What's Happening in Paris This Week

For full details about an event, click on the title to visit the official Web site (in English when available).

Through June 11

Local literature festival

The libraries, bookshops, museums and universities of Paris’s literary fifth arrondissement open their doors for Quartier du Livre, a week-long celebration of the written word.

Various locations, Paris

June 12

French movies with English subtitles

Lost in Frenchlation presents Un Monde Merveilleux, directed by Guilio Callegari.

Luminor, Paris

June 12

Street food

The street-food pop-up Le Food Market offers free entry and food stands a-go-go.

Boulevard de Belleville (betweenmétros Ménilmontant et Couronnes), Paris

June 14

Food for body & mind

In addition to food stands run by Paris’s top Vietnamese chefs, the festival Ici Viêtnam will also spotlight literature by Vietnamese authors.

Place Monge, Paris

Through June 14

Short films

Côté Court presents all kinds of short-form art: videos, films, essays and fiction.

Ciné 104, Pantin

Through June 15

Fun and games

The Grand Palais and the Centre Pompidou have collaborated on a free festival, Fun Palace, featuring concerts, conferences, games, DJ sets and “collective experiences.”

Grand Palais, Paris

June 15

French movies with English subtitles

Lost in Frenchlation presents Le Grand Bain, directed by Gilles Lellouche.

Studio des Ursulines, Paris

June 14-15

Arty fun for kids

The Family Festival turns the Fondation Louis Vuitton and the adjacent Jardin d’Acclimatation into a huge playground for children up to 12 years old and their families.

Fondation Louis Vuitton & Jardin d’Acclimatation, Paris

Through June 21

Drawing season

Le Printemps du Dessin presents exhibitions and workshops highlighting this accessible art form across the country.

Various venues, France

June 13-22

Suburban culture

The festival Regard Neuf presents a variety of free concerts, plays, sporting events and more in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, just north of Paris.

Various venues, Seine-Saint-Denis

Through June 22

Meet the trees

The festival Les Nuits des Forêts will draw visitors into French forests with exhibitions, shows and immersive events, by day and by night. Pictured above: the Fontainebleau Forest.

Domaine départemental, Sceaux

Through June 22

The word is out

The festival Les Mots Libres celebrates writing in all its forms, with the participation of known and amateur artists, professors, musicians, actors, and local associations, bringing words to life through various shows, exhibitions, workshops, concerts, literary concerts, debates, readings and other performances. The spotlight this year is on words expressed through dance.

Various locations, Courbevoie

June 10-22

Directors’ Fortnight

The features and short subjects entered in the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs category at the Cannes Film Festival are shown in Paris.

Forum des Images, Paris

June 21

Dancing in the street

The Summer Solstice festival, the Fête de la Musique, brings free music, good and bad, into the streets of Paris and now the world.

Various locations, Paris

June 17-23

Contemporary film festival

The latest in French and American independent cinema will be on show at the Champs-Elysées Film Festival. 

Various locations, Paris

Through June 24

Classical music festival

The Festival de Saint Denis features both stars and young talents.

Various locations, Saint-Denis

Through June 28

New music

ManiFeste 2025 presents concerts by 30 composers and other performances, including an immersive experience with Bianca Li.

Various locations, Paris

June 28

Pride

LGBT in the streets. The Marche des Fiertés starts at 1:30pm at Métro Palais Royal and ends at Place de la Nation, where a concert will be held.

Paris

June 28

Free stuff exchange

Help save the environment by recycling stuff at the Giant Free Troc Party swap event. Online registration (required) opens on June 22 at noon.

Académie du Climat, Paris

June 23-29

Free jazz

The La Défense Jazz Festival presents free outdoor concerts by well-known names in jazz.

L’Esplanade de la Défense
June 25-29

Homage to Molière

A new outdoor festival in the park, the Molière Fest, celebrates theater with free plays, performances, readings and workshops.

Parc de la Villette, Paris 

June 26-29

Jazz festival

International jazz acts gather for Festival Django Reinhardt.

Parc du Château de Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau

June 27-29

Rock for AIDS

The AIDS-benefit rock festival Solidays has a great lineup of concerts, talks and exhibitions.

Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris

June 15-30

Jewish cultural festival

The Festival des Cultures Juives presents films, theater, concerts, exhibitions and conferences.

Various locations, Paris

June 22-30

Classical stars

The festival Les Étoiles du Classique presents outdoor classical and jazz concerts, opera, dance performances and recitals.

Various locations, Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Through June 30

More Molière

During the Mois Molière, open-air plays and concerts are held in locations all over Versailles.

Various locations, Versailles

June 29-July 2

Cheap Cinema

See first-run films for €5 in participating cinemas during the Fête du Cinéma.

Various locations, Paris
June 28–July 6

Eclectic music festival

Days Off presents headliners Nick Cave and Beth Gibbons, along with a slew of other bands.

Philharmonie de Paris

July 4-6

Board games festival

Fans of classic games and creators of modern ones come together for Paris est Ludique!

Pelouse de Reuilly, Paris

Through September 7

Worldly photos

The Festival de Photographie Contemporaine–Mondes en Commun 2025 continues Albert Kahn’s exploration of the world with images by 10 contemporary photographers, displayed in the museum’s amazing gardens.

Musée départemental Albert-Kahn, Boulogne-Billancourt

June 21-September 14

Olympic gold

The golden hot-air balloon that wowed the world during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics returns to the heart of the city for the summer. Pictured above: the Olympic vasque in the Tuileries Garden.

Tuileries Garden, Paris

Through September 27

Candlelit château

Every Saturday throughout the summer, the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte and its grounds will be lit by 2,000 candles for the Soirées aux Chandelles. 

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Île-de-France
Favorite