SANTON FAIR
The Arles Santon Fair
One weekend only, October 31 and November 1, 2026, in the Chapelle Sainte-Anne on the place de la République. It’s one of the first fairs of the season, and it’s not the same as the international exhibition held in the same place two weeks later.
| At a glance | 2026 edition |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Location | Chapelle Sainte-Anne, place de la République, 13200 Arles |
| Hours | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Admission | Free |
| Organizer | Association Le Salon des santonniers |
| Not to be confused with | The International Santon Makers’ Show, same venue, November 14, 2026, to January 10, 2027: a juried exhibition, admission charged |
Two events, one venue
Arles confuses a lot of people, so let’s be clear. The town hosts two different events in the same Chapelle Sainte-Anne:
| The fair | The international show | |
|---|---|---|
| When | October 31 and November 1, 2026 | November 14, 2026 – January 10, 2027 |
| What | Santon makers selling | An exhibition judged by a jury |
| Admission | Free | Paid |
| Can you buy? | Yes | No, you look |
If you want to buy santons, go on the All Saints’ Day weekend. If you want to see what santon makers can do when they’re trying to impress each other rather than make a sale, go to the exhibition. It’s a completely different experience, and worth the trip for its own reasons.
An early-season fair
Late October is early, and that’s the whole point. The workshops have all their stock, nothing has sold yet, and the one-of-a-kind pieces are all still there. A month later, the same booths will have sold their best work.
This is the fair to go to if you’re starting a new nativity this year. Two months before Christmas, you still have time to build the scenery around the santons you buy, instead of the other way around. Most people do it backward and wish they hadn’t.
With only two days, get there early on Saturday. The Chapelle Sainte-Anne is beautiful but small, and by noon on Saturday the aisles between the tables are packed.
Getting there
The place de la République is the heart of Arles, between the town hall and the church of Saint-Trophime, and the Chapelle Sainte-Anne fills its north side. The whole center is pedestrian-only, so park in one of the lots on the edge (Centre, des Lices) and walk in. The train station is about fifteen minutes away on foot.
The season’s other fairs
Four other fairs open the same weekend: Cagnes-sur-Mer, Fuveau, Marguerittes, and Mouans-Sartoux, which starts November 1 and runs for nearly two months.
The full 2026 santon fair calendar lists the whole season, from September 19 to January 3, and you can sort it by month and by area.
Information checked on September 13, 2026, with the Arles tourist office. We can’t guarantee dates or hours: a fair can be moved or canceled, and the organizer’s information is what counts. Confirm before you go.