Top Paris Events – The 2018/2019 Calendar Of What's On In Paris

Any time of year, there's a lot going on in Paris — food to eat, fun activities to do, streets to stroll, wine to taste, river boats to ride. There are also a lot of fantastic Paris events every single month. Things like festivals, fairs (called foire in French), parades, fireworks… Attending these events and mixing with the Parisian crowd might make you feel just a little bit like a local, instead of a tourist. Finding yourself in a beach chair along the sandy banks of the Seine during summers' Paris Plage is only one example.

So, let's take a look at the Paris events calendar for 2018 and 2019. We include exact dates for the events wherever they've been announced. We also give you links for more information. Oh, one more thing — you'll also need to know about French national holidays, when shops, offices, and most museums are closed. We include those, too.

Find Out What's Happening In Paris When You're Here

• January…	• July…	• New Years Day…
• February…	• August…	• Valentines Day…
• March…	• September…	• Easter in Paris…
• April…	• October…	• Bastille Day…
• May…	• November…	• Christmas in Paris…
• June…	• December…	• New Years Eve…

January – Janvier

• JOUR DE L'AN – NEW YEAR'S DAY
  Tuesday, January 1, 2019
  French National Holiday
• LA GRANDE PARADE DE PARIS
  Marching bands & floats and regalia along Champs Elysées. (This even may or may not be taking place, we can't tell from the website.)
  Tuesday, January 1, 2019
  → Information…
• LES SOLDES – JANUARY SALES
  The official sales start at major department stores and boutique shops in Paris.
  January 19, 2019
• MAISON & OBJET
  Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances & tableware. It's held twice a year.
  January 18 to 22, 2019
  → Information…
• PARIS FASHION WEEK
  Join the runway frenzy of top designers, models & beautiful people.
  January 14 to 24, 2019
  → Information…

February – Fevrier

• ST-VALENTIN – VALENTINE'S DAY
  Thursday, February 14s
  → Guide to Valentine's Day in Paris…
• CHINESE NEW YEAR
  Head to Paris' Chinatown in the 13th Arrondissement for a day of parades, paper lanterns and celebrations. 2019 is Year of the Pig.
  February 5, 2019
• COURSE SAINT-VALENTIN – VALENTINE'S RUN
  Run for love & laughter in Paris, at Parc de la Villette.
  2019 Date: TBA
  → Information…
• RETRO MOBILE VINTAGE CAR SHOW
  Love cars and love visiting Paris? You won't want to miss this fabulous car show. The 2019 show features 100 years of Citroën automobile finesse.
  February 6 to 10, 2019
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• SIX NATIONS RUGBY
  This annual European rugby tournament starts with a game at the Stade de France with France versus Wales.
  February 1 to March 16, 2019
  → Information…
• SALON AGRICULTURE – PARIS AGRICULTURAL SHOW
  It's one of the biggest farm shows in France, dedicated to animal husbandry and plant care.
  February 23 to March 3, 2019
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…

March – Mars

• CARNAVAL DE PARIS
  Join the parade at Place Gambetta at 2 PM and party your way towards Place de la Republic.
  March 31, 2019
  → Information…
• 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
  March 10, 2019 → 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 the oldest Irish pub in France, Kitty O'Shea's.
  Sunday, March 17, 2019
  → Information…
• CINEMA DU REEL FILM FESTIVAL
  See a fresh batch of French and international documentary and experimental films.
  2019 dates: TBA
  Centre Pompidou
  → Information…
• LIVRE PARIS
  It's the biggest book fair in France with writers, authors, and publishers under one roof.
  March 15 to 18, 2019
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• SALON DU TOURISM
  Join 100,000 travel professionals under one roof in Paris to discover all the latest trends and forecasts in the travel trade.
  March 14 to 17, 2019
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• DRAWING ON PARIS ART FAIR
  Now in its thirteenth year, this art fair showcases 2,000 artworks.
  Carreau du Temple
  March 27 TO 31, 2019
  → Information…

April – Avril

• 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.
  Monday, April 1, 2019
• EASTER IN PARIS
  Good Friday, April 19, 2019 – French National Holiday
  Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019
  Easter Monday, April 22, 2019 – French National Holiday
  → Our Guide to Easter in Paris…
• LE MOIS DE LA PHOTO – PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH
  Photography Month in Paris, traditionally held in November, has now been moved to April
  → Information…
• ART PARIS
  It's the leading fair for modern and contemporary art held every spring.
  April 4 to 7, 2019
  Grand Palais
  → Information…
• THE ANNUAL PARIS MARATHON
  40,000 runners gather to run the marathon in the world's most beautiful city.
  April 14, 2019
  → Guide to the Paris Marathon…
• FOIRE DE PARIS – HOME SHOW
  Discover the latest European trends in home interiors, gardens, outdoor activities, wine & gastronomy. Tickets are 12.50€ online.
  April 27 to May 8, 2019
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• LIVRES RARES & OBJETS D'ART
  At the International Rare Book & Fine Art Fair, 150 booksellers from around the world, all members of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, will share their treasure trove of exceptional, rare works.
  April 11 to 14, 2019
  Grand Palais
  → Information…
• LES DIMANCHES AU GALOP – sGALLOPING SUNDAYS
  If you want an inside view of how the horsey set do it Paris, head to the Longchamps race track for these special Sunday races. There are plenty of fun for the kids, admission is for free for them!
  Sundays in April, 2019
  Hippodrome d'Auteuil
  → Information…

