New Year's Eve in Colmar, France 2026/2027: Celebrations, Program & Tips

Welcome to the New Year's Eve 2026/2027 in Colmar

Colmar rings in New Year's Eve and New Year 2026/2027 in the heart of Alsace: among half-timbered houses, the canals of Petite Venise and Place Rapp. 31 December 2026 is a Thursday; 1 January 2027 is a public holiday. The six Christmas markets close on 29 December 2026, while the gourmet market and Ferris wheel on Place Rapp stay open until 3 January 2027 (closing at 5:00 p.m. on 31 December).

Highlights & Attractions at New Year's Eve in Colmar

• Traditional free skating-and-concert gala at Patinoire de Colmar (15 rue Robert Schuman) – in recent years on 31 December from 5:00 p.m., doors 4:15–4:50 p.m.
• Christmas lights across the old town, especially along the canals of Petite Venise
• Gourmet market and Ferris wheel on Place Rapp until 3 January 2027 (31 December: last entry by 5:00 p.m.)
• Restaurant and hotel réveillon dinners; book tables well in advance
• Evening walks along the Lauch canals with lights reflected in the water
• New Year concerts are common in early January (in previous years at Église Saint-Matthieu); the 2027 schedule is published later
• No official municipal fireworks in recent years; private fireworks are often restricted by seasonal prefecture rules in Haut-Rhin – check current decrees

Program & Schedule: What to Expect in 2026/2027

Colmar’s New Year is more about atmosphere than a single stadium-style countdown. A typical 31 December: afternoon in the old town and on Place Rapp (market and wheel close at 5:00 p.m.), then the city’s traditional gala with Harmonie Colmarienne and Colmar Sports de Glace at the ice rink – free, unreserved seating, limited capacity (about 1,800 spectators in a recent edition). Evening réveillon dinners follow; at midnight the old town remains lit, but the city has not staged an official fireworks show in 2024/2025 or 2025/2026. The detailed 2026/2027 gala programme had not been released at the time of writing; the event itself is a long-standing local fixture. Early January often brings New Year concerts – confirm dates on tourisme-colmar.com and colmar.fr.

Nearby Turckheim sometimes hosts a free night-watchman round with choir around midnight; confirmation for 2026/2027 usually comes in late autumn. Cuvée Givrée at the exhibition park is a winter party between Christmas and New Year; 2026 dates were not yet confirmed.

Tickets & Admission for New Year's Eve Colmar

Public squares, illuminations and the traditional ice-rink gala are free (subject to capacity). Réveillon menus and hotel packages are charged separately; in comparable past seasons festive menus often ranged from about EUR 70 to EUR 150 per person. Exact 2026/2027 prices appear in autumn from restaurants and the tourist office. Official sources: tourisme-colmar.com, noel-colmar.com and colmar.fr. For early-January concerts, buy tickets from the relevant organiser.

Visitor Tips: Travel & Accommodation in Colmar

• Arrive by train via Strasbourg (TGV + TER) at Colmar station, or via EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg plus rail/bus. The old town is walkable; expect limited traffic and full car parks on New Year's Eve.
• Late December and early January often sit around or below freezing. Wear warm boots, layers and gloves; bridges and cobblestones can be icy.
• Book old-town and Petite Venise hotels early – the days after the markets and the turn of the year are busy. Nearby villages such as Eguisheim or Turckheim are useful backups.
• Use Place Rapp before 5:00 p.m. on 31 December; after that the evening moves to restaurants, hotels and lit streets. Arrive early for the ice-rink gala; entry is often closed after 4:50 p.m.
• Check colmar.fr and the Haut-Rhin prefecture for fireworks bans and road closures. Carry some cash for small stalls; many restaurants require a reservation and deposit for réveillon.