Mons – Mons Cœur en Neige 2026
What to expect
Mons Cœur en Neige 2026 takes place from 05.12.2026 to 03.01.2027 in Mons (Belgium). Christmas market, children’s rides and an ice rink spanning 600 m² across three squares. Here you’ll find all the essential information for your winter visit.
Mons Cœur en Neige 2026: The winter festival in Mons city centre
Mons Cœur en Neige transforms the city centre into a winter wonderland from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. The event is spread across three areas: Grand-Place, Marché aux Herbes and Place Léopold. It combines a Christmas market, food and leisure attractions. The 2026 edition has already been announced as the 22. The illuminated historic city centre, with its winter-decorated houses around the main square, is particularly impressive. If you take your time, you can visit all the areas.
Mons Cœur en Neige 2026: Carousels and Luna Park
The official programme lists several attractions for families. At Grand-Place, there's a Christmas-themed tree ride, as well as a carousel and duck fishing for younger children. A Luna Park is also part of the winter wonderland at Place Léopold. The individual rides cost extra, depending on the operator. As there is no verified list of the operators and models of these attractions, no specific showman profiles have been assigned yet. However, the funfair is clearly part of the programme.
Mons Cœur en Neige 2026: Ice rink and Christmas train
At Place Léopold, you'll find a covered ice rink of about 600 square metres. For 2026, the organiser lists prices of seven euros per hour for children under twelve and ten euros for older visitors, including skate hire. A free Christmas train also runs between the three festival areas on selected weekends. This makes it easy to visit several locations with children. It's especially handy if you'd like to combine a visit to the market with a turn on the ice.
Christmas market and food across three squares
At Grand-Place, you'll find festive chalets offering food, drinks and gift ideas. For 2026, the Alsace region is highlighted in particular as a culinary theme. Marché aux Herbes has a smaller winter food village, with an illuminated canopy above the stalls. There are also craft chalets that change over time. The illuminated surroundings are perfect for taking photos. Further decorations and Christmas figures provide a backdrop for a relaxing evening visit.
Free entry and special closing days
Entry to the public market squares is free. You pay separately for rides, the ice rink, food and shopping. On most days, the market opens in the morning, but closing times vary by day of the week. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the usual market hours end earlier. Important: the market facilities are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The organiser also notes that some food vendors may stay open longer, but this is not guaranteed for everyone.
Getting there and latest information
Mons is accessible by train, and Place Léopold is near the station. From there, you can walk through the old town to the Grand-Place. There are several car parks in the city centre, for example on Rue d’Havré and Rue de la Halle. You can find more Belgian winter markets in the funfair calendar. The website of Mons Cœur en Neige has all the official dates, attractions and special opening hours. You should check for changes and weather updates shortly before your journey.
Highlights at a glance
What Mons Cœur en Neige has to offer
- Opening / ceremonial keg tapping
- Ice rink / curling
- Large Christmas tree
- Special lighting / world of lights
- Children's area / fairy-tale forest
More to experience in Mons
AdvertisingProgramme & dates
- Sat5DecParade Amoureuse opening parade16:30Starting at Grand-Place MonsFree opening parade by Compagnie Remue-Ménage.
- Sat5DecOfficial opening of Mons Cœur en Neige18:30Grand-Place / Kiosque MagiqueOfficial festival speech, followed by a DJ programme.
- Sun6DecFree Christmas train between the three locations14:00 – 20:00Grand-Place / Place Léopold / Marché aux HerbesThe free train is also scheduled to run on other listed weekends in December, as well as on 2 and 3 January.
Impressions
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Getting there & services
Train: Travel to Mons station. From there, it is about 10 minutes on foot to the Grand-Place; Place Léopold is right next to the station.
Bus: Regional TEC-Hainaut buses connect Mons with the surrounding area. Check timetables with the operator in advance.
Car: Take the Paris–Brussels motorway and exit at 24 Mons. Covered car parks: Grand-Place (Rue d’Havré 29) and Halle (Rue de la Halle 5); according to the organisers, the first hour is free there. Other parking options near the station: P4 (Boulevard Charles Quint) and P2 (Avenue Melina Mercouri).
Bicycle: The city centre is reachable by bike from the surrounding towns. On selected event days, there is also a free Christmas train for the journey between Grand-Place, Marché aux Herbes and Place Léopold.
Frequently asked questions
When does Mons Cœur en Neige 2026 take place?
From Saturday, 5 December 2026, to Sunday, 3 January 2027, with closures on 25 December and 1 January.
Where is the winter festival in Mons?
Across three squares: Grand-Place, Marché aux Herbes and Place Léopold in the city centre.
Are there rides?
Yes, the organiser lists a tree carousel, a traditional children's carousel and a Luna Park.
Is admission free?
The winter markets are free to enter. Rides, the ice rink and shopping cost extra.
When is the ice rink open?
It is scheduled to run from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with closures on 25 December and 1 January. Daily times are listed in the opening hours schedule.
How much are the ice rink tickets?
For 2026, the organiser lists 7 € per hour for children under twelve and 10 € for those aged twelve and over, including skate hire.
Is there a free Christmas train?
Yes, on selected days in December and on 2 and 3 January, the free train connects the three winter areas.
