Christmas on the Champs-Élysées: Lights & Market Guide

Christmas on the Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous festive sights in Paris. Every winter, the celebrated avenue is decorated with thousands of lights, creating a wonderful Christmas atmosphere between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

And Christmas 2026 promises to be particularly special!

From 22 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, nearly 400 trees along the Champs-Élysées will sparkle with Christmas lights.

But there is another reason to visit this year.

After almost ten years without its traditional Christmas market, the Champs-Élysées will once again welcome wooden chalets, Christmas shopping and festive attractions.

This time, the market will occupy a new location in the gardens at the lower end of the avenue, between Place de la Concorde and the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées.

I have always enjoyed discovering this famous Parisian avenue during the Christmas season.

There is something rather special about walking along the Champs-Élysées after dark, with the illuminated trees stretching into the distance and the Arc de Triomphe standing at the top.

Over the years, I have photographed several editions of the Christmas lights, as well as the former market and the great Ferris wheel that once stood on Place de la Concorde.

Some of these attractions have disappeared, while others are making a welcome return.

In this guide, we'll discover what Christmas on the Champs-Élysées has in store for 2026, from the illuminations and the returning Christmas market to the best places for an evening walk.

I'll also share a few memories and photographs from previous Christmas seasons in Paris.

Let's discover Christmas on the Champs-Élysées!

Christmas on the Champs-Élysées 2026: Dates and Opening Hours

Planning to visit the Champs-Élysées during the festive season?

For Christmas 2026, there are two main attractions to discover: the famous illuminations along the avenue and the returning Christmas market in the nearby gardens.

Both are scheduled to run from Sunday 22 November 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, although their opening hours are different.

Christmas on the Champs-Élysées 2026 at a Glance

Important: The Christmas lights and the Christmas market are two separate attractions.

The illuminations decorate the avenue itself, while the Christmas market will be situated in the gardens at its lower end.

This is a significant change from the former market, whose wooden chalets once lined the pavements of the Champs-Élysées.

And if you are visiting Paris on New Year's Eve, remember that the illuminations will remain on throughout the night, but the Christmas market will be closed.

For the latest information, consult the City of Paris website for the Christmas lights and the Paris Tourist Office's Christmas Market page for the chalets and festive attractions.

Information checked on 11 November 2026.

Christmas Lights on the Champs-Élysées in 2026

Every year, the Christmas lights are one of the main attractions of the Champs-Élysées.

And it's easy to understand why!

The famous avenue stretches for nearly two kilometres between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. During the festive season, its rows of trees are decorated with thousands of lights, creating one of the most recognisable Christmas scenes in Paris.

For Christmas 2026, nearly 400 trees will be illuminated along the avenue.

The decorations will once again feature golden, sparkling lights, giving the Champs-Élysées a wonderfully festive appearance after dark.

Cate Blanchett to Switch On the Christmas Lights

The official switch-on ceremony will take place on Sunday 22 November 2026 at 6.30 pm.

This year's guest of honour is the Australian actress Cate Blanchett, who has been chosen as the patron of the 2026 illuminations.

She will be joined by representatives of Association Petits Princes, a French charity that helps fulfil the wishes of seriously ill children.

The French rock band Feu! Chatterton will also take part in the celebrations.

It promises to be a memorable opening evening!

The switch-on ceremony has become a well-established Parisian tradition, with a different personality invited to inaugurate the lights each year.

If you are planning to attend on 22 November, expect plenty of people along the avenue.

Golden Lights and Nearly 400 Illuminated Trees

The 2026 decorations will use 100% LED lighting, with reduced energy consumption compared with older lighting systems.

The theme continues the golden and sparkling appearance of recent editions.

Over the years, the Christmas decorations of the Champs-Élysées have changed considerably. Some displays featured blue lights, while others used changing colours and different patterns.

Looking back at my photographs, I find it interesting to see how the avenue has been transformed from one Christmas season to another.

