Language 
Christmas in Paris: Are the Galeries Lafayette window displays worth the queue?
Galeries Lafayette has revealed its Christmas window theme, bringing a technicolor fairy tale to Paris. Here’s what to expect and when to visit.
Galeries Lafayette’s Christmas window displays are legendary.
Each year, they attract millions of people from around the world, eager to see the animated scenes, enchanting characters, and the giant glistening tree under the iconic dome.
Walk down Boulevard Haussmann on any December evening, and you’ll immediately see crowds gathered around and kids pressed against the glass. But do the window displays actually live up to their hype?
Yes, but to experience them at their best, you need to time it right.
Read on to learn what to expect from the 2026 Galeries Lafayette Christmas windows and how to admire them without the crowds.
What to expect from the 2026 Galeries Lafayette Christmas windows
Each year, Galeries Lafayette designs its Christmas windows around a particular theme, so the displays stay fresh and unique.
The theme for 2026 is called “Au cœur de Noël” (At the Heart of Christmas). The displays were designed in collaboration with French fashion designer and artist Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and are set to be a vibrant, technicolor living fairy tale.
The windows tell a whimsical story about a character named Armand in a quirky Christmas setting. With Castelbajac’s bold, humorous line art, you can expect to see hilarious takes on classic Christmas traditions, with some scenes even spilling out onto the facade.
The window displays will be unveiled on Thursday, November 12, and are free to admire. Thousands of Parisians will head there in the evening to see them, a long-standing French Christmas tradition that kicks off the festive season.
Inside the store: The Christmas tree under the dome
The window displays are not the only festive installation to see at Galeries Lafayette. Be sure to go inside the store to admire the giant Christmas tree under the famous 1912 Neo-Byzantine dome.
The tree is illuminated by 20,000 programmable lights, creating a dazzling light show that reflects off the dome like a living painting.
This year, the tree has also been co-designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, giving it some unique twists. Instead of the traditional fir tree, expect a sculptural tree with oversized, colorful branches holding fantastical characters and an angel on top.
What’s even more unique about Galeries Lafayette’s Christmas tree is that you can also view it from above. The Glasswalk, a 9-meter-long glass walkway suspended 16 meters above the ground, lets you see both the dome and the tree up close.
The Glasswalk remains open throughout December, but you must book tickets in advance. Tickets are released every Friday for the following week, so check back on Fridays and book early. Slots are 5 minutes, max 8 people. If you can’t get a slot, wander around the upper-level shopping galleries (4th to 6th Floors), where several nice (and free) viewpoints look down at the tree.
So, are the windows worth the queue?
During the weekends and weekday evenings, the sidewalk outside Galeries Lafayette can get incredibly busy. But if you’ve never seen them before, or are traveling with children, they are still worth it.
While there is no formal queuing system, during busy periods you will need to wait for the crowds to subside. Also, because the displays tell a story, it’s best to start at the beginning.
Start at the Corner of Rue de la Chaussée d’Antin (by the Chaussée d’Antin – La Fayette Metro exit), then walk along the storefront from right to left. You might have to wait a while at each display before you can move on to the next window.
If you’re traveling with kids, look for the raised child-viewing platforms in front of the windows, designed to help children see the displays more clearly.
If you only have a couple of days in Paris (especially on a weekend), consider how important the window displays are to you. If your itinerary is already full, queuing to see the displays may not be the best use of your time. You could potentially just pop inside to see the Christmas tree instead.
Pair it with other Paris windows and markets
Galeries Lafayette isn’t the only department store that turns into a winter wonderland.
Printemps Haussmann is right next door and has just released its own Christmas 2026 theme: “Un Noël bien tricoté” (A Perfectly Knitted Christmas).
Printemps Haussmann’s Christmas displays will be unveiled on Tuesday, November 10, featuring playful cats, crafty mice and colorful balls of yarn.
