In Alsace, the 2026 Christmas markets run from 20 November to 3 January 2027. Mulhouse opens first on 20 November, Colmar follows on 23 November, and Strasbourg with its Christkindelsmärik on 27 November. That's nearly seven weeks to hunt for gifts from craftspeople, well ahead of Christmas Eve and the last-week crowds.
Christmas markets in Alsace 2026: dates city by city
Three major cities set the calendar, with the villages following suit. Strasbourg's Christkindelsmärik, born in 1570, remains one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe; its closing date of 24 December has been announced, pending confirmation from the City.
| City | 2026 dates | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Mulhouse | 20 Nov - 27 Dec | closed on 25 December, Christmas Fabric at Place de la Réunion |
| Colmar | 23 Nov - 29 Dec | six markets across the old town |
| Strasbourg | 27 Nov - 24 Dec | Place Kléber, Place Broglie and the cathedral |
| Kaysersberg | weekends from 27 Nov to 20 Dec* | craftwork in the medieval town |
| Riquewihr | 27 Nov - 20 Dec* | fortified village, cobbled lanes |
| Obernai | 27 Nov - 31 Dec* | Alsatian produce and craftsmanship |
| Ribeauvillé | 5, 6, 12 and 13 Dec* | medieval market, period costumes |
*Dates taken from jds.fr's regional guide, updated on 21 October 2026; some editions remain subject to confirmation by organisers. Full details on the two major cities of Bas-Rhin can be found in our articles on Strasbourg's 2026 Christmas market and Sélestat's market.
Daily market or weekend market: it changes how you shop
A market open every day means you can visit calmly on weekdays, catch the craftsperson's stall with fewer crowds, and pick up a custom order later. Colmar runs from 11am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am to 8pm Friday to Sunday, with four shopping Sundays on 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December 2026. By contrast, Kaysersberg only opens on Advent weekends, and Ribeauvillé just four days in December, according to jds.fr: for these two, you arrive amid the crowds and leave with whatever's left. Before you set off, it's worth noting who's getting what, then checking your Christmas list online so you don't come home with the family's third ceramic pretzel. Our no-duplicates method also helps avoid buying a gift an aunt has already bought.
After 24 December, the markets that keep going
Forgetting a gift on the morning of the 25th is no disaster in Alsace. Colmar runs until 29 December, with some of its markets, including the food market, extended until 3 January 2027. Mulhouse closes on 27 December, after just one day off on the 25th. The 2026 Mulhouse edition features 103 chalets and three late-night openings until 10pm, themed around a Winter Garden, according to news published by jds.fr on 20 October 2026. Still according to that guide, Saverne keeps its Christmas Wonderland running until 3 January 2027, and La Petite-Pierre sets up its market on 26 and 27 December. That's your chance to pick up a January gift for an upcoming birthday, or treat those you'll see after the holidays to honey, gingerbread and wooden decorations. Block out a November weekend now: that's when the craft stalls are still fully stocked.
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