But the pleasure of seeing the illuminated trees stretching towards the Arc de Triomphe remains much the same.

And the good news is that you don't have to attend the inauguration to enjoy them!

The illuminations will continue every evening until early January, with longer hours during the Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations.

The Return of the Champs-Élysées Christmas Market in 2026

For many years, the Christmas market was one of the main attractions of the Champs-Élysées.

I remember the rows of wooden chalets lining the lower part of the avenue, with Christmas decorations, gifts, food stalls and attractions bringing a festive atmosphere to this famous Parisian setting.

But all that came to an end after Christmas 2016.

The market disappeared from the Champs-Élysées, leaving the famous illuminations as the main attraction during Advent.

Now, after almost ten years without its traditional market, the chalets are finally making a return!

And there is an important difference from the market I photographed all those years ago.

A New Location in the Champs-Élysées Gardens

The new market will not occupy the pavements of the Champs-Élysées as it did in the past.

Instead, around 200 wooden chalets will be installed in the gardens at the lower end of the avenue, between Place de la Concorde and the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées.

This part of Paris is known for its tree-lined paths, historic gardens and several well-known buildings.

The new location should offer a different experience from the former market, allowing visitors to explore the chalets away from the busiest shopping section of the avenue.

It will also bring the festivities closer to the Petit Palais, Grand Palais and other landmarks in the surrounding area.

And, of course, the Christmas illuminations will be only a short walk away.

Rather than having the entire market spread along the main avenue, visitors will be able to combine Christmas shopping in the gardens with a walk beneath the illuminated trees.

French Craftsmanship and Christmas Shopping

For its return in 2026, the market will place particular emphasis on French craftsmanship, regional products and traditional skills.

The organisers have announced a variety of gifts and handmade creations, including jewellery, accessories, toys and Christmas decorations.

Some chalets will showcase the Fabriqué à Paris label and products made by French craftspeople.

Food will also have an important place, with seasonal specialities, warming refreshments and an emphasis on French ingredients.

It will be interesting to see how this new concept compares with the Christmas markets that once occupied the Champs-Élysées.

For those looking for Christmas gifts during a visit to Paris, the market should offer plenty of opportunities to browse.

Christmas Attractions for the Whole Family

The returning market will offer more than Christmas shopping.

Several attractions have been announced for 2026.

Near Place Clemenceau, visitors will find Father Christmas's House, together with festive activities for children.

An outdoor ice rink is also planned near the Pavillon Ledoyen, one of the historic restaurants in the Champs-Élysées gardens.

The rink is expected to cover approximately 312 square metres and use real ice.

There will also be fairground rides and other activities to complete the festive programme.

For families visiting Paris in December, this combination of a Christmas market, ice skating and illuminations should make the lower Champs-Élysées particularly attractive.

As the new market has not yet opened at the time of writing, I recommend checking the official Christmas Market information before visiting, especially for individual attraction prices and arrangements.

A Christmas Walk Along the Champs-Élysées

One of the best ways to enjoy Christmas on the Champs-Élysées is simply to explore the area on foot.

For 2026, I would recommend starting at Place de la Concorde, discovering the new Christmas market in the gardens and then walking up the famous avenue towards the Arc de Triomphe.

This route combines several of Paris's most celebrated monuments with the festive atmosphere of the Christmas season.

Start at Place de la Concorde

Our Christmas walk begins at Place de la Concorde, one of the largest and most impressive squares in Paris.

In the centre stands the famous Luxor Obelisk, brought to France from Egypt in the 19th century.

The square is also known for its monumental fountains, elegant buildings and magnificent views along the Historical Axis of Paris.

Look towards the west, and you will see the Champs-Élysées rising gently towards the Arc de Triomphe.

It is one of my favourite perspectives in the French capital!

For many years, a large Ferris wheel stood on Place de la Concorde during the festive season.

I remember photographing it on several occasions, particularly when it was illuminated after dark.