Other nearby festive spots to explore include:
- BHV Marais: Its Christmas windows tell the story of a little fir tree searching for its missing lights, unfolding across six festive scenes on Rue de Rivoli. You can see these adorable displays from November 17.
- Le Bon Marché: For 2026, the department store is being transformed into a charming Christmas Village, with wooden chalets, festive decorations and seasonal gift displays. The village opened on October 24, but the date for its window displays, featuring plush pigs and sheep, were unveiled on November 6.
- Tuileries Christmas market: Why not combine your window-shopping with a traditional Christmas market? The market returns to Jardin des Tuileries in November, with November 14 currently reported as its opening date.
Finally, for an after dark festive activity, Paris’ world famous Champs-Élysées lights will launch on November 22, accompanied by the Champs-Élysées Christmas Market.
| Spot | What it is | 2026 opening |
|---|---|---|
| Galeries Lafayette Haussmann | Castelbajac windows and dome tree | November 12 |
| Printemps Haussmann | Department store windows next door | Early-mid November |
| BHV Marais | “The Tale of the Little Fir” windows | November 17 |
| Tuileries Christmas market | Market in the Tuileries Garden | November 14 |
Make a day of it on Boulevard Haussmann
Boulevard Haussmann has more to offer than Christmas window displays.
A visit to the Galeries Lafayette rooftop is one of the best free things to do in Paris, with panoramic views across the Paris skyline, including the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre.
However, in the winter it’s extra magical. From November 24, 2026, to January 3, 2027, the terrace will transform into a rooftop ice rink. You’ll need to book in advance, and tickets cost €16 for adults and €7.50 for children aged 4–14.
And before you leave Galeries Lafayette, don’t forget to stop by Le Gourmet. You’ll find everything from French pastries and artisan chocolates to specialty food counters.
Afterward, walk a few minutes towards Palais Garnier, the magnificent 19th-century opera house. Step inside to see the grand Christmas tree amidst the Napoleon III-style architecture, making it one of Paris’s best festive photo stops. You can book a self-guided visit (€25 for non-EU visitors) to see the tree in the Grand Foyer.
When to go: Timing your visit
To avoid the worst of the crowds, head to Galeries Lafayette on a weekday morning. Visiting early in the day will also give you better photo opportunities. The weekends, especially the two before Christmas, are generally the busiest.
If you’re planning to go inside the department store, make sure you go during opening hours. Standard hours are 10am to 8:30pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 8pm on Sunday.
However, festive opening hours can change, so sort out your data before you land or pick up a France SIM card at the airport, so you can check hours and maps on the go. Roaming in France can add up fast, so once you’ve sorted your data solution, ensure data roaming on your home line is turned off.
Boulevard Haussmann is easy to get to thanks to Paris’ public transport. Take Metro lines 7 or 9 to Chaussée d’Antin–La Fayette, which brings you right to the department store. Alternatively, Opéra and Auber stations are both within a short walking distance.
Stay connected while you explore Paris at Christmas with Holafly
Between checking store hours, finding your way to the next window display, and sending photos of the dome back home, your phone does a lot of work on a Paris Christmas trip. With a Holafly eSIM for France, you get unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support, without roaming charges or the hassle of hunting for a local SIM. Install it before you fly, and you’re online the moment you land.
Holafly also stays with you through Always On, 1 GB of monthly backup data included at no additional cost. It activates automatically as long as the eSIM stays installed on your phone, renews every month, and works in 150+ destinations. So if you lose your group in the crowd on Boulevard Haussmann, you can still send a message or share your location without searching for Wi-Fi.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
Plans that may interest you
Hi, I'm Mika, a South Korean writer living in the US. I cover travel and live events, focusing on the practical stuff that makes your trip smoother, whether you're navigating a new city or heading to a major international event.I'm also the founder of Search SEOul, South Korea's leading SEO conference, bringing together search marketing experts and speakers from around the world.
