Old Port of Marseille hosts Santon Fair from 14 November
Published on 10/21/2026 at 19:08 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFair programme and historic setting
- The Union of Santon Makers of Provence opens the fair at the Old Port of Marseille on 14 November 2026.
- Visitors can see 21 santon makers, Provençal craft and folk performances during the fair.
- The Marseille fair traces its history to 1803 and occupies the Quai du Port.
- Metro line 1 serves Vieux-Port station near the venue.
The Old Port of Marseille (Vieux Port de Marseille) will host the Santon Fair from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. The fair at the Quai du Port brings a seasonal programme of Provençal craft to Marseille, France, with its official inauguration planned for 15 November.
Santon Fair opens at the Quai du Port on 14 November
The Union of Santon Makers of Provence lists the fair at the Quai du Port, 13001 Marseille, from 14 November 2026 until 3 January 2027. The organiser says that 21 santon makers will take part in an event created in Marseille in 1803. The organiser’s 2026 programme also gives the opening date, venue and inauguration details.
The official opening is scheduled for Sunday 15 November. A santon makers’ mass in Provençal is planned at 10.30am at Saint-Ferréol les Augustins, followed at about noon by the ribbon-cutting at the entrance to the fairground. The organiser says that the mayor and elected representatives will then visit the stands with folk groups performing nearby.
Marseille’s Old Port connects the fair with Provençal craft
Santons are small clay figures associated with Provençal nativity scenes and local everyday life. The fair’s location places that craft programme on the northern waterfront, where the Quai du Port forms part of the historic harbour setting.
The Marseille tourist office describes the event as the city’s oldest santon fair and confirms its origins in 1803. Its listing records the 224th edition at the Old Port, with artisans from Provence and chalets for activities. That combination connects the 2026 programme with the harbour’s long-established role as a public gathering place. The tourist office listing confirms the dates, location and inauguration.
Craft stalls and folk groups shape the 2026 programme
The fair is organised around the makers’ stalls rather than a single performance. The tourist office says that activities and workshops are offered during the run, while folk groups perform on Wednesdays and at weekends. These programme elements give the 2026 edition a direct link to the craft displayed at the harbour.
The event is also accessible to readers without a ticket purchase: the Marseille tourist office states that admission is free. The organiser’s page identifies the participating makers as professional producers whose santons, crèches and accessories are made in Provence.
Visiting Old Port of Marseille: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Santon Fair runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 at the Quai du Port, Old Port of Marseille.
- Admission is free, and the public inauguration takes place on 15 November 2026 with a mass, ribbon-cutting and folk groups.
- Metro line 1 serves Vieux-Port station, with the venue on the Quai du Port in central Marseille.
- The visit centres on outdoor harbour-side stalls and craft displays, with activities and workshops listed for the fair period.
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Frequently asked questions about Old Port of Marseille
When does the Santon Fair take place at Old Port of Marseille?
The fair runs from 14 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 at the Quai du Port.
What is the Santon Fair at Old Port of Marseille?
It is a Provençal craft fair with 21 santon makers, workshops and folk performances, tracing its Marseille origins to 1803.
Where is Old Port of Marseille and how do you get there?
The venue is on the Quai du Port in central Marseille, near Vieux-Port station on metro line 1.
