ADVENT 2026 · METZ · LORRAINE, FRANCE
Metz Christmas market 2026: dates, squares and opening times
The Metz Christmas market runs from 20 November to 30 December 2026 on five central squares, with a closure on 25 December. Four squares open from 11:00 every day, while Place de la Comédie starts at 17:00 on weekdays. Here is what to know before you choose your day.
When is the Metz Christmas market in 2026?
The announced season for the Metz Christmas market is 20 November to 30 December 2026. The market is spread over five squares: Saint-Louis, Saint-Jacques, République, Place d'Armes J.-F. Blondel and Place de la Comédie. Saint-Louis, Saint-Jacques, République and Armes open Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 22:00. Comédie opens Monday to Friday 17:00 to 23:00 and at weekends 11:00 to 23:00. The general exceptions are a 16:00 finish on 24 December, closure on 25 December and a 20:00 finish on 30 December. Access to the market is free.
- Season
- 20 Nov – 30 Dec 2026
- Squares
- 5 in the city centre
- Closed
- 25 December
- Admission
- Free market access
What are the opening times at each Metz Christmas market square?
Metz does not run one single timetable. Four squares share the same hours, and Place de la Comédie follows its own rhythm. Plan your order around that difference.
Saint-Louis, Saint-Jacques, République, Armes
The organiser's practical page gives Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 21:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 22:00. The 11:00 opening is a good start for a market day. If you arrive earlier, a confirmed indoor visit such as the cathedral, which normally opens at 08:00 in winter, can fill the morning.
Place de la Comédie
Published hours are Monday to Friday 17:00 to 23:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to 23:00. On weekdays this makes Comédie an evening stop rather than a lunch option. At weekends it opens at the same time as the other squares, which changes the order that makes sense for your visit.
24, 25 and 30 December
The general exceptions are a 16:00 finish on Christmas Eve, closure on Christmas Day and a 20:00 finish on 30 December, the last day. The Chalet Qualité MOSL lists 18:00 on 24 December, and Comédie's 17:00 weekday start does not fit a 16:00 finish. Both need confirmation for Christmas Eve.
Which squares make up the Christmas market in Metz?
The guide treats the five squares as stops with different focuses, not as a ranking. Two interests are enough for a first visit.
Saint-Louis and Saint-Jacques
Place Saint-Louis lies on the walking connection from Metz-Ville via Fournirue towards Place d'Armes, which makes it a natural first stop. Place Saint-Jacques is a central location where the city's 2026 call for exhibitors mentions attractions and chalets for younger visitors. Check any ride or activity on site.
Place de la République
Here the Chalet Qualité MOSL brings together products and crafts from Moselle, with a changing selection of businesses. The city also plans three solidarity chalets for non-profit associations, occupied week by week. The market presentation lists a panoramic tower, which the city describes as 81 metres high, with its own price and conditions.
Place d'Armes and Comédie
Place d'Armes J.-F. Blondel combines the market with Saint-Étienne Cathedral and an announced Ferris wheel. Visit the interior first, then browse. Place de la Comédie, with its later weekday start, works well at the end of the evening, close to the Temple Neuf where Céleste runs as a separately booked light-and-sound programme.
When do the lantern trail and other Advent events in Metz start?
Several Advent activities in Metz follow their own calendars. Do not apply the market's dates or holiday rules to them automatically.
Sentier des Lanternes
The lantern trail at Square Boufflers by the Esplanade has free admission and is in its fifteenth edition. Start dates conflicted at the research date: the market pages show 21 and 22 November, the MOSL calendar 20 November, and the city and MOSL said final dates and times were still to come. Check the evening you have in mind.
Céleste and the guided lantern walk
Céleste at the Temple Neuf runs from 18 November 2026 to 7 February 2027, lasts about forty minutes and is advertised from €10. The tourist office's evening walk by lantern light is a different, paid tour on 27 November and 11 and 18 December, 17:30 to 19:00, at €12 or €7 reduced, with registration.
Meisenthal bauble sales
Special sales of the new Meisenthal Christmas bauble are announced for 21, 22 and 28 November 2026, each from 11:00 while stock lasts, in the small chalet beside the Chalet Qualité MOSL. The limit is three baubles per person with no more than one red one. Listed prices are €35, or €39 for red.
Metz Advent calendar 2026 at a glance
Key dates from the guide. Times can change, so confirm each one with the organiser before you travel.
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18 Nov
Céleste season begins
The light-and-sound programme at the Temple Neuf runs until 7 February 2027. Book a performance separately.
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20 Nov
Christmas market opens
The announced season starts on five squares. The lantern trail's start date is not yet confirmed: 20, 21 or 22 November appear in different sources.
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21, 22 & 28 Nov
Meisenthal bauble sales
From 11:00 while each day's stock lasts, beside the Chalet Qualité MOSL on Place de la République.
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27 Nov, 11 & 18 Dec
Guided lantern walk
Tourist office evening walk, 17:30 to 19:00, meeting at the tourist office on Place d'Armes. Registration required.
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24 Dec
Christmas Eve
General market finish at 16:00. The MOSL chalet lists 18:00 and Comédie needs separate confirmation. The Cour d'Or is closed.
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25 Dec
Christmas Day
The market is closed. The Cour d'Or is closed as well.
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30 Dec
Final market day
The market finishes at 20:00. The season has ended by 31 December.
Before you go: a quick check
The Metz Christmas markets guide (PDF)
Our 50-page guide covers all five squares, the holiday rules, the evening programme and the city's museums. It includes six routes you can shorten or spread over two days.
- Opening times by square and by date
- Six routes, from an afternoon to the final market days
- Transport fares, budget example and French phrases
Frequently asked questions
Is the Metz Christmas market open on 25 December?
No. The market is closed on 25 December 2026. On 24 December the general finish is 16:00, although the Chalet Qualité MOSL lists 18:00 and Place de la Comédie's normal weekday start at 17:00 does not fit a 16:00 finish. If you want a late visit on Christmas Eve, confirm the specific location first.
How late is the Metz Christmas market open?
Saint-Louis, Saint-Jacques, République and Place d'Armes close at 21:00 from Sunday to Thursday and at 22:00 on Friday and Saturday. Place de la Comédie stays open until 23:00 every day. On 30 December, the last day of the season, the market finishes at 20:00. Plan your return train separately from these closing times.
Does the Metz Christmas market continue after Christmas?
Yes. The announced season continues until 30 December 2026. Museums follow their own rules: the Cour d'Or is closed on 26 December, and both the Cour d'Or and the Centre Pompidou-Metz normally close on Tuesday 29 December. Sunday 27 and Monday 28 December are better days to combine the market with a museum.
Is there an entrance fee for the Christmas market in Metz?
General market access is free. Rides on the Ferris wheel or panoramic tower, food, shopping and booked events such as Céleste are separate costs. The guide notes that reliable ride prices were not yet published at the research date, so check them on site.
Where is the Metz lantern trail?
The Sentier des Lanternes is at Square Boufflers by the Esplanade, close to Place de la République. Entry is free according to the city and MOSL. The start date conflicted across sources at the research date, so check the trail's own information before planning your evening around it.
More for your Advent trip
Research status 28 October 2026 as stated in the guide; Tabiara is an independent publisher, so check the official market and venue sources before you travel.