Through July 9
Women composers
The Festival Un Temps pour Elles showcases works by women composers, performed in châteaux and other prestigious sites.
Various locations, France
July 12
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents L’amour et les Forêts, directed by Valérie Donzelli.
Luminor, Paris
July 14
Bastille Day celebrations
A huge free concert and fireworks display in one of Paris’s most iconic locations mark the July 14 celebrations. Photo: Office de Tourisme de Paris.
Champs de Mars, Paris
Through July 14
Chopin a go-go
Every summer, the Festival Chopin fills the Bois de Boulogne with the master’s piano music.
Orangerie du Parc de Bagatelle, Bois de Boulogne
Through July 14
Arts on the move
The Moviment festival offers free, rotating art shows, performances, films and more Galerie 3 of the Centre Pompidou.
Centre Pompidou, Paris
July 18
Visiting American dance companies
The FUSA Fringe Festival presents the Althea Dance Company & Ariel Rivka Dance.
Fondation des Etats-Unis, Paris
July 2-22
Young musical talents
The Festival Européen Jeunes Talents gives promising young classical, jazz and contemporary musicians from all over Europe a chance to perform in Paris.
Archives Nationales, Paris
July 21-23
Free outdoor films
This year’s Festival Paradiso includes outdoor concerts and screenings at La Seine Musicale. Reserve online.
La Seine Musicale, Paris
July 21-23
Contemporary music festival
Chicago’s well-known Lollapalooza Festival comes to France for its Paris edition.
Hippodrome Longchamp, Paris
June 22-July 23
Summer of books
Author readings, workshops and more: Partir en Livre is bringing back reading as a top summer activity for young people.
Various locations, France
Through July 30
Summer arts festival
Dance, music, theater and many other art forms come together for the Festival Paris l’Été.
Various locations, Paris
June 28-August 1
Soldes
The official summer retail sales period in France.
Paris & most of France
June 27-July 29
Music festival
Popular La Villette venue Cabaret Sauvage presents its Festival d’Été, with concerts of world music fit for dancing.
Cabaret Sauvage, Paris
June 28–July 29
Classic Minnelli
A retrospective of the films of Vincente Minnelli, including such epics as An American in Paris.
Cinémathèque Française, Paris
June 29–July 29
Fun in the Urban Jungle
Garden Parvis is a month-long series of events, from concerts to glitter parties, in Paris’s dedicated business district.
La Défense, Paris
June 22–August 10
A night at the zoo
The baboons and jaguars stay up late for the Nocturnes du Parc Zoologique de Paris, on Thursday evenings through August 10. Events for the kiddies, a bar for the adults.
Parc Zoologique de Paris, Paris
July 8-August 13
Summer fun on the canal
The Été du Canal festival offers theme cruises (street food, music, art, etc.) and other activities like the construction of an ephemeral village, balls, restaurants and bars.
Canal de l’Ourcq
July 19-August 20
Open-air cinema
Cinema en Plein Air is back with a series of films dealing with families, clans, gangs and other groups, from Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children to Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite.
Parc de la Villette, Paris
July 1–August 27
Old-school funfair
Bumper cars, ghost trains and more classics in the Tuileries Gardens for the Fête des Tuileries.
Tuileries Gardens, Paris
July 8-August 27
Paris beaches
For the summer months, the banks of the river and canals are transformed into miniature beaches for Paris Plages.
Various locations, Paris
July 8-August 27
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
June 29–August 31
Free concerts
Up-and-comers and well-known artists alike take to the stage for Bercy Village’s summer celebration, Musiques en Terrasse, on Thursday evenings.
Bercy Village, Paris
July & August
Garden visits
Green spaces throughout the region hold cultural events for Jardins Ouverts en Île-de-France.
Various locations, Île-de-France
July 2–September 3
Outdoor jazz
The Paris Jazz Festival offers free weekend concerts in the park (admission to park: €6).
Parc Floral, Paris
July 8–September 9
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
June 23–September 17
Shaping up for the Olympics
Sports meet the arts for Forme Olympique, an ongoing series of free Olympics-related events and performances sponsored by the City of Paris.
Various locations, Paris
Through September 30
Candlelit château
Every Saturday through September 30 and Friday in July and August, 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
Through December 31
Free outdoor concerts
Free music in the bandstands of Paris’s parks and gardens for Kiosques en Fête.
Various locations, Paris
Through October 1
Free outdoor art
Monumental works by eight international contemporary artists are on show during the Extatiques festival.
La Défense & La Seine Musicale,
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