May – Mai

• FETE DU TRAVAIL – LABOR DAY
  Wednesday, May 1, 2019
  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
  Sunday, May 8, 2019
  French National Holiday
• FRENCH OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
  It's the only red clay court Grand Slam tournament.
  Roland-Garros
  May 20 to June 9, 2019
  → Our Guide to the French Open…
• TASTE OF PARIS
  This popular event brings together restaurants, food & wine producers with a line-up of cooking demonstrations by top chefs.
  2019 dates TBA
  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!
  MAY 16 to 27, 2019
  → Information…
• NUIT DES MUSÉES
  Just another event that makes Paris great! Free museum entrance, plus they stay open until the wee hours.
  2019 dates TBA
  → Information…
• FÊTE DU PAIN
  A festival of bread where the best baguette of the year is announced.
  Outside the Notre Dame Cathedral
  May 14 to 20, 2019
  → Information…
• ASCENSION DAY – FRENCH NATIONAL HOLIDAY
  This moveable holiday depends on when Easter occurs. Ascension Day falls forty days after Easter Sunday.
  May 30, 2019

June – Juin

• VERSAILLE FOUNTAINS NIGHT SHOW
  See the marvelous fountain show & fireworks display held throughout the summer.
  Saturdays in the Summer
  → Check Availability…
• WHIT SUNDAY & WHIT MONDAY – FRENCH NATIONAL HOLIDAY
  June 9 & 10
• FUTUR EN SEINE
  Paris digital festival held at le Carreau du Temple, a historic covered market in the Marais.
  2019 Dates: TBA
  → Information…
• MAKEUP IN PARIS
  It's a festival of cosmetics attended by trend setters, manufacturers and lovers of makeup.
  Carrousel du Louvre
  June 20 & 21, 2019
  → Information…
• PARIS JAZZ FESTIVAL
  A magical international jazz event held during the summer in the beautiful gardens of Parc Floral.
  Parc Floral de Vincennes
  2019 dates TBA
  → Information…
• FETE DE LA MUSIQUE
  Free music concerts take to the streets and parks of Paris to celebrate the summer solstice.
  June 21, 2019
  → 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.
  Espace Champerret
  2019 dates TBA
  → Information…
• FÊTE DES TUILERIES – PARIS FUNFAIR
  It's like the fairgrounds of your childhood – trampolines, bumper cars & cotton candy.
  Late June to August, 2019
  Tuileries Gardens & Place de la Concorde
  → Information…
• LES PESTACLES
  It's a summer full of shows, music, plays, workshops, lectures and get togethers at Parc Floral all summer long.
  June to September, 2019
  → Information…
• FESTIVAL CHOPIN
  There's a special connection between Paris and Frederic Chopin. Although he wasn't born here, he is buried in Pere Lachaise cemetery. Head to the Orangerie in Parc de Bagatelle for your fix of classical piano music.
  Late June to mid-July, 2019
  → Information…
• LA MARCHE DES FIERTÉS DE PARIS – LGBT PRIDE Check the calendar for exact times and the parade route
  June 2019
  Rue des Archives, 4th Arrondissement
  → Information…
• CHAMPS-ELYSÉES FILM FESTIVAL
  If you love film + Paris, combine the both by attending this annual film festival. The venues are found at theatres along Champs-Elysées with plenty of insider industry events.
  June, 2019
  → Information…

July – Juillet

• TOUR DE FRANCE
  Your chance to see the dramatic final day as the cyclists circle the Champs Elysées.
  June 29 to Sunday, July 21, 2019
  → Information…
• PARIS JAPAN EXPO
  Lovers of Japanese culture will unite to celebrate, manga, martial arts, animation & J-music.
  Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center
  July 4 to 7, 2019
  → Information…
• VERSAILLES FESTIVAL
  Concerts, dance, recitals and fireworks – you won't want to miss this spectacular event.
  July to September
  → How to Visit Versailles…
• BASTILLE DAY
  Vive la liberte! 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, 2019
  → Information…
• PARIS PLAGE
  Can't make it to the beach? No worries, the beach will come to you. 30 days of summer, 1350 tons of sand, 2 miles of Seine banks, and 250 umbrellas.
  July to August, 2019
  → Information…
• CINEMA EN PLAIN AIR – OPEN-AIR CINEMA FESTIVAL
  It's one of the biggest open-air film festivals in Paris. Bring a picnic basket and a blanket.
  Parc de la Villette
  2019 dates TBA
  → Information…

