Annual Events & Celebrations in Paris: The Essential Guide For 2024-2025

Paris is alive with activity year-round, offering a tempting menu of events, fairs & festivals that capture the city's essence. From iconic celebrations to quieter moments of culture, the calendar is filled with diverse experiences that give you the opportunity you to explore and truly engage with the City of Light. Each month, you'll discover Paris bustling with fêtes and spectacles of all kinds. In our guide, we share our insights on major annual events, current activities, top dining spots, and insider tips on navigating the best that Paris has to offer, including the must-see moments that make every season special.

New Year's Eve fireworks on Champs-Elysées, photo Ville de Paris

January – Janvier

• JOUR DE L'AN – NEW YEAR'S DAY
  January 1
  French National Holiday
• LES SOLDES – JANUARY SALES
  The official sales start at major department stores and boutique shops in Paris.
  Second week in January
• MAISON & OBJET
  Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances & tableware. It's held twice a year.
  Paris Nord Villepinte
  → Information…
• PARIS FASHION WEEK
  Join the runway frenzy of top designers, models & beautiful people. Also held twice a year.
  → Information…

February – Fevrier

• ST-VALENTIN – VALENTINE'S DAY
  Did you know that Valentin, the saint, was French? Makes sense then that a day in his honor would become a time of love. This amorous holiday is becoming more popular in Paris.
  February 14
  → Guide to Valentine's Day in Paris…
• COURSE SAINT-VALENTIN – VALENTINE'S DAY RUN
  Run for love & laughter in Paris.
  → Information…
• RETROMOBILE VINTAGE CAR SHOW
  Love cars and love visiting Paris? You won't want to miss this fabulous car show. For the past 40-plus years Retromobile has showcased the auto industry, featuring hundreds of vintage cars.
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• SIX NATIONS RUGBY
  This annual European rugby tournament includes France versus Italy at the Stade de France.
  February 23, 2025
  → Information…
• SALON AGRICULTURE – PARIS AGRICULTURAL SHOW
  It's one of the biggest farm shows in France, dedicated to animal husbandry and plant care. And, of course, no one wants to miss the Milking Parlour!
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…

March – Mars

• SEMI DE PARIS – PARIS HALF-MARATHON
  The second most popular run (after the Paris Marathon), the Semi attracts 37K runners.
  Esplanade du Chateau de Vincennes
  → Information…
• LA FETE DE LA SAINT-PATRICK
  Head to one of the many Irish pubs in the city to celebrate the land of the Little People. Our fave is Galway's Pub at 13 Quai des Grands Augustins in the 6th.
  March 17
  
• CINEMA DU REEL FILM FESTIVAL
  See a fresh batch of French and international documentary and experimental films.
  2025 Venue TBA
  → Information…
• SALON DU TOURISME
  Join 100,000 travel professionals under one roof in Paris to discover all the latest trends and forecasts in the travel trade.
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…

Art Paris art fair at the Grand Palais

April – Avril

• ART PARIS – ART FAIR
  It's the leading fair for modern and contemporary art held every spring.
  Grand Palais
  → Information…
• POISSON D'AVRIL – APRIL FOOL'S DAY
  Poisson refers to the paper fish that French children tape to the backs of an unsuspecting friend's shirts.
  April 1
• THE ANNUAL PARIS MARATHON
  40,000 runners gather to run the marathon in the world's most beautiful city.
  April 13, 2025
  → Information…
• FESTIVAL DU LIVRE DE PARIS
  It's the biggest book fair in France with writers, authors, and publishers under one roof.
  Grand Palais
  → Information…

May – Mai

• FETE DU TRAVAIL – LABOR DAY
  May 1
  French National Holiday
• WWII VICTORY DAY CEREMONY
  The president of France will lay flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the liberation of France.
  Arc de Triomphe
  May 8
  French National Holiday
• FRENCH OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
  The only Grand Slam tournament played on red clay courts.
  Roland-Garros
  May to June
  → Information…
• TASTE OF PARIS
  This popular event brings together restaurants, food & wine producers with a line-up of cooking demonstrations by top chefs.
  May
  Grand Palais
  → Information…
• JAZZ FESTIVAL À SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS
  Top jazz performances in the heart of Paris. Doesn't get much better than this!
  → Information…
• LA NUIT DES MUSÉES
  Just another event that makes Paris great! Free museum entrance, plus they stay open until the wee hours.
  May
  → Information…
• FOIRE DE PARIS – HOME SHOW
  Discover the latest European trends in home interiors, gardens, outdoor activities, wine & gastronomy.
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE
  Cycle through English villages, rural France to the final destination, the Eiffel Tower!
  May 8 to 12
  → Information…

June – Juin

• MAKEUP IN PARIS
  It's a festival of cosmetics attended by trend setters, manufacturers and lovers of makeup.
  Carrousel du Louvre
  → Information…
• FETE DE LA MUSIQUE
  Free music concerts take to the streets and parks of Paris to celebrate the summer solstice.
  June 21
  → Information…
• FÊTE DES TUILERIES – PARIS FUNFAIR
  It's like the fairgrounds of your childhood – trampolines, bumper cars & cotton candy.
  Late June to August
  Tuileries Gardens & Place de la Concorde
• LA MARCHE DES FIERTÉS DE PARIS – LGBT PRIDE Check the calendar for exact times and the parade route
  Rue des Archives, 4th Arrondissement
  → Information…

