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Two headline events
Reims hosts its Christmas market from 25 November to 27 December 2026, while Épernay stages Habits de Lumière from 11 to 13 December 2026. They create very different experiences: a market that can be visited flexibly and a concentrated festival weekend that requires planning.
You can combine both by staying in Reims and taking the train to Épernay, but check late-evening transport before relying on it. For the festival weekend, staying in Épernay is more relaxed.
What remains bookable
Cellar tours and tastings continue in December, although calendars tighten around Christmas and New Year. Major houses often publish timed tickets; growers usually require an appointment.
Book a tasting or cellar tour before lunch, leave the afternoon for the market or museum, and avoid building a schedule that depends on three fixed reservations in one day.
Weather and daylight
Expect short days, cold cellars and variable rain rather than guaranteed snow. Bring a warm layer even if the outside temperature is mild: underground visits remain cool and involve standing or walking.
Use daylight for vineyard viewpoints and villages. Keep the cathedral, museums, covered markets and tastings for the later part of the day.
Christmas and New Year closures
The Reims market is closed on 25 December in 2026. Individual houses, restaurants and museums may use their own holiday timetable, so confirmation from the operator matters more than generic opening information.
For 24, 25 and 31 December, reserve meals before travel and keep a self-guided city walk as a fallback.
Source checked: Official Habits de Lumière website · 29 September 2026.