Start on Boulevard Haussmann, where the fairy tale unfolds
The crowd slows to a shuffle on Boulevard Haussmann as the windows come alive: painted collages of a guide called Armand leading you through a fairy tale, Santa half-buried in children's letters, the Princess of Clearings choosing her tree, angels recovering a lost star, and a grand banquet at the end. The 2026 display, themed "Au cœur de Noël," is designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac in his colourful, pop, freehand-drawing style; he has collaborated with the store for nearly 50 years. The windows are unveiled on November 12, 2026, and the spectacle extends onto the storefront itself, so walk the whole facade rather than stopping at the first pane.
- Look for the animated tableaux presented as pages of a fairy-tale book along the Boulevard Haussmann frontage.
- Go in the evening for the lighting effects by the Visual System collective.
- Note the date: the unveiling is November 12, 2026.
Stand under the Coupole, then climb for the view
Inside, the Christmas tree under the Coupole is not a traditional fir: it is a sculptural "protective tree" with oversized colourful branches, fantastical characters and an angel at the top. Because it is viewable from multiple floors, take the escalators up and look down at it from different heights before descending to the ground-floor atrium. The store has installed a large Christmas tree under its dome every year since 1976, so you are standing in a tradition that is now half a century old.
- View the tree from several levels, not just the ground floor.
- Watch for exclusive collaborations and collections using Castelbajac's motifs in the store's merchandise.
Skate on the roof with the Eiffel Tower in view
The rooftop ice rink returns from November 24, 2026 to January 3, 2027, themed on Castelbajac's universe, with views over Paris rooftops and the Eiffel Tower. Book your visit inside that window and treat the rink as the finale of your walk through the store: windows on the street, tree under the dome, then skates on the roof.
Know the season's rhythm
The Paris Christmas window-display season opens with Printemps before Galeries Lafayette, so plan a circuit that takes in both stores. The Galeries Lafayette windows are unveiled on November 12, 2026, and the rooftop rink runs from November 24, 2026 to January 3, 2027; those are the fixed points to build your trip around.
- Mid-November: window unveiling on Boulevard Haussmann.
- Late November to early January: rooftop ice rink.
- Before the Galeries Lafayette unveiling: see the Printemps windows, which open the season.
Plan your evening around the lights
Set aside an evening for the Boulevard Haussmann frontage, when the animated windows and the lighting effects under the Coupole are at their best, and check the store's opening hours before you go so you can move between the street, the dome and the roof without rushing. Start with the windows, work your way up to the tree, and finish on the ice rink with the city spread out below.