The wheel is no longer installed on the square, but Place de la Concorde remains an excellent starting point for a winter walk through this part of Paris.

Explore the Gardens and Nearby Monuments

From Place de la Concorde, make your way towards the gardens at the lower end of the Champs-Élysées.

This is where you will find the new Christmas market in 2026.

I would recommend taking your time to browse the chalets and enjoy the festive atmosphere before continuing towards the upper avenue.

You can also make a short detour towards the Petit Palais and Grand Palais, two magnificent buildings constructed for the Universal Exhibition of 1900.

The Petit Palais is particularly attractive with its ornate façade and monumental entrance.

Opposite stands the Grand Palais, easily recognisable by its enormous glass roof.

Both buildings are worth admiring, even if you do not plan to go inside.

Nearby, Avenue Winston Churchill leads towards the Seine and the beautiful Pont Alexandre III.

If you have a little more time, it is well worth making a detour to admire this remarkable bridge.

Walk Towards the Illuminated Avenue

At the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées, the character of the avenue changes.

Behind you are the gardens and their historic buildings. Ahead, the Champs-Élysées becomes a broad shopping avenue, lined with shops, cafés, cinemas and restaurants.

And the long perspective towards the Arc de Triomphe becomes particularly impressive.

This is one of my favourite parts of the walk.

The illuminated trees frame the avenue, while the Arc de Triomphe rises in the distance.

The lights, the traffic and the decorated shopfronts create an atmosphere that is unmistakably Parisian.

You can learn more about the avenue's history and monuments in my guide to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

Finish at the Arc de Triomphe

Our walk finishes at the famous Arc de Triomphe, standing at the top of the Champs-Élysées.

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the monument is one of the great symbols of Paris.

It stands in the centre of Place Charles-de-Gaulle, formerly known as Place de l'Étoile because of the twelve avenues radiating from it.

At Christmas, the view towards the illuminated arch makes a splendid finale to your walk.

And if you have time, why not climb to the top?

The panoramic terrace offers one of the most impressive views of Paris, with the Champs-Élysées stretching eastwards towards Place de la Concorde and the Louvre.

You can also admire the Eiffel Tower, the rooftops of Paris and the modern business district of La Défense.

For photographs and practical information, take a look at my article about the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Allow approximately two hours for this Christmas walk, and longer if you wish to browse the market, stop for refreshments or visit the Arc de Triomphe.

A Brief History of Christmas on the Champs-Élysées

Christmas on the Champs-Élysées has changed considerably over the years.

Today, we are familiar with the illuminated trees stretching towards the Arc de Triomphe. But the festive decorations have taken many different forms, and some attractions that once drew large crowds have disappeared.

I have been fortunate enough to photograph several Christmas seasons on the famous avenue, and looking back at those pictures brings back some lovely memories of Paris.

How the Christmas Illuminations Have Changed

The Christmas illuminations have become one of the great traditions of the Champs-Élysées.

But their appearance has changed regularly.

In 2010, for example, some 200 trees were decorated with blue lights stretching for approximately six kilometres.

Three years later, the illuminations featured changing colours, from white to purple, red and orange.

Then, in 2014, a new display called Scintillance was introduced.

Designed by the French company Blachère, it featured cascades of lights across approximately 400 trees, using around one million LEDs.

The introduction of LED technology had already begun several years earlier, helping to reduce the electricity consumption of the decorations.

Another tradition is the official switching-on ceremony, attended each year by a well-known personality.

Over the years, guests have included Marion Cotillard, Audrey Tautou, Diane Kruger, Omar Sy, Jean Dujardin and Karl Lagerfeld.

Looking back at my photographs, it is interesting to see just how different the Champs-Élysées can appear from one Christmas to another.

The Former Champs-Élysées Christmas Market

The first Christmas market on the Champs-Élysées opened in 2008.

At the time, wooden chalets were installed along the lower part of the avenue, between the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde.

Over the following years, the market grew considerably.

