Every year, from late November onward, Annecy swaps its summer lakeside setting for a winter finery. Between the Lake district and the Jardins de l’Europe, the town transforms into a huge open-air Christmas village: this is Noël des Alpes, the largest Christmas market in Haute-Savoie. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit at the end of 2026.
At a glance
| Dates | November 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027 |
| Location | Historic centre, quays, Lake/Grenette-Saint-Maurice district, Jardins de l’Europe |
| Chalets | Nearly 200 (crafts, food) |
| Ice rink | Yes, at the Jardins de l’Europe, by the lake |
| Admission | Free |
2026 dates and opening hours
Annecy’s Christmas market will take over the historic centre, the quays and the Jardins de l’Europe from November 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
Opening hours will be as follows:
- Town centre:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
- Jardins de l’Europe:
- Sunday to Wednesday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Thursday to Saturday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Special opening hours:
- December 24 and 31: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (town centre) / 11:00 am – 8:00 pm (Jardins de l’Europe)
- December 25 and January 1: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm (town centre) / 11:00 am – 10:00 pm (Jardins de l’Europe)
A market stretching from the lake to the historic centre
Since its revamp for the 2025–2026 edition, Annecy’s Christmas market has spread across two main areas:
- The Lake and Grenette/Saint-Maurice district, where the largest number of craft and food chalets are concentrated among the medieval lanes of the old town.
- The Jardins de l’Europe, by the lake, with around fifteen chalets as well as the ice rink and the festive area.
The previous edition featured 169 chalets across these two areas; the 2026 edition is expected to have close to 200, confirming Annecy’s place as the largest Christmas market in Haute-Savoie.
The ice rink and festive area
Head to the Jardins de l’Europe to lace up your skates: the temporary natural-ice rink (460 m² at the last edition) is set up by the lake, with views of the surrounding mountains. Equipment can be rented on site. Opening hours vary by day—generally during the day at weekends and in the late afternoon/evening on weekdays—and are shorter on December 24 and 31.
Meet Santa Claus
Santa Claus traditionally sets up at Place de l’Ancienne Grenette, in an illuminated house where children and adults alike can share their wish lists with him and take home a souvenir photo. His visiting hours, generally in the afternoon, are announced in the event’s detailed programme.
A full cultural programme: “Christmas in the Alps”
Beyond the market itself, the City of Annecy puts on a rich cultural programme every year, extending the magic of Christmas over several weeks: concerts and musical events in the town centre, enchanting parades, shows for children (musical theatre, storytelling at the media library), creative workshops, and light displays staged at several of the town’s iconic sites, from the Palais de l’Île to the quays along the Thiou.
The previous edition kicked off the festivities with an evening inauguration, featuring a musical parade and a chance to meet Santa Claus, and continued into early January with ticketed shows and free activities almost every day. The detailed programme for the 2026 edition will be published by the City of Annecy closer to the event, usually in November.
Crafts and treats: what to expect
Annecy’s Christmas market celebrates Alpine crafts and Savoyard cuisine: handmade candles, blown-glass decorations, woollen textiles and wooden toys on one side; fondue, spit-roasted pork, tartiflette, mulled wine and hot chocolate on the other. It’s a great place to find original gift ideas and warm up between strolls by the lake.
How to get there and where to stay
- By train: Annecy station is served by direct trains and is just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre and the market.
- From Geneva: it’s about 40 km; the Léman Express connects directly to Annecy from Cornavin station.
- By car: opt for car parks on the outskirts of the historic centre, which is largely pedestrianised during the market, especially on busy weekends.
- Accommodation: book early, especially for the Christmas school holidays (December 19, 2026 to January 4, 2027), when the market is busiest.
Annecy’s Christmas market in video
Frequently asked questions
When does Annecy’s Christmas market take place in 2026? It runs from November 26, 2026 to January 3, 2027, in the historic centre, along the quays and at the Jardins de l’Europe.
Is Annecy’s Christmas market free? Yes, entry to the market and its chalets is free. Only certain shows or workshops in the “Christmas in the Alps” cultural programme, as well as skate rentals, may incur a charge.
How many chalets are there? Nearly 200 chalets are expected for the 2026 edition, spread between the Lake/Grenette-Saint-Maurice district and the Jardins de l’Europe.
Where is the ice rink? It is set up at the Jardins de l’Europe, by the lake, alongside the festive area.
When is the best time to visit to avoid the biggest crowds? The first half of December, on weekdays, is generally quieter than festive weekends and the late-December school holidays.
Article written using information available as of early October 2026. The detailed programme (exact opening hours, activities, shows) for the 2026 edition will be published by the City of Annecy and the Lake Annecy Tourist Office closer to the event. This article will be updated as new information becomes available.
