The winter season in France is brimming with festive sparkle. From the top of November to early January, Christmas markets are held throughout the entire nation. In February and March, it’s carnival season. Discover out what’s on in France Winter 2026-2027…
Nationwide Occasions in Winter in France
25 December – Christmas Day is a nationwide vacation.
31 December – La Nuit de la Saint Sylvestre – New 12 months’s Eve. The feast day of Saint Sylvestre features a festive celebration spent with pals at residence or in a favorite restaurant. A kiss below the mistletoe is shared on the stroke of midnight.
1 January – New 12 months’s Day is a nationwide vacation.
6 January – La Fête des Rois. It’s conventional to eat a particular cake referred to as the Galette des Rois on this present day (learn extra about it right here). You’ll see these delicious desserts in each patisserie in France. Contained in the cake a fortunate appeal is hidden – the fève, and the one that finds the appeal in his or her slice of cake, is topped king or queen for a day! If you wish to make one at residence, right here’s a recipe for Galette des Rois
14 February – St Valentine’s Day
Christmas markets and festive occasions
Uncover a great deal of details about the Christmas markets, Christmas lights, festive meals and occasions in our Final Information to Christmas in France on The Good Life France web site: thegoodlifefrance.com/ultimateguidetochristmasinfrance
Get pleasure from our podcast on Christmas in France!
What’s on in France Winter 2026-2027
Lyon: Pageant of Lights, 5-8 December 2026
The individuals of Lyon will, as they’ve since 1852, gentle candles and put them within the home windows of their properties and town places on a spectacular gentle present with large-scale projections over among the metropolis’s most lovely monuments. It began when the residents of Lyon positioned candles in colored glasses on their windowsills to have a good time the set up of a statue of the Virgin Mary on the Fourvière Hill. fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr/en
Dordogne: Sarlat Truffle Pageant, 17-18 January 2026
A giant truffle market takes place mid-January within the enchanting medieval city of Sarlat, Dordogne. Count on to bask in truffle flavoured connoisseur specialities, music and festivities together with workshops. And take residence a few truffles, you may get them at a great value on the market. Particulars: sarlat-tourisme.com
Angoulême comedian ebook competition 27-31 January 2027
France has one of many largest markets for bande-dessinée (comedian ebook or graphic novels) on this planet, and Angoulême, Charente, is the place that is celebrated. Individuals come from all around the world to get pleasure from this enjoyable artwork occasion. bdangouleme.com
Mimosa Pageant 10-14 February 2027
Spring is within the air and in Mandelieu-La-Napoule hundreds of thousands of sweet-smelling Mimosa flowers, often called “yellow suns”, bloom. Parades, processions, singing and dancing, this joyous occasion alerts the top of winter within the south of France. Mandelieu-tourisme.com
Good Carnival 9-28 February 2027
Processions, flower parades and flower battles, rock, pop, fireworks, and giants. Over 1,000,000 individuals flock to Good to affix within the carnival enjoyable heralding the beginning of spring. Some of the glamorous of all of the French carnivals. nicecarnaval.com
Menton Lemon Pageant 13-28 February 2027
The wonderful fruity competition options immense constructions constructed with hundreds of lemons and oranges. It’s one of the vital fashionable festivals within the area and attracts many hundreds of holiday makers from all around the world. fete-du-citron.com
Dunkirk Carnival
This distinctive carnival takes place From January to March when Dunkirk bursts into track and dance with locals and guests for the carnival. This must be one of many loudest and most enjoyable carnivals in Europe. Right here the individuals are the parade, wearing quirky outfits. It’s particularly frenzied when the Mayor throws herrings off his balcony into the crowds on the primary day of the occasion often called the Trois Joyeuse (3 blissful days) – Sunday 7 February 2027! www.dunkerque-tourisme.fr
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