Paris Events In July 2025 – Bastille, Fireworks & A Beach Party

Summer is in full swing in Paris and the long days are good times for day trips to magical places like Monet's gardens at nearby Giverny or a bike ride to the royale estate of Versailles. Meanwhile, back in the city, there are fairs, celebrations, and festivals. To get you started take a peek at our Big List of the Best Things to Do in Paris in July! Vive l'été!

Paris Plages

Paris Plages is a tradition started in 2002 by then-Mayor Bertrand Delanoe who wanted to create a vacation environment for the unlucky Parisians who couldn't get away for the all-important summer vacances. It just seems to get better and better with each passing year. 5,000 tonnes of sand are hauled in, along with 100 palm trees, and easily as many beach umbrellas.

There are numerous food & beverage stands, free concerts, dancing, misting stations, and tons of fun activities like sandcastle building competitions. It's one of the best reasons to visit Paris in the summer.

• Along the banks of the Seine
• Mid July to late August, 2025

Bastille Day Celebrations – July 14, 2025

Vive la liberté!  Without doubt this is the most important event in the Paris calendar. Europe's oldest and biggest military parade commences promptly at 10 AM on the Champs-Elysées. The crowds will be huge, but it's a chance to see the President of France, a flight of planes, horses, and soldiers promenade from the Arc de Triomphe towards Place de la Concorde.

In the evening, witness the annual fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. The best place to be is at the Trocadero (across the river from the mighty tower). But arrive early to find a spot. The fireworks starts at around 11 PM and lasts for about 35 minutes. Find out more about Bastille Day here.

Tour de France

Paris in the summer has one highlight after another. Just when you think you can't take another event, it's the Tour de France. The famous French cycling race started in 1903 as a way to boost readership in a car magazine. The course changes yearly but the format is the same — with time trials, a hilly race through the country's mountains, les plaines, and, usually ending in Paris as the cyclists circle the Champs-Elysées ten times. For 2025, due to the Paris Olympic Games, the race will end in Nice.

The route covers about 3,000 km, over cobblestones, dirt roads and demanding mountain finishes in the Alps or the Pyrenees or Mount Ventoux in Provence. If you happen to be in Paris on the final Sunday, head to Place de la Concorde to get up close to the cyclists. It's a thrilling sporting moment.

• France
• First three weeks in July, but check website.
• Information…

Cinéma En Plein Air 2025

Since 1990 Parc de la Villette has been the biggest open-air cinema in Paris. Now, however, there are even more outdoor filmgoing venues, The film festival runs over two months from mid-July to August.

• Parc de la Villette and elsewhere
• July to August
• Information…

Paris Japan Expo

Are you a fan of Japan and its culture? If so, you must attend the Japan Expo in July. From manga to martial arts; and video games to J-music, the Paris Japan Expo offers up endless discoveries. There'll be signings, speakers, workshops, and masterclasses where famous artists — mangaka, animators, illustrators, video game creators, film producers, musicians, and composers — will reveal their secrets and top tips.

Music from rock, J-Pop, shamisen, koto, and sanshin right up to traditional genres will be also represented. There are hands-on workshops to teach you the basics of drawing, modeling, ikebana, origami and calligraphy.

You can't have a festival of Japanese culture without having video games. Many video games will be available for free where you can try the latest releases and participate in tournaments. The creators of video games will also be on hand to tell you about their jobs and insider tips. There's also an area dedicated to martial arts where you can learn the basics of Ninjutsu, kendo, judo, aikido and karate.

• Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
• First week in July, check website
• Information…

The Peacock Society Festival

It's a celebration of electronic music and arts. The event takes place in Parc Floral, in Bois de Vincennes, the largest park in Paris. The action happens in the Grande Halle of Parc Floral, a huge historic industrial warehouse large enough to hold two large dance floors, lit by magnificent glass canopies.

There are also outdoor spaces, including a chill-out area where you'll find bars and street food trucks. New this year is the Cine-Club with a laboratory pavilion, documentary screenings and talks.

• Parc Floral
• Information…

Festival Paris l'Été

This annual arts festival features dance, music and theatre events in neighborhood venues across Paris. Since 1990 the Paris Summer Festival has been organizing artistic and cultural events throughout the city.

The arts represented are theatre, dance, circus, music, and art installations in many of the capital's famous and unusual places. Most are found outdoors and outside traditional entertainment venues in paces like national monuments, schools, parks and gardens, museums, and even swimming pools. Last year 45,000 spectators found their way to almost thirty locations during the three-week festival.

• July to early August
• Information…

Lollapalooza Paris

The live music festival comes to Paris in a three-day event at the Hippodrome de Longchamp, the historic racecourse in the 16th Arrondissement, Bois de Boulogne. France being France, you'll be able to visit Lolla Chef, a large area dedicated to gastronomy and the culinary arts. There's also an area and a stage dedicated to families, where parents and children can have fun.

• Hippodrome de Longchamp
• Mid July
• Information…

Free Concerts at Hotel de Ville

In July the FNAC festival is staged at the Hotel de Ville, featuring thirty free concerts in the square in front. The big stage usually has its share of headliners. (Like Sting and Franz Ferdinand.) The concerts attract about 100,000 music lovers.

• Hotel de Ville
• Three days in early July
• Information…

Chopin Festival

Head to the beautiful, magical Parc de Bagatelle for a summer filled with dazzling music by Chopin.

• Parc de Bagatelle, 16th Arrondissement
• Information…

Fête des Tuileries

This Fun Fair is the place to go with small children — rides, cotton candy and fun events all summer long.

• Jardins des Tuileries, along Rue de Rivoli
• Information…