Paris Events In January 2024 – Festivals, Art, Music & Fashion

January in Paris kicks off with classical music concerts to herald the New Year. January also means Paris Fashion Week and the annual Grand Magasins Winter Sales. It all starts here with our Big List of Activities & Events for January.

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Jour de l'An – New Year's Day
  • January 1
  • French National Holiday

New Years Classical Music Concerts

New Years Day Classical Music Concerts

Start 2024 with a memorable concert in Paris. You won't want to miss the special performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker at Opera Bastille or perhaps a ballet at the beautiful Palais Garnier. There are also New Years Day concerts at La Madeleine, at Église Germain des Prés, and even on the Eiffel Tower! And, the rest of the month is equally as music-filled.

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Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Dinner Cruise by Maxim's of Paris
The legendary Parisian restaurant takes you on a dinner cruise complete with champagne and wine. Choose the 2-hour cruise for a stellar evening in Paris.
Check Availability…

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

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January Sales

January Sales – Soldes d'Hiver

The shopping frenzy starts at the beginning of the second week of January with the grands magasins (department stores), boutiques, and designer outlets kicking off their annual winter sales. The sales are real, since these sales are approved by the government.

By law, clearance sales are regulated by the French State and are held only two times during the year, in summer and winter. This is French retailers' only chance to clear out inventory from the last season. Over the five-week sales period, prices are gradually lowered to as much as 80%. As you'd expect, Parisians look forward to the annual soldes with anticipation. Also according to law, stores must legally prove that their marked-down inventory previously sold at full price.

The French daily newspaper, Le Figaro, prints a useful guide a day before to help shoppers map out their retail adventures. Be warned, there are a few retailers who don't play along with the annual markdowns including Louis Vuitton and Hermes. (Boo!)

Check these websites to find out what our favorite Paris department stores will feature in the sales —

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Maison & Objet Paris

Maison & Objet Paris

Attention trendsetters — if you are in Paris, you must attend the style universe at Maison & Objet for the latest in home interior and decoration ideas. At Maison, see the newest home interior and decoration solutions. At Objet, discover the best in accessories organized by category.

The massive show features the complete gambit of categories from home accessories, linen, fragrances, fashion, kids & family, to gifts, cooking, arts & crafts, today's trends to Forever, a hall of timeless styles. There are also guest speakers, signings and cooking events. You can download the free Maison & Objet app to access the latest information including a list of exhibitors, programs, and events. Maison & Objet Paris is held twice a year, in January and September.

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Romantic Dinner Cruises In Paris

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

Dinner Cruise by Maxim's of Paris
The legendary Parisian restaurant takes you on a dinner cruise complete with champagne and wine. Choose the 2-hour cruise for a stellar evening in Paris.
Check Availability…

VIP Dinner Cruise with Bateaux Parisiens
This romantic dinner cruise includes champagne, wine & a classic meal. Choose the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.
Reserve your table…

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Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week January 2024

Twice a year all eyes fall on Paris as it becomes the center of the international fashion scene. Thousands of models, photographers, agents, and journalists flock to the fashion capital to attend glamorous runway shows and celebrity-studded parties.

Called Semaine de la Mode de Paris, it's a celebration of designer shows held in spring/summer and autumn/winter. Famous brands like Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy host their shows in historical venues like the Carrousel du Louvre and the Grand Palais. The venues are often kept a secret until just before the show starts! Even though you can't buy tickets to the hundred or so fashion shows, you can catch models and Beautiful People milling around town. This month in Paris the designers and models will be unveiling menswear for Fall/Winter 2024-2025.

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Our Most Popular Day Trips from Paris

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region
Your driver gathers you from your Paris hotels for a small-group tour led by an expert guide to the Land of Champagne for a day-long tasting of the bubbly. Inclues lunch & tastings.
More information…

Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches
A day trip to the landing beaches of Normandy is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. Visit the monuments, museums, and dedicated cemeteries, as well as the beaches themselves
Check Availability…

Visit the Historic D-Day Beaches
A guided tour to the landing beaches of Normandy makes for one of the most memorable day trips from Paris. Visit the monuments, museums, and dedicated cemeteries, as well as the beaches themselves.
Check Availability…

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Harness Racing World Championship

Grand Prix d'Amérique – Harness Racing World Championship

The Grand Prix d'Amérique is a unique harness race created in 1920 to honor America's contribution to France during World War I. It is, in fact, the world's most important trotting race, bringing together the best horses and trainers in the 2,700 metres distance category.

With one million euros in prize money, the Grand Prix d'Amérique boasts the highest horse racing prize earnings in France. 40,000 spectators gather each year to see the new winner crowned on the last Sunday of January. It all takes place at the historic racing track in Vincennes, found in the wooded park on the east side of Paris. The race is broadcast in thirty-six countries on four continents.

The most famous winner was Ourasi, a chestnut French Trotter. His total career earnings were almost three million dollars and he was the Grand Prix d'Amérique winner in 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990. His record is unequalled and Ourasi is considered the horse of the century.

The Vincennes Hippodrome was built in 1863, destroyed during the Franco-Prussian war and rebuilt in 1879. Today it's considered the mecca of horse racing.

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Pinder Circus

Pinder Circus

This is classic circus featuring a troupe of passionate, talented young artists from every corner of France – the acrobat duo of Amber and Antoine, magic by Lydo, the contortionist Valentine, tight rope walkers, mimes, clowns, and the talented Horseback Men who perform stunts at high speeds.

The history of the Pinder circus began in 1854 with British brothers William and George Pinder. After struggling in England, they moved the show to France where they found an eager audience. With their children's help the circus was successful for decades until they hit financial troubles in the 20th century. In 1928 the Pinder Circus was purchased by Charles Spiessert, a Hungarian carnival performer who led the circus back to its glory days with state-of-the-art equipment and talent.

In 1983 Gilbert Edelstein became the fourth owner of the Pinder Circus. Initially a rock concert organizer, he brought success to the circus as the first traveling Cirque de France in Europe. His children, Frédéric and Sophie, also contribute to the history and majesty of the circus. Sophie is the Artistic Director of the circus and Frederic is one of the best lion tamers of his generation.

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