6 good reasons to celebrate Christmas on the Côte d’Azur | Côte d’Azur France / French Riviera

1- Christmas markets to (indulge) yourself

The east of France is traditionally a Christmas market paradise, but the Côte d’Azur is no exception!

Here, small chalets stand side by side with fir trees and palm trees for a festive, gourmet shopping experience! The stalls are overflowing with handcrafted creations, local produce and uniquegift ideas. Each market has its own unique atmosphere, rooted in local tradition, offering visitors an immersive experience at the heart of the Christmas enchantment.

In Cannes, the market, ice rink and Santa ‘s chalet await you on the Allées de la Liberté, close to the funfair on the Esplanade Pantiero.

In Nice, the Christmas village welcomes young and old to the Albert 1er garden under the Ferris wheel.

In Antibes, merry-go-rounds, workshops and gourmet chalets can be found in the Place de Gaulle, the Place Nationale and the Pré-aux-Pêcheurs esplanade.

In Monaco, the Christmas village celebrates the centenary of Prince Rainier III, while in Menton, it’s “Christmas in the mountains” at the Mail du Bastion.

In Grasse, stalls will be set up on the Cours Honoré-Cresp on 16 and 17 December only.

In Saint-Raphaël, the traditional Christmas market takes place on the seafront.

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2- Enchanting strolls to feast your eyes on

The streets of the Côte d’Azur come alive with poetic strolls, where street artists, storytellers and musicians captivate passers-by. Enchanting shows emerge from the alleyways, creating a magical, timeless atmosphere.

In Cannes, don’t miss the “White Christmas” light parade on 23 December 2025 in the late afternoon: almost thirty artists – musicians, stilt-walkers, lighted fairies, dancers and, of course, Father Christmas – will form a glittering procession from the rue Meynadier to the Allées de la Liberté.
In the heart of Nice’s village, set up around Place Masséna and Jardin Albert 1er from 28 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, you’ll be able to vibrate to the rhythm of the musical parades and afterwork evenings, with concerts and DJ sets programmed several evenings a week, like the “Les plus beaux airs de Noël ” afterworks in the Caves Bianchi on 11 and 12 December 2025.
In Antibes, festive parades light up the old town and a grand inaugural parade opens the festivities on the evening of 29 November; in Juan-les-Pins , Father Christmas’ s spectacular arrival on water skis takes place on the morning of 20 December 2025 in the Bay of Juan-les-Pins.
In Monaco, the Christmas Village “Au pays des Nounours” on Port Hercule offers enchanting parades, street shows and musical evenings, while the ice rink and illuminated fountains at the Stade Nautique Rainier III provide a magical backdrop.
In Menton, decorated on the theme of “Christmas in the mountains”, the grand musical parades on 20 and 27 December 2025 will wind their way through the city centre before arriving at the Christmas market and entertainment on the Francis-Palmero esplanade and in the Biovès gardens.
In Saint-Raphaël, the festivities kick off on 6 December 2025 with a grand parade to the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-la-Victoire, which is lit up every evening. On 23 December 2025 , Father Christmas arrives with a toy parade and fireworks display on the seafront.

All the end-of-year events on the Côte d'Azur

ALL THE END-OF-YEAR EVENTS

3- Christmas cots for Côte d’Azur tradition

From 30 November 2025, the Lucéram Nativity Scene Circuit opens its doors for its 28ᵉ edition, inviting visitors to discover more than 450 traditional Christmas cots on display in the village lanes until 4 January 2026. This tradition of nativity scenes dates back to 1223, when Saint Francis of Assisi initiated the first representation of the Nativity in Greccio, Italy. This is an opportunity to (re)discover some of the region’s most emblematic Nativity scenes, starting with Lucéram’s not-to-be-missed Nativity Scenes Tour, a real winter getaway to discover a host of nativity scenes created by local people.

For life-size versions, don’t miss the giant ” Lou Présépi Nissart” cot on Place Rossetti in Nice, a traditional cot on a human scale and automated, installed from 17 to 29 December 2025 in the heart of Vieux-Nice.

Or the historic Suquet cot in Cannes, created in 1920 in the Notre-Dame-d’Espérance church. A veritable heritage treasure, this monumental cot is made up of over 70 polychrome plaster figures and a large painted decoration, and remains a strong symbol of the Christmas festivities for the people of Cannes.

