Paris Events In May 2025 – Food, Jazz, Tennis & A Night At The Museums

Spring is in the air while Paris events in May explode. The month starts out with Fête du Travail, Labour Day, one of the most important holidays of the year, and follows with the St-Germain Jazz Festival, the French Open, and one of our favorites, Taste of Paris at the Grand Palais. And, if you're feeling a little stiff from attending all of those Paris events in May, head out to the Porte de la Villette Convention Center for the Yoga Festival!

La Fête du Travail

This is probably the most important national holidays in France and one of the biggest Paris events in May. Labor Day is taken very seriously and is celebrated in the city with a handful of peaceful rallies along with a big parade at Bastille.

In 1886, socialists celebrated the anniversary of the French Revolution by declaring May 1 International Workers Day. Their original symbol, a red triangle, symbolized eight hours of work, eight hours of sleep. and eight hours of leisure. In 1907 it was replaced by the Lily of the Valley (called muguet in French). May 1 was officially declared Fête du Travail in 1941 and is now a national holiday in France.

May 1st is also celebrated as the real arrival of spring. You'll see many pop-up sidewalk stalls selling muguets, since it's the only day when flowers can be sold on the street without a permit. In France, muguets have long been a symbol of good luck; it's said that the tradition started with Charles IX in 1561, when he was given the flower as a gift. He was such a fan that he started giving them to all the ladies of his court on the same day each year. Expect many restaurants, museums, and services to be closed.

• French National Holiday
• May 1

La Fête de la Victoire

During this World War II Victory Day ceremony the President of France lays flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe to honor the liberation of France.

It was May 7, 1945 when the Nazis unconditionally surrendered to the Allies in Reims, and May 8th when Russia accepted Germany's surrender, marking the end of the World War II. Although Victory Day had been celebrated for decades, it was only in 1981 that President François Mitterrand declared Victory Day a French National Holiday.

• French National Holiday
• May 8
• Arc de Triomphe

Jazz Festival at Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Created in 2001, the Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a hallmark event held in Paris every spring. Check out the schedule to catch outstanding concerts and listen to emerging young artists and international jazz stars perform.

In the past, notable musicians like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Norah Jones, Michel Legrand, Kyle Eastwood, Paolo Fresu, Kenny Barron, Kurt Elling, Lucky Peterson, Richard Galliano, Raphael Gualazzi and Hugh Coltman have performed at iconic locations like Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Odéon Theater, Paris-Sorbonne University, and the Cluny Museum. You can tell by that list that you don't want to miss this year's concerts.

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés
• Information…

Paris Events in May – The French Open

The French Open, or Championnats Internationaux de France de Tennis,is held at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris every year between late May and early June. (The stadium is named after the famous French aviator Roland Garros). It's one of the biggest sporting events in France — after football (soccer), of course!

The two-week tournament is the second of the four tennis Grand Slams — the others are the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. The French Open is the only Grand Slam event held on clay, famous for its slower playing surface, and is considered the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world.

• Stade Roland-Garros
• May to June
• Information…

Taste of Paris

Taste of Paris is four days of pure food bliss, where some of the city's top chefs — along with a few rising stars — set up pop-up restaurants to serve tasting portions of their signature dishes. Think of it as a whirlwind culinary tour, minus the long waitlists and impossible reservations. And it all takes place under the iconic glass dome of the Grand Palais.

You can sample a little of everything, from haute cuisine to modern bistro fare, all in one place. And it's not just about eating — there are live cooking demos, workshops, and masterclasses where you can pick up a few tricks from the pros (or just watch in admiration while they make it all look effortless).

The festival also features a buzzing gourmet market packed with artisan producers offering everything from charcuterie and cheeses to caviar and champagne. If you like to snack while you shop, this is your kind of place. If you're a die-hard food love or just seek out the bubbly, Taste of Paris is the best of the Paris events in May.

• Grand Palais
• Information…

Nuit des Musées

Art lovers unite! Two million visitors, 1,200 museums and 3,000 events make this free night at the museums a sensational success across Europe. During one night in May, Paris museums fling open their doors for a free late-night experience.

Paris Museum Night is a great time to stay up and catch some art action. The idea started in Berlin in 1997; in Paris we have the former mayor Bertrand Delanoe to thank for grabbing the idea and making it even bigger with guided tours, workshops, screenings, tastings, and live entertainment.

• Information…

Yoga Festival Paris

Last but not least on our list of Paris events in May, the Yoga Festival is an annual event that's the biggest of its kind in France. Visitors get to meet experts in yoga, Ayurveda, and similar disciplines. Ninety free yoga classes are offered in three studios. Also on the agenda are conferences focusing on self-care and nutrition. Then there are the healing workshops and master yoga classes. Ahh!

• Porte de la Villette Convention Center
• Information…