 and museum access until 19:00.
Children singing on boats
One confirmed date: Saturday 12 December 2026, 17:00 to 18:00, around Pont Turenne and Quai de la Poissonnerie, with free access according to the published listing. It is a single scheduled performance, not a daily programme and not a boat trip for visitors. Allow time to find a place to listen.
Ferris wheel and attractions
The official overview gives the Ferris wheel and the attractions on Place Rapp the same later season end as the Marché gourmand, 3 January 2027. They are not counted among the six markets. Prices and operating conditions are set separately, so check them on site before promising a ride.
Colmar Christmas season 2026/27 at a glance
The key dates from the published calendars, in order.
-
23 Nov 2026
Markets open
All six markets, including the Marché gourmand, begin their season on Monday 23 November.
-
25 Nov 2026
Light show begins
The Unterlinden cloister projections start; no shows on Tuesdays.
-
12 Dec 2026
Children singing on boats
17:00 to 18:00 at Pont Turenne and Quai de la Poissonnerie, free access.
-
24–25 Dec
Christmas hours
24 December 11:00 to 17:00; 25 December 10:00 to 20:00, with museums closed.
-
26–27 Dec
Check start times
Some market listings give 11:00 instead of 10:00; closing is 20:00.
-
29 Dec 2026
Main markets close
Last day for Dominicains, Ancienne Douane, Koïfhus, Jeanne d'Arc and Petite Venise.
-
3 Jan 2027
Marché gourmand ends
The food market, light show and Place Rapp attractions finish; 31 December closes at 17:00.
Before you go
The Colmar Christmas markets guide
A 50-page PDF that sets out all six markets, the full 2026/27 calendar with its holiday exceptions, and six routes for different interests. It also covers museums, transport, prices and planning pages you can fill in.
- All six markets compared by interest
- Holiday hours and the 26/27 December discrepancies
- Six routes, from a first visit to two days
Frequently asked questions
When does the Colmar Christmas market start in 2026?
The main Christmas markets in Colmar open on Monday 23 November 2026 and run until Tuesday 29 December 2026. The Marché gourmand opens on the same day and continues until 3 January 2027. On a normal weekday the markets open at 11:00, so an earlier arrival will not get you in sooner.
How many Christmas markets are there in Colmar?
The official overview counts six: Place des Dominicains, Place de l'Ancienne Douane, the indoor Koïfhus market, Place Jeanne d'Arc, Petite Venise on Place des Six Montagnes Noires and the Marché gourmand. The outdoor market at Ancienne Douane and the indoor market in the Koïfhus are counted separately. Museums and the attractions on Place Rapp are not part of the six.
Is the Colmar Christmas market open on Christmas Day?
According to the official overview, the main markets are open from 10:00 to 20:00 on 25 December 2026. The Toy Museum, the Unterlinden Museum and the Dominican Library are closed that day, and the Unterlinden light show does not run. On 24 December the markets close earlier, at 17:00.
What is still open in Colmar after 29 December?
The Marché gourmand stays open until 3 January 2027, daily from 11:00 to 22:00, but only until 17:00 on New Year's Eve. The Ferris wheel and attractions on Place Rapp share that later end date, and the light show runs on selected days. The other five markets have finished by then.
Is entry to the Colmar Christmas markets free?
The published listings confirm free entry for the markets, including the Koïfhus and the Marché gourmand. What you buy is paid separately, and attractions such as the Petite Venise carousel have their own prices and conditions. Read the information on site before you promise children a ride.
More for your Advent trip
Research status 28 October 2026; Tabiara is an independent guide, not an official publication, so please check the official sources before travelling.