What's on in Lyon

Lyon events in December 2026

281 events in December 2026: 57 markets, 37 concerts, 33 activities and classes, 33 comedy shows, 26 illuminations, 24 exhibitions, 21 performances, 16 tours, 11 classical and opera events, 5 sports events, 4 talks, 4 film screenings, 4 festivals, 4 dance shows and 2 nightlife events, from headline festivals to neighbourhood fairs. The biggest dates are Festival of Lights (5 to 8 Dec).

December in Lyon. The listings come from the organisers' own pages, and more go in as their dates are confirmed. More on the season in Neighbourhood guides.

Map

Lyon weather in December

Average high
8°C (46°F)
Average low
2°C (36°F)
Rain
54 mm
Rainy days
about 9

You'll want a warm coat, with a hat and gloves for evenings near 2°C (36°F). Pack a small umbrella too, as it rains on about 9 days.

Averages from the Météo-France normals for 1991 to 2020, Lyon-Bron (69029001) station (rain table). Rainy days have at least 1 mm of rain.

Best time to visit Lyon

Don't miss in December 2026

Illumination Festival of Lights 5 to 8 Dec · Streets, squares and parks across the city Light installations are shown across Lyon in the evening, with more than 25 works on the 2026 programme.

Picks for December 2026

Listings as of 13 November 2026. Chosen from the listings below by one rule. The city’s best-known annual events come first, then festivals and illuminations, events that start in these dates and run only a few days, and events with a photo. Each line is built from the listing’s own facts.

  1. Festival of LightsIllumination at Streets, squares and parks across the city, 5 to 8 Dec.
  2. Lyon Christmas marketMarket at Place Carnot, 20 Nov to 24 Dec.
  3. Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale 2026Exhibition at macLYON, Grandes Locos, Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs and other venues, 19 Sept to 13 Dec.

Calendar

122+22 more+2 on for weeks3 gigs229+29 more+2 on for weeks9 gigs325+25 more+2 on for weeks10 gigs429+29 more+2 on for weeks12 gigs560Festival of Lights+59 more+2 on for weeks9 gigs650Festival of Lights+49 more+2 on for weeks4 gigs729Festival of Lights+28 more+2 on for weeks2 gigs842Festival of Lights+41 more+2 on for weeks1 gig929+29 more+2 on for weeks8 gigs1027+27 more+2 on for weeks9 gigs1130+30 more+2 on for weeks9 gigs1238+38 more+2 on for weeks10 gigs1327+27 more+2 on for weeks3 gigs144+4 more+1 on for weeks2 gigs1521+21 more+1 on for weeks5 gigs1624+24 more+1 on for weeks6 gigs1722+22 more+1 on for weeks11 gigs1825+25 more+1 on for weeks11 gigs1937+37 more+1 on for weeks11 gigs2023+23 more+1 on for weeks1 gig213+3 more+1 on for weeks1 gig2220+20 more+1 on for weeks3 gigs2319+19 more+1 on for weeks2 gigs2418+18 more+1 on for weeks2517+17 more1 gig2620+20 more2 gigs2722+22 more2 gigs283+3 more2918+18 more1 gig3020+20 more2 gigs3120+20 more5 gigs

Day by day

Each event on its first day still ahead. Tap a day in the calendar for everything on that day and its gigs.

1 event · 9 gigs

Festival of LightsStreets, squares and parks across the city · 5 to 8 Dec

On for weeks

2 long runs, such as exhibitions and illuminations: on for more than a week, so shown once instead of every day.

Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale 2026macLYON, Grandes Locos, Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs and other venues · 19 Sept to 13 Dec
Lyon Christmas marketPlace Carnot · 20 Nov to 24 Dec

Planning a trip in December

The calendar above lists 281 events in December 2026, and it's updated every week. Where to stay in Lyon compares the main areas.

More things to do in Lyon in December

Beyond the dated events, here's what the season brings and which guides cover December.

Also worth a look

Good to know

What is on in Lyon in December 2026?

There are 281 events listed for December 2026 (57 markets, 37 concerts, 33 activities and classes, 33 comedy shows, 26 illuminations, 24 exhibitions, 21 performances, 16 tours, 11 classical and opera events, 5 sports events, 4 talks, 4 film screenings, 4 festivals, 4 dance shows and 2 nightlife events). The big dates are Festival of Lights (5 to 8 Dec). 281 have confirmed dates. Every listing links to the interactive map.

What's the weather like in Lyon in December?

In December Lyon averages a high of 8°C (46°F) and a low of 2°C (36°F), with 54 mm of rain on about 9 days. Those are Météo-France averages for 1991 to 2020 at its Lyon-Bron (69029001) station, counting days with at least 1 mm of rain.

Are there free events in Lyon in December 2026?

Yes. 56 of the 281 events listed for December 2026 are free to attend.

Is December a good time to visit Lyon?

December in Lyon. The listings come from the organisers' own pages, and more go in as their dates are confirmed.

How current is this list?

Dated events are checked against the organiser's own page, and finished events drop off the page on their own. Annual events further out carry their usual dates until the official ones are published.

Running an event? Add your event and it's checked within a day.