Chantilly Christmas Market

Chantilly Christmas market works on two levels, and that is what makes it so endearing. In the town centre, craftspeople gather for a free market on the Petite Pelouse, Boulevard de la Libération, from 11 to 13 December 2026. A little further on, the château dresses up for a ticketed event that shows off the Great Stables and the park. Two moods, one weekend to take in the lot, with the Oise as a backdrop.

As the home of Chantilly cream and horse racing, this princely town has plenty to keep you there long after the chalets. Here is how to find your way between the street market and the estate's event.

Chantilly Christmas market in the town centre

The festivities centre on the Petite Pelouse, Boulevard de la Libération Maurice-Schumann, where the Christmas market sets up. It counts more than 80 exhibitors, split between food producers, decorations, jewellery and toys, and Father Christmas hands out sweets. Entry is free, you wander from stall to stall without a ticket. In 2025, the market also took in Place Omer Vallon, with a “La Belle Époque” carousel and a batucada band in the streets.

The 2026 edition runs from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December: Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 10am-7pm. The weekend is still the slot to aim for if you want the market in full swing, with local producers and street entertainment; the Friday is new compared with the single weekend of 2025.

A princely Christmas at the Château de Chantilly

On the other side of town, the estate staged “Un Noël princier” (A Princely Christmas) in 2025, from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026; the château’s Christmas 2026 programme has not yet been published. The château, the park and the Great Stables were lit up, with children’s workshops, visits from Father Christmas and carefully designed decorations in the state apartments. Here, you pay to get in: in 2025, allow €27 for a “1 Jour” (one-day) château ticket at full price, open 10am-5pm.

Two highlights were booked separately. The equestrian show L’Arche d’Or, in the riding arena of the Great Stables, ran from 29 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 at 2.30pm and/or 4.30pm depending on the day, on top of the ticket price. And the Veillée enchantée, a one-hour evening visit punctuated by short scenes, took place on 21, 22 and 23 December 2025 at €15 (free for under-3s). The rule of thumb: the street market is free, the estate's event is not.

Eat and take home: Chantilly cream, macarons and local produce

You cannot talk about the town without its Chantilly cream, whipped and served at the estate's Hameau for centuries. At the market, the food stalls go all out on treats, with macarons, chocolates, Oise honeys and small regional producers. The aisles mix crafts, jewellery and wooden toys, enough to tick off a good chunk of your gift list.

For a hot drink to beat the Picardy cold, you will find stalls on site. And if you want to make one at home afterwards, our guide to mulled wine and its variations points you to the recipe.

Getting there and planning

You can reach Chantilly without a car: Chantilly-Gouvieux station is about 25 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord by TER regional train. From the station, the château is around twenty minutes on foot, or you can take the bus to the Château stop. By car, there are car parks around the centre and the estate. A pass combining the train and château entry is available if you want to book everything in one go.

Chantilly pairs well with the other markets in the area. To add a cathedral to the trip, head to Amiens Christmas market, the largest in Hauts-de-France. And if you are coming up from the capital, take in the Paris Christmas markets to complete the loop.