Visitors could browse Christmas decorations, gifts and regional food products, while children enjoyed attractions such as a merry-go-round, a little train and a sledge ride.

I remember photographing the chalets during the 2015 Christmas season.

What made the market particularly unusual was its location along one of the most famous avenues in the world.

However, Christmas 2016 was the last edition of the original market.

In 2017, the City of Paris decided not to renew the agreement with its organiser, Marcel Campion, following disagreements about the quality and organisation of the event.

A Christmas fair subsequently opened in the nearby Jardin des Tuileries in 2018.

The return of the market to the Champs-Élysées gardens in 2026 therefore marks a new chapter in this story.

The Great Ferris Wheel on Place de la Concorde

For many years, another attraction was closely associated with Christmas on the Champs-Élysées: the great Ferris wheel on Place de la Concorde.

Known as the Grande Roue de Paris, it stood at the eastern end of the avenue, close to the Luxor Obelisk.

The wheel offered spectacular views across the centre of Paris.

From the top, visitors could admire the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Tuileries Garden, Louvre, Eiffel Tower and many other famous landmarks.

I particularly enjoyed photographing the illuminated wheel after dark, when it formed part of the festive panorama of Place de la Concorde.

Its last installation on the square lasted from November 2017 until May 2018.

You can discover more about this former attraction and its subsequent move to the Tuileries in my article about the Ferris Wheel at Place de la Concorde.

A Christmas Tree on Place de la Concorde

Another unusual Christmas attraction appeared in 2012.

That year, an enormous Christmas tree, approximately 35 metres high, was installed on Place de la Concorde.

The tree came from the Vosges mountains in northeastern France.

It stood near the Luxor Obelisk, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the background from certain viewpoints.

I remember this striking combination of a Christmas tree, an ancient Egyptian monument and some of the most familiar sights of Paris.

It was certainly an unusual setting for such a large Christmas tree!

Christmas Celebrations at the Grand Palais

The nearby Grand Palais has also hosted some memorable Christmas attractions.

In December 2014, its magnificent glass-roofed nave welcomed the Grand Palais des Glaces, an enormous temporary indoor ice rink.

The following year, the venue hosted Jours de Fêtes, a festive funfair with numerous rides.

These events were quite different from the Christmas market on the Champs-Élysées, but they contributed to the festive atmosphere of this part of Paris.

They are worth remembering as part of the area's Christmas history, even though their programmes have changed over the years.

And that is perhaps what I find most interesting about Christmas on the Champs-Élysées.

The decorations and attractions come and go, but the pleasure of walking along the illuminated avenue remains.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Champs-Élysées at Christmas

Planning a Christmas visit to the Champs-Élysées?

Here are a few practical tips to help you make the most of your time in this famous part of Paris.

How to Get There by Métro

The Paris Métro is probably the easiest way to reach the Champs-Élysées during the Christmas season.

Several stations serve the avenue, so the best choice will depend on where you want to begin your visit.

• Concorde (lines 1, 8 and 12): ideal for starting your walk at Place de la Concorde.
• Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13): convenient for the new Christmas market in the gardens.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9): useful for the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées and the illuminated avenue.
• George V (line 1): convenient for the upper Champs-Élysées.
• Charles de Gaulle–Étoile (lines 1, 2 and 6, and RER A): the best choice for the Arc de Triomphe.

Personally, I would take the Métro to Concorde, explore the gardens and then walk towards the Arc de Triomphe.

You can return by Métro from Charles de Gaulle–Étoile without having to retrace your steps.

For routes and the latest transport information, consult the official RATP website.

When Is the Best Time to Visit?

If you want to enjoy both the Christmas market and the illuminations, I recommend arriving in the late afternoon.

That way, you can explore the chalets while there is still some daylight and then admire the illuminated avenue as darkness falls.

For a more relaxed visit, try coming on a weekday rather than a Saturday or Sunday.

The days leading up to Christmas are likely to attract particularly large numbers of visitors.

