August 26
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents La Grande Vadrouille, directed by Gerard Oury.
L’Epée de Bois, Paris
August 28
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presentsJane Austen a Gâché Ma Vie’ (Jane Austen Wrecked My Life), directed by Laura Piani.
L’Arlequin, Paris
August 22-24
Open-air movies
Outdoor films (with reservation) at the Mémorial de la Shoah.
Mémorial de la Shoah, Paris
Through August 24
Open-air dance hall
African and Antillean music and food every summer weekend at the Guinguette Africaine de Suresnes.
Surennes, Île-de-France
Through August 24
Old-school carnival
The Fête des Tuileries is back with its bumper cars, Ferris wheel and terrifying rides.
Jardin des Tuileries, Paris
August 20-24
International rock festival
Big-time artists headline at Rock en Seine.
Domaine de Saint Cloud, Paris
Through August 30
Summer garden
For its Jardin d’Été festival, the Musée du Quai Branly stages a variety of free events in its garden.
Musée du Quai Branly
Through August 30
Happiness Castle
The Festival Rosa Bonheur offers a summer program of concerts, theater, readings and more at the château of the celebrated French artist.
Thomery, France
Through August 30
Eco-documentaries
Free documentaries on the theme of climate action take center stage for the outdoor film fest Gare aux Docs. Reservation required.
La REcyclerie, Paris
Through August 31
Swimming in the Seine
Now that the Seine is supposedly clean following work done for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the city has opened up three sites where swimming is allowed. Click here for details.
Various locations, Paris
Through August 31
Paris beaches
During the summer months, the banks of the river and canals are transformed into miniature beaches, complete with sand, deck chairs, swimming sites, concerts and other activities, for Paris Plages.
Various locations, Paris
Through August 31
Garden visits
Green spaces throughout the region hold cultural events for Jardins Ouverts en Île-de-France.
Various locations, Île-de-France
Through September 6
Cinema under the stars
The best of the outdoor summer film festivals.
Various locations, Paris
Through September 6
Outdoor classical concerts
Free concerts in the park at Festival Classique au Vert on the weekend (admission to park: €2.70).
Parc Floral, Paris
August 29-September 6
Short film festival
Festival Silhouette presents short films, concerts and masterclasses.
Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge & Pavillon Carré de Baudouin, Paris
August 21-September 6
More free outdoor films
Ciné-Jardins is an outdoor film festival with an ecological slant.
La Fabrique, Paris
September 6-7
Arty events
The Paris suburb of Montrouge celebrates the rentrée with the Soleillades street festival, with performances, art workshops, a concert and a ball.
Montrouge
Through September 7
Outdoor jazz
The Paris Jazz Festival offers free weekend concerts in the park (admission to park: €2.70).
Parc Floral, Paris
September 6-7
Beyond kimchi
Discover Korean street food, K-Beauty, K-Pop, DJ sets, cover dance, art workshops, tattoos, cooking battles and more at the K-Street Festival.
Parc André Citroën, Paris
September 5-7
Free entertainment in historic Marais sites
The Festival Les Traversées du Marais brings everything from art installations to cooking classes, readings and dance performances to the monuments, courtyards and gardens of the Marais. Pictured above: Hubert Védrine will read from and discuss his book Camus, Notre Rempart. Photo © D.R.
Various locations, 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
Through September 10
Free rooftop films
Reserve for screenings on the rooftop of La Machine du Moulin Rouge.
La Machine du Moulin Rouge, Paris
Through September 13
Free stargazing
Experts with the Astronomy Association of Paris freely offer their skills and equipment to show us the stars for Paris Sous les Étoiles.
Throughout Paris
September 4-13
Design mania
One hundred design-related events happen all over the city during Paris Design Week. This year, the focus is on China.
Various locations, Paris
September 9-14
Tribal art walk
Dozens of galleries put on special shows of world art for Parcours des Mondes.
Saint Germain des Prés, Paris
September 10-14
Shirley Clarke
Retrospective of the work of the avant-garde postwar American director, including The Connection, Harlem Story and Portrait of Jason.
Cinémathèque Française, Paris
September 12-14
Mobile meals
The Saint-Maur Food Trucks Festival is France’s biggest food truck festival, with 60 trucks chosen for their locavore policies, in a festive atmosphere.
Place des Marronniers, Saint Maur des Fossés
Through September 14
Olympic gold
The golden hot-air balloon that wowed the world during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics last year returns to the heart of the city for the summer. Pictured above: the Olympic vasque in the Tuileries Garden.
Tuileries Garden, Paris
September 12-14
Left-wing fun
The Fête de l’Humanité, the Communist Party newspaper’s annual festival, will feature concerts (Patti Smith Quartet, Cassius, Eddy de Pretto and many, many more), debates, exhibitions, etc.
Base 217, Plessis-Pâté/Brétigny-sur-Orge
September 18
Meet the authors
The Musée d’Orsay has invited 30 writers to the museum to read pertinent excerpts from their work from 5pm to 9pm during Le Jour des Écrivains.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Through September 21
Arty Forest
For the exhibition “Grandeur Nature II: Esprit de la Forêt, the lovely grounds around the Chàteau de Fontainbleau are populated for the summer with sculptures by 25 artists, including Franz West, Claude and François-Xavier Lalanne, Miguel Chevalier, Pablo Reinoso and Wang Keping.
Chàteau de Fontainbleau, Fontainbleau
September 12–21
Big top festival
The pop-up Village du Cirque festival features all types of performances.
Various locations, Paris
September 21
Lego tournament
Show off your Lego skills on the Champs-Élysées and maybe win a prize at the Grand Tournoi des Champs.
Champs-Élysées, Paris
September 18-21
Meet the press
During the Festival du Monde, the prestigious daily newspaper Le Monde opens its doors to the public to meet its journalists, visit its facilities and attend workshops and debates. Concerts and DJ sets will be held on the building’s forecourt.
Le Monde headquarters, Paris
September 19-21
Dance festival
Échelle Humaine presents works by leading contemporary choreographers.
Lafayette Anticipations, Paris
September 19-21
Feminist family festival
The WeToo Festival is a “festive, familial and political experience” with performances and talks for children, teenagers and adults.
Le Point Fort, Aubervilliers
September 19-21
Heritage days
The doors to normally closed monuments and other buildings open to the public for the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine.
Various locations, Paris
September 21
Take back the streets!
On the Journée Paris Respire, motor traffic (with the exception of buses, taxis and emergency vehicles) will be banned in most of Paris.
City of Paris
September 25
Flea market party
The streets of the famed Saint Ouen Flea Market come alive with concerts and performances for La Fête des Puces. To attend, request an invitation on the website of one of the markets (Marché Vernaison, Marché Biron, MarchéPaul Bert Serpette, Marché Dauphine, Marché Malassis and Puces de Saint-Ouen). Shops will remain open until midnight.
Le Marché des Puces, Saint-Ouen
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
September 27-29
Drinks festival
The Cocktail Street festival will welcome 50 bars and a dozen street food stands.
La Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris
Through October 12
School of the future
The exhibition “L’École Idéale” produced by the Magasins Généraux and the Pavillon de l’Arsenal looks at ways of improving the traditional school.
Magasins Généraux, Pantin
August 26-October 15
William Wellman
Retrospective of the aviator-director’s work, including everything from the first Oscar winner for Best Director, Wings, to the original A Star Is Born.
Cinémathèque Française, Paris
November 13-16
Latino art fair
The Mira Art Fair brings selected galleries to Paris to present the work of Latin American artists.
Maison de l’Amérique Latine, Paris
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