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28th Lucéram Crib Circuit

Come and discover the 28th Lucéram Nativity Scenes Tour, with more than 450 traditional nativity scenes created by the villagers and exhibited all along the route!

4- Bathing in the sea to rejuvenate

Do you want to end the year on a high note or start the new one with energy? The Christmas and New Year’s Daysea baths, inspired by Nordic traditions, offer a winter dip in the Mediterranean that’s as invigorating as it is memorable, with friendly entertainment, costumed dives and hot drinks to share with friends and family.

Throughout the festive season, discover theChristmas bathsand theNew Year bathsalong the coast:

Christmas Bathin Cagnes-sur-Mer, organised on Sunday 7 December 2025 from 9.30am to 12pm at Cros-de-Cagnes,
Christmas Bathin Villefranche-sur-Mer on 21 December 2025 at 11am on the Marinières beach,
Christmas Bathin Villeneuve-Loubet on 21 December 2025 from 9.30am to 12.30pm on the Fighière beach,
Christmas Bathin Beaulieu-sur-Mer on 21 December 2025 at 11am on the Fourmis beach,
New Year’s bathin Menton on 4 January 2026 at 9.30am on the Sablettes beach,
New Year’s bathin Saint-Raphaël on 28 December 2025 at noon on Agay beach,
Christmas Bathin Saint-Tropez on 24 December 2025 at 11am on the Ponche beach,
New Year’s Day Bathin Les Issambres on 31 December 2025 at 9.30am on San Peire beach,
New Year’s Day Bathin Bormes-les-Mimosas on 1ᵉʳ January 2026 at 3pm on La Favière beach.

5- Luminiscence: a magical journey through the heart of Nice

A not-to-be-missed event for those in search of wonder: LUMINISCENCE – L’Odysée Céleste, a unique immersive show taking place in the magnificent Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption in Nice.

LUMINISCENCE harmoniously combines art, technology and heritage, transforming the neo-Gothic building into a veritable theatre of light and music. Thanks to 360-degree video mapping, the walls of the basilica come to life under the light projections, highlighting the sculpted details of the architecture, while live musicians and a choir accompany this visual metamorphosis.

This new show, which has already enchanted thousands of spectators in Bordeaux, Paris and Lille, offers visitors an unforgettable sensory journey to the heart of Nice’s history. It’s a true celebration of art and heritage, where past and present meet to offer a poetic and enchanting experience, plunging spectators into a captivating dream world.

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Luminiscence in Nice

Discover L’Odyssée Céleste, from 28 November 2025, LUMINISCENCE’s brand new creation, presented exclusively in Nice! Four months after the success of...

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6- Fireworks to ring in the New Year

The skies over the Côte d’Azur are lit up in dazzling colours to celebrate the New Year. A fireworks display and festive entertainment will bring residents and visitors together to celebrate the transition to a new year full of promise.

Cannes: head to the Bay of Cannes to watch the musicalNew Year’s Evefireworks, to be fired at midnight sharp on 31 December 2025. Extend the party with the ” Cannes Latino! ” New Year’s Concert by the Orchestre national de Cannes, on Saturday 3 January 2026 from 7.30 p.m. to 9.15 p.m.
Monaco: New Year’s Eve on 31 December 2025 promises to be a memorable occasion, with a musical extra vaganza hosted by two DJs from 9pm onwards in the harbour. A stage will be set up on the north side of the Quai to accommodate up to 2,000 additional spectators, before a fireworks display lights up the bay of Monaco at midnight.
Saint-Raphaël: the ” Tous sur son 31 ” evening in the Jardin Bonaparte will kick off at 6.30pm on 31 December 2025 with musical entertainment provided by a DJ. Then, at around 7.30pm, fireworks will light up the skies over Raphaël, for a magical moment to share with family and friends.
Juan-les-Pins: on 1ᵉʳ January 2026, at 6 p.m., the bay of Juan-les-Pins will be ablaze with a huge New Year’s Eve firework display fired across the avenue Courbet, visible all along the seafront. The evening continues at 8pm with the ” Cannes Latino! ” New Year’s Concert by the Orchestre National de Cannes at the Anthéa Theatre.