July – Juillet

• TOUR DE FRANCE
  Normally, on the dramatic final, the cyclists circle the Champs Elysées. The dramatic final will once again take place in Paris as the cyclists circle the Champs-Elysées.
  Late June & July
  → Information…
• PARIS JAPAN EXPO
  Lovers of Japanese culture will unite to celebrate, manga, martial arts, animation & J-music.
  Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center
  → Information…
• VERSAILLES FESTIVAL
  Concerts, dance, recitals and fireworks – you won't want to miss this annual spectacular event.
  July to September
  → How to Visit Versailles…
• BASTILLE DAY
  Vive la liberté! In Paris, the military parade starts at 10 AM on the Champs-Elysées. The Eiffel Tower fireworks show starts at 11 PM.
  July 14
  French National Holiday
  → Guide to Bastille Day Celebrations…
• PARIS QUARTIER D'ETE FESTIVAL – NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL
  See 100 free dances, music and theatre performances in neighborhoods across Paris.
  July & August
  → Information…
• PARIS PLAGES
  Can't make it to the beach? No worries, the beach will come to you. 30 days of summer, 1225 tonnes of sand, 3.4 kilometres of Seine banks, and 250 umbrellas.
  July to August
  

August – Août

• ASSOMPTION – ASSUMPTION DAY
  This is an important religious holiday in France and you may be surprised (like us) to find that most stores, restaurants and services are closed August 15
  French National Holiday
• ROCK EN SEINE
  Although most Parisians have headed to the country for their August holidays, you can join those who have remained in the city… to rock out!
  Pont de St-Cloud
  → Information…
• FESTIVAL PARIS L'ETE – ARTS, SCENES & SUN
  100 performances, 40 locations throughout Paris near monuments, in parks and public squares. What a way to celebrate summer in the city!
  July & August
  → Information…
• ÉTÉ DU CANAL – SUMMER ON THE CANAL
  The Canal de L'Ourcq celebrates the summer with a fun program of dance, concerts, water activities including boat cruises, films screenings, and street art. Canal de L'Ourcq is a trendy part of the Parisian canal network in the 19th Arrondissement.
  July & August
  → Information…

September

• JAZZ DE LA VILLETTE
  A festival of soul, funk & eclectic sounds that attracts 30,000 music lovers.
  First days of September
  Parc de la Villette
  → Information…
• PARIS DESIGN WEEK
  Discover the best in design with the international design community in a program of talks, cocktails, and exhibition
  2nd week in September
  Various venues
  → Information…
• MAISON & OBJET
  Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances & tableware.
  2nd week in September
  → Information…
• EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
  The public is invited to step inside monuments normally off limits — the Senate, Elysée Palace, private chateaux, and others.
  → Information…
• SALON INTERNATIONAL DE LA MAISON DE POUPÉE
  That's right, it's the International Dollhouse Show, attracting vintage dolls house collectors from around the globe.
  Internationale Universitaire de Paris

Christmas at Hôtel de Ville, photo from Ville de Paris

October – Octobre

• FÊTES DES VENDANGE À MONTMARTRE
  It's the only wine harvest & festival in Paris, held near the one remaining vineyard in Montmartre!
  → Information…
• ART CONTEMPORAIN
  A world of wonderful contemporary art displayed at the fabulous Grand Palais. Fascinating.
  Grand Palais
  → Information…
• LE SALON DU CHOCOLAT
  It's the biggest celebration of chocolate in the world. And you don't want to miss the chocolate fashion show!
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
  → Our Guide to Salon du Chocolat…

November – Novembre

• LA TOUSSAINT – ALL SAINT'S DAY
  A Christian day of remembrance of all saints and martyrs.
  November 1
  French National Holiday
• ARMISTICE DAY
  France honors its war dead with a military parade from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysées.
  November 11
  • Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle
  • November 11
  • 11:00 AM: Wreath-Laying Ceremony
  • 9:00 PM: Vigil Ceremony
  French National Holiday
• Le Salon du Made In France
  Discover thousands of high-quality products from fashion, food, decoration, gastronomy, innovation, high-tech to tourism, all of them Made In France, as the even't title declares. The annual fair culminates with the Grands Prix Fait en France awards.
  November 11
  • Porte de Versailles
  • Late November
  • Information…
• BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU
  Fireworks, festivals, music start on the 3rd Thursday in November to mark the arrival of the new vintage of Beaujolais.
• PARIS PHOTO
  Returning to the Grand Palais for its 27th edition, Paris Photo features 191 galleries and 43 publishers from 33 countries, including 64 new participations.
  Grand Palais
  → Information…

December – Decembre

• Christmas Markets
  Celebrate the season by visiting a few of the many annual markets throughout the city with items for Noel!
  Throughout December
  → The Big List of Christmas Markets in Paris…
• WHERE TO SEE THE BEST CHRISTMAS WINDOWS
  • Galeries Lafayette, 9e
  • Printemps, 9e
  • Le Bon Marché, 7e
  • BHV in the Marais
  • Faubourg Sainte-Honore, 2e
  • Avenue Montaigne, 8e
  • Forum des Halles, 2e
  • Place Vendôme, 1er
• SALON DU CHEVAL DE PARIS
  After a four year hiatus, the greatest annual Paris horse show is back. High-level jumping competitions, the World Arabian Horse championships, and lots more horsey things.
  December 6 to 8
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• NOËL – CHRISTMAS DAY
  December 25
  French National Holiday

French National Holidays

Understanding French national holidays is key to planning your visit to Paris. Many offices, stores, and even museums close their doors on these days, and while some institutions do remain open, there's no single rule that applies universally. It's always wise to confirm details for specific locations before setting out, ensuring your time is spent enjoying the city rather than facing closed doors.

• New Year's Day, January 1
• Good Friday – French National Holiday
• Easter Sunday
• Easter Monday – French National Holiday
• Fête du Travail, May 1
• Ascension Day,in May
• WWII Victory Day, May 8
• Whit Monday, fifty days after Easter
• July 14, Bastille Day
• August 15, Assumption Day
• November 1, All Saints Day
• November 11, Armistice Day
• December 25, Christmas Day