Surréalisme
Sisters in Surrealism (and Some Men)
The Centre Pompidou couldn’t pass up a chance to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of the Surrealist manifesto for one of its last blockbuster exhibitions before it shuts down for a major renovation (from summer 2025 to 2030). The museum has … Read More
Trois Amies
What's Love Got to Do With It?
As Tolstoy famously wrote at the beginning of Anna Karenina, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Perhaps the same principle could be applied to happy and unhappy couples. In any case, Emmanuel … Read More
Notre Dame Gets New Priestly Garb for Its Rebirth
The Archbishop’s New Clothes
On December 7 and 8, Paris will celebrate the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, now restored to glory by a host of gifted artisans after the 2019 fire that nearly erased the iconic 800-year-old landmark. One revelation will be … Read More
Pristine Restaurant
Honoring the Humble
There is rarely anything pristine about a restaurant, but even though I found the name to be rather strange, Pristine had good press and was open on Sunday evening, so I headed over to the ninth arrondissement to meet up … Read More
L’Uomo Femina
Women Rule!
I have long been an admirer of conductor Vincent Dumestre and his excellent period-instrument orchestra Le Poème Harmonique. Specializing in French music from the 17th and early 18th centuries, it has staged and recorded seldom-performed music for over 25 years. … Read More
Caluche Restaurant
Bottles Galore
When I arrived at Caluche, a pleasant bistro in the fifth arrondissement, I was not disappointed to find that the wild scene depicted in a colorful painting on the wall was not replicated in the restaurant. Perhaps on another occasion, … Read More
Yard Natural Wine and Gastronomic Food Festival
Natural Wining and Gourmet Dining
The autumn wine-fair season is upon us. One of them, the Yard Festival, may be smaller than the others but has the advantage of featuring not only natural wines but also fine food. The fair’s second edition took place on … Read More
Notre Dame's reconstructed spire casts its shadow on the night sky two days before its reopening on December 7. © Paris Update
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 December 9
Gourmet food fair
Just in time for Christmas, the Salon Saveurs des Plaisirs Gourmands brings together 300 gourmet food producers from the regions of France.
Espace Champerret, Paris
Through December 9
International jazz festival
Jazzycolors presents musicians from around the world in Paris’s national culture centers.
Various locations, Paris
December 10
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Le Père Noël Est une Ordure (Santa Claus Is a Stinker), directed by Jean-Marie Poirée.
L’Epée de Bois, Paris
December 12
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Le Sens de la Fête (C’est la Vie!), directed by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache.
L’Arlequin, Paris
December 15
Santa Dash
Thousands of people in Santa costumes take to the streets of Issy-les-Moulineaux for the Corrida de Noël, a 10K run in support of several charities.
Issy-les-Moulineaux, Île-de-France
December 7-19
Culture in the 12th arrondissement
Festival 12×12 showcases the best sculpture, photography, dance, music and theater of the 12th arrondissement.
Various locations, Paris
November 27-December 21
The dark side of cinema
The Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé’s festival Aux Origines du Film Noir dans le Cinéma Muet looks back to silent films like Louis Feuillade’s Fantômas, Fritz Lang’s Doctor Mabuse the Gambler and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger in search of the origins of film noir.
Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Paris
November 15-December 24
African music and film
The Africolor cultural festival puts African music in the spotlight.
Various venues, Paris suburbs
November 23-December 29
Family fun
La Villette will light up for Winter Party, a month-long series of events for the whole family, ranging from ice skating to circus acts and a lantern parade. Pictured above: last year’s lantern parade at La Villette.
Parc de la Villette, Paris
Throughout December
Festive activities
Magical châteaux, ice skating and family fun: a comprehensive list of Paris’s Christmas events.
Various locations, Paris
November 17-early January
The lights go on
The golden holiday lights on the Champs-Élysées. will go on Nov. 17, an event closed to traffic and open to the public.
Champs-Élysées, Paris
December 27-January 5
Holiday wonderland
The Festival du Merveilleux returns with a fabulous celebration of antique fairground rides.
Musée des Arts Forains, Paris
November 15-January 6
Holiday markets
Mulled wine and gifts galore: a full list of holiday markets in Paris.
Various locations, Paris
November 30-January 18, 2025
Emerging artists
The Île-de-France department presents “FoRTE #6,” an exhibition of creative projects by emerging artists who received regional funding.
Frac. Romainville
January 23-26, 2025
Literature live
The theme of this year’s Nuits de la Lecture, with readings set to music and other events, is patrimoines (heritages).
Various venues, Paris & online around the world
Through January 26, 2025
Contemporary arts festival
The Festival d’Automne presents leading international talents in art, dance, film, theater and more.
Various venues, Paris & Île de France
Through January 31, 2025
Dance festival
The Fondation EDFs Dans(e) la Lumière festival presents dance performances and art exhibitions inspired by light.
Fondation EDF, Paris & Île de France
December 4-April 6, 2025
10 women directors
The festival Elles Sont Là pour Rester spotlights the films of 10 French women directors of the same generation.