Aix Christmas market: dates, chalets and our tips
Published · 7 min read
From 13 November to 31 December 2026, the cours Mirabeau hosts its chalets and the esplanade Cézanne its santons fair. Here are the dates, the opening times and locals' tips for enjoying the Aix-en-Provence Christmas market at the best moment.
When is the Aix-en-Provence Christmas market in 2026?
The Aix-en-Provence Christmas market opens on Friday 13 November 2026 and closes on Thursday 31 December. For seven weeks, its chalets line up beneath the plane trees of the cours Mirabeau, the city's most famous avenue. Entry is free, with no booking, and you can spend ten minutes there between two appointments or a whole evening.
Opening times vary by day. From Sunday to Thursday, the chalets welcome visitors from 10am to 8pm; on Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open until 9.30pm, leaving time to dine in town before a final stroll. On 24 and 31 December, they close earlier, at 7pm, and the market is not held on Christmas Day.
The Aix calendar then follows the lights. The illuminations are switched on on Saturday 28 November 2026: a projection show opens the evening at 5.25pm on the façade of the Halle aux grains, place de l'Hôtel de Ville, then the cours Mirabeau and the Allées light up at 6pm, from the Fontaine du Roi René. They stay up until 3 January 2027.
Where are the chalets and the santons fair?
The Aix Christmas market is split between two nearby sites, a few minutes' walk from each other. The chalets fill the cours Mirabeau, between the Rotonde fountain and the Fontaine du Roi René. The santons fair sets up on the esplanade Cézanne, at the end of the Allées provençales, a stone's throw from the tourist office. Both are easy to visit on the same stroll.
The santons fair follows almost the same calendar: from 13 November to 31 December 2026, every day from 10am to 7pm, free entry, closed on 25 December. Its opening, on Sunday 29 November, keeps a flavour of tradition: the santon makers' mass at 10am in the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste du Faubourg, followed by the blessing of the fair at 11.30am on the esplanade.
Other nativity scenes dot the centre during the festive season. The santon makers' nativity is on display on the cours Mirabeau from 18 November to 28 December, and the great Aix nativity from 14 November to 2 January. In the parc Jourdan, the Oustau de Prouvènço presents a traditional Provençal nativity scene from 3 December to 3 January, every afternoon from 2.30pm to 5.30pm, free of charge.
What can you find in the chalets on the cours Mirabeau?
The chalets bring together some fifty artisans and traders, who come to offer their gift ideas for the festive season. You wander from one stall to the next, with no plan, guided by a window display or the smell of mulled wine. The cours Mirabeau lends itself well to this: its wide pavements and grand mansions give the stroll an elegance that more crowded markets lack.
For those with a sweet tooth, the market serves mulled wine and all kinds of treats to enjoy as you walk. Visitors can also vote for the best-decorated chalet: a QR code displayed on each chalet lets you choose the one that best captures the spirit of Christmas. The game is a good reason to look closely at the displays rather than hurrying past.
Our tip as locals: walk up the Cours from La Rotonde in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the honey-coloured stone and the garlands light up. You reach the Fontaine du Roi René at nightfall, just when the avenue is at its most beautiful. From there, it is only a few steps to the quartier Mazarin and its quieter streets.
Other Christmas events in Aix
The Christmas market is only the first event of the season. On place François Villon, in the middle of the Allées, a series of short but eagerly awaited markets follow one another. The market of the 13 desserts and local produce, organised by the chamber of agriculture, brings together some thirty producers under a marquee from 17 to 24 December, from 10am to 7pm, and until 9pm on 18 and 19 December.
Provençal traditions also set the rhythm of December. The Pegoulado, a festival of lights, takes place on 12 December, and the Bravade calendale the following day. From 1 to 24 December, an Advent calendar projected onto the Halle aux grains brings place de l'Hôtel de Ville to life at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, with five minutes of show at each session.
