The Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree is once again drawing the eye beneath the department store’s dome on Boulevard Haussmann, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Since its unveiling on November 12, 2026, visitors have been able to discover the version designed by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for Christmas 2026: a tree that looks less like a conifer than a large, colorful sculpture.
This event, now one of the highlights of the festive season in Paris, is nothing new. Behind this suspended giant lies a story that began in the 1920s, with a simple party for employees. Here’s how it happened.
Galeries Lafayette’s 2026 Christmas windows: a colorful tale by Castelbajac — our photos
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann sees Christmas 2026 in technicolor! Starting November 12, the Paris department store unveils “At the Heart of Christmas,” a festive display dreamed up by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. On the program: animated window displays populated by fantastical characters, a giant Christmas tree beneath the Dome, and a joyful explosion of color. [Read more]
For this Christmas, themed “At the Heart of Christmas”, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has created the animated window displays, the store’s decorations and the giant Christmas tree. The designer has set aside the traditional tree in favor of a protective tree made of wings, conceived as a symbol of flight and celebration.
Beneath the glass roof, you’ll find large branches in vivid colors, characters straight out of the artist’s imagination, and an angel perched at the top. The Visual System collective’s light effects envelop the structure and bring its shapes to life as you walk around it. Our favorite view: from the upper-floor balconies, where you can really take in this quirky Christmas bird.
Castelbajac was no random choice. The designer has a long-standing connection with the department store, having taken part in the Fashion Festival launched by Galeries Lafayette back in 1980. The 2026 inauguration was also a musical affair, with Adèle Castillon and Sébastien Tellier by his side.
The first Christmas celebrations at Galeries Lafayette began outside. Starting in 1912, the very year the Coupole was completed, the store’s façade was lit up for the holidays, soon followed by the decoration of its famous window displays.
The Christmas tree, meanwhile, makes its entrance a little later. The Galeries Lafayette say it all began in 1920 with the company’s annual Christmas party. Employees and their children were invited to watch a stage show and admire a Christmas tree set up just in front of the grand staircase, beneath the Coupole.
The experience proved so popular that it was repeated in the years that followed. Little by little, this quiet moment reserved for staff became an event eagerly anticipated by visitors from around the world. The tree grew, as did its decorations, until it achieved the renown it enjoys today.
For a long time, the Christmas tree was displayed outside the store. Everything changed in 1976. Two years earlier, the Majorelle staircase that occupied the center of the grand hall had been removed, freeing up the space beneath the Dome.
Mr. Meyer’s idea, championed by Mr. Adnet and Mr. Gauchet, was to install a giant Christmas tree in the heart of the store. That was the year the tradition began of hanging the tree beneath the dome, a custom that has continued ever since.
Since 1945, the Christmas decorations have followed a specific theme, with designers and creators commissioned each year to come up with new designs. Among them are names such as Raymond Peynet, Albert Dubout, Jean Effel and Pierre Pothier. Some Christmas trees have gone down in history:
And you, what’s your favorite Christmas tree? By the way, do you know why we decorate a tree at Christmas?
The Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree takes on a new look each year beneath the Coupole on Boulevard Haussmann. To celebrate the 2026 creation by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, we’re looking back at the department store’s 14 most recent giant trees, from 2026 to 2013. [Read more]
The tree is on display free of charge at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, at 40 boulevard Haussmann, during store opening hours. It’s easy to get there by taking the metro to Chaussée d’Antin–La Fayette station (lines 7 and 9) or the RER A to Auber. For a bird’s-eye view, the department store also offers the Glasswalk experience, a glass walkway that can be booked and lets you look down on the tree.
A tip: in the late afternoon and on weekends, crowds flock beneath the dome just as they do in front of the shop windows. It’s best to visit on a weekday morning to enjoy the spectacle without jostling for space. Before you leave, head up to the rooftop terrace, which is free to access and will host a temporary ice rink from November 24, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with views of the Opéra Garnier and the Eiffel Tower.
This stop is for anyone who loves the holiday spirit in Paris, whether with family, as a couple or with friends. Children will find a setting straight out of a picture book, while adults can enjoy a genuine piece of Parisian history. Spend half an hour here, gazing up, before continuing your stroll along the boulevard.
To keep the festive spirit going, here are two more ideas in the same vein: a tour of the Christmas window displays in Paris department stores, from Printemps to Le Bon Marché, and a stroll beneath the Christmas lights in Paris, which transform the capital’s streets until January.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Location
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
40 Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris 9
Route planner
Accessibility info
Galeries Lafayette’s 2026 Christmas windows: a colorful tale by Castelbajac — our photos
The last 14 Christmas trees at Galeries Lafayette, from 2026 to 2013