August – Août

• VERSAILLE FOUNTAINS NIGHT SHOW
  The marvelous fountain show & fireworks show continues in August.
  → Check Availability…
• ASSOMPTION – ASSUMPTION DAY
  HQ for this religious holidays is Notre Dame Cathedral. Taking place the evening before is a river procession along the Seine with a special Mass at Notre Dame on the 15th. NOTE: Most storess and services in Paris are closed this day. Wednesday, August 15, 2019
  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
  Last weekend in August 2019
  → 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!
  2019 dates TBA
  → 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.
  2019 dates TBA
  → Information…

September – Septembre

• JAZZ DE LA VILLETTE
  A festival of soul, funk & eclectic sounds that attract 30,000 music lovers.
  Parc de la Villette
  First two weeks in September
  → Information…
• PARIS DESIGN WEEK
  Discover the best in design from Nespresso, Ikea, Paris College of Art, and many others.
  September 9 to 16
  Les Docks, Cité de la Mode et du Design
  → Information…
• MAISON & OBJET
  Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances & tableware. It's held twice a year.
  September 8 to 12
  → Information…
• FÊTE DE L'HUMANITÉ
  Since 1930, the Festival of Humanity has been celebrated in Paris.
  Mid-September
  Parc Courneuve
  → Information…
• CROQUE ANIME – THE FESTIVAL OF ANIMATED FILM
  This free international film festival is dedicated to animation.
  September
  Théâtre de Ménilmontant
  → Information…
• EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
  The public is invited to step inside monuments normally off limits — the Senate, Elysée Palace, private chateaux, and others.
  3rd Week in September
  → Information…
• FÊTE DE LA GASTRONOMIE
  A three-day feast that celebrates the gastronomy of France.
  2019 dates TBA Throughout France
  → Information…
• PRÊT-A-PORTÉ FASHION SHOW
  Join the beautiful people for the unveiling of the new ready-to-wear collection.
  September 24 to October 2, 2019
  → Information…
• LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE
  Cycle through English villages, rural France to the final destination, the Eiffel Tower!
  September 18 to 22, 2019
  → Information…

October – Octobre

• FÊTES DES VENDANGE À MONTMARTRE
  It's the only wine harvest & festival in Paris, held around the one remaining vineyard in Montmartre!
  First week in October
  → Information…
• NUIT BLANCHE – WHITE NIGHT
  Stay up till dawn exploring the museums of Paris for free!
  October 7 & 8, 2018
  → Information…
• FIAC – ART CONTEMPORAIN
  A world of wonderful contemporary art displayed at the fabulous Grand Palais. Fascinating.
  October 19 to 22, 2018
  Grand Palais
  → Information…
• FOIRE D'AUTOMNE – AUTUMN FAIR
  Explore the how the French celebrate the good life — home decor, gastronomy, furniture & design.
  October 27 to November 5, 2018
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…
• SALON DU CHOCOLAT
  It's the biggest celebration of chocolate in the world. Don't miss the chocolate fashion show!
  End of October, 2018
  Porte de Versailles
  → Information…

November – Novembre

• LA TOUSSAINT – ALL SAINT'S DAY
  A Christian day of remembrance of all saints and martyrs.
  November 1, 2018
  French National Holiday
• LE MOIS DE LA PHOTO – PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH
  Oddly enough, Photography Month in Paris has now been moved to April!
  April, 2019
  → Information…
• ARMISTICE DAY
  France honors its war dead with a military parade from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysées.
  November 11, 2018
  French National Holiday
• BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU
  Fireworks, festivals, music start on the 3rd Thursday in November to mark the arrival of the new vintage of Beaujolais.
  November 15, 2018
• PARIS INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
  Showcases the works of 60 independent filmmakers from around the world.
  November 21 to 24, 2018
  Cinema Le Reflet Medicis
  → Information…
• SALON DU CHEVAL DE PARIS
  High-level jumping competitions, the World Arabian Horse championships, and lots more horsey things.
  November 24 to December 2, 2018
  Paris Nord Villepinte
  → Information…

December – Decembre

• Christmas in Paris
  So much to see and do!
  → Read Our Guide to Christmas in Paris…
  → December Activities in Paris…
• Christmas Markets
  Celebrate the season by visiting a few of the many annual markets throughout the city with items for Noel!
  Throughout December
  → See the 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 Vendome, 1er
• LES SAPINS DE NOËL DES CRÉATEURS – DESIGNER CHRISTMAS TREES
  Admire Christmas trees designed by top designers that will be auctioned to raise money for cancer research.
  Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
  → Information…
• NOËL – CHRISTMAS DAY
  December 25
  French National Holiday

French National Holidays

It's important for your planning to know when the national holidays fall since offices, many stores, and most museums are closed on many or all of these days. We know that's a bit vague, but it's difficult to create a definite listing of what will be open. It's best to check before simply showing up.

• New Year's Day, January 1
• Good Friday, March 30, 2018
• Easter Monday, April 1, 2018
• May Day, May ,
• Ascension Day, May 25, 2018
• WWII Victory Day, May 8
• Whit Monday, June 5, 2018
• July 14, Bastille Day
• August 15, Assumption Day
• November 1, All Saints Day
• November 11, Armistice Day
• December 25, Christmas Day