For families, the merry-go-rounds turn from 8 November to 3 January, and the great Christmas tree on place de l'Hôtel de Ville houses Father Christmas's letterbox from 28 November to 3 January. The table below gathers the main dates announced by the tourist office for the 2026 edition.
| Event | 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Christmas market, cours Mirabeau | 13 November to 31 December |
| Santons fair, esplanade Cézanne | 13 November to 31 December |
| Christmas lights | 28 November to 3 January |
| International twin towns market | 2 to 6 December |
| Winegrowers' food market | 10 to 13 December |
| Pegoulado, festival of lights | 12 December |
| Truffle market | 16 December |
| Market of the 13 desserts | 17 to 24 December |
The santons fair, a Provençal tradition
The santon takes its name from the Provençal santoun, the little saint. These painted clay figurines make up the Provençal nativity scene, where the Infant Jesus is surrounded not only by the Holy Family but by a whole village: the shepherd, the fishwife, the miller, the ravi with his arms raised in wonder. Each family adds to its own over the years, often at the fair, and then passes it on to its children along with its little stories.
On the esplanade Cézanne, the santon makers present their work throughout the festive season. It is the right place to choose a first santon or add to a nativity scene, taking the time to compare styles from one stall to the next. Each workshop has its own hand, its own faces and colours: it is best to go all the way round the fair before deciding.
In Provence, the nativity scene goes hand in hand with the gros souper on 24 December, a meatless meal followed by the thirteen desserts. To extend your visit, the Oustau de Prouvènço nativity, in the parc Jourdan, shows a complete Provençal nativity scene in a country house. The market of the 13 desserts, from 17 to 24 December, then lets you take the tradition home to your own table.
Our tips for enjoying the Aix Christmas market
A few local habits are all it takes to enjoy the Christmas market without the crowds or the stress of parking.
Come on a weekday, in the late afternoon
On Saturday afternoons, the cours Mirabeau gets very busy, especially in December. If you can, come on a Tuesday or Wednesday around 5pm: the chalets are still open for three hours, the light is fading and the illuminations take over. The first weeks, before 28 November, are also quieter, but the Cours is not yet lit up. Friday evening remains a good compromise, with chalets open until 9.30pm.
Park on the edge of the centre
The historic centre is best explored on foot, and traffic there is restricted. The simplest option is to leave the car in a nearby underground car park: the Mignet car park, avenue Malherbe, has 800 spaces and is open day and night, a few minutes from the cours Mirabeau. The Rotonde car park is even closer to the chalets. Coming by train or by coach to the bus station also saves you hunting for a space.
Note the special days
Three dates call for a little planning. On 25 December, the Christmas market and the santons fair are closed: plan a walk in the parc Jourdan or on the heights above the city. On 24 and 31 December, the chalets close at 7pm, and the market of the 13 desserts stops at 2pm on the 24th. For last-minute shopping, it is better to come in the morning.
Take a sweet break
After the chalets, a break is in order. At 12 cours Mirabeau, pâtisserie Béchard makes its calissons and, at Christmas, its pompes à l'huile, olive oil breads that are among the thirteen desserts. In the quartier Mazarin, the Caumont café welcomes visitors in an 18th-century mansion, open every day from 10am to 6pm until 31 December, with no booking needed. An ideal stop to warm up.
Stay a stone's throw from the lights
Staying in the centre lets you come back to the cours Mirabeau in the evening, when the lights are on and the crowds head home. Our apartments in central Aix are a few minutes' walk from the chalets. If you own a property in the centre yourself, Christmas is a time when travellers come back in numbers: our Owners page explains our services, and our article on short-term rental regulations in Aix sets out the rules.
And if you have the slightest question about Christmas in Aix, write to us.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the dates of the Aix-en-Provence Christmas market in 2026?
The Christmas market is held on the cours Mirabeau from Friday 13 November to Thursday 31 December 2026. It is closed on 25 December.
What are the opening times of the Aix Christmas market?
The chalets open from 10am to 8pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 10am to 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. On 24 and 31 December, they close at 7pm.
Where is the Aix-en-Provence santons fair?
It sets up on the esplanade Cézanne, at the end of the Allées provençales, from 13 November to 31 December 2026, every day from 10am to 7pm. It is closed on 25 December and entry is free.
When can you see the Christmas lights in Aix?
The lights are switched on on Saturday 28 November 2026, at 5.25pm on place de l'Hôtel de Ville and then at 6pm at the top of the cours Mirabeau. They stay up until 3 January 2027.
What are our sources?
- Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office: Christmas market, the chalets (2026)
- Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office: Christmas in Aix-en-Provence, 2026 programme
- Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Tourism: Aix-en-Provence santons fair (2026)
- Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office: market of the 13 desserts and local produce (2026)
- Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office: the traditional Provençal nativity scene (2026)
