Futuroscope at Christmas: the festive season

In Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, Futuroscope swaps part of its futuristic look for garlands and a village of wooden chalets over the festive season. Futuroscope at Christmas is a science-fiction theme park that dresses up in fir green and warm lights for about a month, with Father Christmas, a night-time show and rides that keep running despite the cold. The Aquascope, the site’s covered water area, stays open on rainy days, a welcome bonus in the middle of a Poitou winter.

A Christmas village in the heart of the park

Every season, a village of wooden chalets livens up the park’s paths. You will find face painting for children, treats and a brazier to warm up between rides. The mood is festive rather than artisan: this is a far cry from local producers selling mulled wine and regional specialities, and the seasonal decor mainly accompanies your visit to the park. Costumed performers wander the paths, and the Raving Rabbids, the Ubisoft characters based at Futuroscope, put on their Christmas outfits for the occasion.

Decorations and illuminations cover a good part of the site, without forming a dedicated light trail like the ones found in other parks. New this season, the “Nuits Magiques” light parade, five floats and twenty light installations, runs from 5 December 2026, at times given in the park app. Futuroscope at Christmas relies instead on its immersive halls and indoor attractions, which run whatever the weather. That is a strong argument for a December outing, when rain or the Poitou wind can spoil a day outdoors. Much of the usual line-up (dynamic cinemas, immersive halls, simulators) runs all year and remains open during the Christmas period, on top of the seasonal entertainment.

Father Christmas, night show and entertainment

Children can meet Father Christmas and his elves, with a photo to take home, at times announced on site on the day of your visit. In the Kinékid hall, the 3D film “Mr Scrooge et les esprits de Noël” completes the seasonal programme; screening times are listed in the day’s programme or in the park app. In the evening, the show “La Clé des Songes” closes the day at the end of the programme, sometimes joined by “Illusio” depending on the season.

Two evenings stand out from the usual calendar: the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners on 24 and 31 December, served in the park or in the hotels on site, as part of the 2026 programme published by the park. Their prices are listed on the official website, to check before booking.

One thing is worth making clear before you book: Futuroscope at Christmas is a day at a theme park, without the artisans’ chalets or town-centre atmosphere of a classic market. It is a paid Christmas event inside a theme park, designed for families with children who want to combine rides and festive spirit, not for a free stroll between stalls. Teenagers and thrill-seekers will also get their money’s worth, as most of the big attractions stay open during the period.

Dates and tickets for Futuroscope at Christmas 2026

The 2026-2027 calendar is out: the park opens on the weekends of 5-6 and 12-13 December 2026 (Saturday 10am-9.30pm, Sunday 10am-7pm), then every day from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, from 9.15am to 10pm, with two exceptions, 24 December (closing at 7pm) and 3 January (9.30am-6.30pm). The park is open on 25 December and closes for the season from 4 January 2027; the calendar on the official website gives the day-by-day detail.

For reference, the 2025-2026 season ran from 29 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, with a few opening weekends in late November and early December, then daily opening from 20 December to 4 January. The weekend of 28-29 November 2026 is also on the calendar, but as the end of the autumn season, before the Christmas programme.

As for tickets, the price of a dated ticket depends on the day and is shown on the official ticket shop. The Billet Tribu (group ticket), for a minimum of four people, starts at €37 per person (price checked on 5 October 2026 on the official website), is valid until 3 January 2027 and must be bought at least three days before your visit, with a €4 booking fee without accommodation. Booking online for a fixed date remains the cheapest option; entry is free for under-5s.

Getting there and staying on site

Futuroscope has its own TGV station, with direct links to Paris in about an hour and a half, making it one of the easiest parks to reach by train from the capital. By car, the A10 motorway leads to exit 28, a few minutes from the park car park. Parking is on site, right next to the entrances, with capacity designed for the big end-of-year crowds.

To extend your stay, several hotels are located on the site, linked to the park on foot, so you do not need to get back in the car in the evening. It is a practical option for New Year’s Eve on 31 December, or for spreading your visit over two days without heading back to Poitiers. From the TGV station, the region is easy to explore: Poitiers is a few minutes away by TER train or by road.

• Poitiers Christmas market is held about ten minutes from the park, in the city centre, handy for combining rides and traditional chalets in the same weekend.
• Tours Christmas market fits nicely into a Loire Valley stop, a little over an hour’s drive from Futuroscope.
• On the Atlantic coast, La Rochelle Christmas market makes a day trip from Poitiers for those extending their stay towards the ocean.
• Booking a dated ticket online costs less than buying at the ticket office, whatever date you choose.

Budget for a family of four and practical tips

For two adults and two children, the Billet Tribu brings the ticket bill down to €148 at the lowest (4 times €37, excluding the booking fee), the price of a standard dated ticket depending on the day you choose. Budget extra for parking and food on site, not included in the entry price.

A night on site also changes the bill: staying in one of the park hotels costs more than a day trip from Poitiers or Tours, but avoids driving at night and gives you two full days without going back through the entrance. For a family coming from far away, it is often the most comfortable compromise.

A few useful pointers before you go: weekdays outside school holidays are less busy than December weekends, a smart choice to avoid queues. A warm jumper and good shoes help for outdoor queues, even though most Futuroscope attractions are indoors. If it rains, the Aquascope offers a pleasant fallback for the whole family, heated and sheltered. Finally, buy your ticket online in advance: dated prices remain lower than at the ticket office, and some busy December dates get booked up early.