If you enjoy the excitement of Christmas in a major city, you may prefer the livelier weekend atmosphere.

But if your main aim is to take photographs, a weekday evening is probably a better choice.

My Favourite Time for Christmas Photography

Over the years, I have taken many photographs of Paris at Christmas.

And one thing I have learnt is that the best time for photographing illuminations is not necessarily when the sky is completely dark.

Personally, I prefer the blue hour, shortly after sunset.

At this time, the sky takes on a deep blue colour, while the Christmas lights begin to stand out against the buildings and trees.

The result is often much more attractive than a photograph taken later in the evening, when the sky has become completely black.

In late November and December, sunset in Paris is generally around 5 pm, becoming a little earlier in December.

Since the Champs-Élysées lights are scheduled to come on at 5 pm, this can be an excellent time to photograph the avenue.

I particularly recommend looking towards the Arc de Triomphe, with the illuminated trees framing the monument.

And don't forget to look behind you from time to time!

The view towards Place de la Concorde can be just as interesting.

What Is the Weather Like in Paris at Christmas?

Paris can be cold, damp and sometimes windy during December.

Daytime temperatures are generally in the single figures, while evenings can feel considerably colder, particularly if you spend a long time walking outdoors.

Rain is more common than snow, although a few snowflakes are always possible during the winter months.

I recommend wearing a warm coat, a scarf and comfortable waterproof shoes.

You will probably spend quite some time walking between the Christmas market and the Arc de Triomphe, so comfortable footwear is particularly important.

How Long Should You Spend on the Champs-Élysées at Christmas?

If you simply want to admire the Christmas lights, an hour may be sufficient for a leisurely walk along the avenue.

However, for Christmas 2026, I recommend allowing at least two to three hours.

This should give you time to explore the new Christmas market, admire the gardens and monuments, and walk towards the Arc de Triomphe.

Allow longer if you wish to visit the ice rink, stop for refreshments or climb to the panoramic terrace of the Arc de Triomphe.

And if you enjoy photography, you may find yourself spending much more time than expected!

Visiting on New Year's Eve

The Champs-Élysées is one of the best-known places in Paris to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Large crowds traditionally gather around the avenue and the Arc de Triomphe for the end-of-year festivities.

If you are planning to visit on 31 December 2026, keep in mind that special security arrangements, road closures and changes to Métro services may be introduced.

The detailed programme for the evening should be checked closer to the date.

I would also recommend avoiding travelling by car, particularly during major festive events.

For more information about the celebrations and traditions, take a look at my guide to New Year's Eve in France.

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas on the Champs-Élysées

Discover More of Paris at Christmas

I hope this guide has made you want to discover Christmas on the Champs-Élysées!

Over the years, I have enjoyed photographing the famous avenue during the festive season.

I remember the former Christmas market with its wooden chalets, the enormous Ferris wheel on Place de la Concorde and the different colours of the illuminations.

Some of those attractions have disappeared, but the pleasure of walking along the Champs-Élysées after dark remains much the same.

And with the return of the Christmas market in 2026, there is another good reason to visit this part of Paris during Advent.

Of course, there is much more to discover in the French capital at Christmas!

If you have time to explore other parts of the city, here are a few articles that might help you plan your visit:

• Christmas in Paris: What to See and Where to Go – My guide to Christmas decorations, illuminations and festive attractions across Paris.
• Where to Find the Paris Christmas Markets – Discover more Christmas markets in the French capital.
• Christmas at the Grands-Magasins of Paris – A photographic look back at Christmas window displays in the city's famous department stores.
• Christmas in France: Celebrations and Traditions – Learn more about the customs and traditions of the festive season in France.

Whether you are visiting the Champs-Élysées for the first time or returning to see the Christmas lights again, I hope you will enjoy this famous Parisian avenue during the festive season.

And perhaps, like me, you will return home with some lovely memories and photographs of Paris at Christmas!

Have you ever visited the Champs-Élysées during the Christmas season? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments below!