Habits de Lumière is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Champagne calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Avenue de Champagne (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in 51200 Épernay, in the heart of one of France's most distinctive wine areas. The festival has been running since 2000 and reaches its 25th edition in 2026, giving it one of the longer track records among French wine events of its kind.
~50,000 visitors. Free admission. Three days of video mapping on monuments, fireworks, parade of 400+ vintage cars on Sunday. Michelin-starred chef demonstrations at 'Habits de Saveurs' on Saturday. Champagne houses open on Avenue de Champagne. French wine festivals typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy direct from the cellar at producer prices. The event is organised by City of Épernay + Comité de l'Avenue de Champagne, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
Champagne is the historic home of traditional-method sparkling wine, produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier across the chalk soils around Reims, Epernay and the Cote des Bar. The region's grandes maisons coexist with a growing movement of grower-producers who farm and bottle from their own villages. The Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne are UNESCO-listed. Festivals here range from large city celebrations such as Habits de Lumiere in Epernay to focused village weekends along the Route Touristique du Champagne, with summer events spread across the Marne, Aube and Cote des Bar.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for 11-13 December 2026. Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at habitsdelumiere.epernay.fr. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as French festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Champagne sits within easy day-trip range of Paris, with Reims and Epernay both connected by TGV in around 45 minutes. A festival visit pairs naturally with house tours at the grandes maisons, the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, and the chalk-cellar Crayeres of Reims. Champagne pairs traditionally with Brie de Meaux, Chaource, biscuits roses de Reims, and seasonal local produce. The Marne valley and Cote des Bar both reward longer stays with their growing scene of small producers.
