Through 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
September 1
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Le Retour, directed by Catherine Corsini.
Club de L’Étoile, Paris
August 25-September 2
Short film festival
Short films and concerts at Festival Silhouette.
Parc de la Butte du Chapeau Rouge
Through September 2
Outdoor classical concerts
Concerts in the park at Festival Classique au Vert every weekend.
Parc Floral
September 2
Arty sporting events
The Paris suburb of Montrouge celebrates the rentrée with the Soleillades street festival, which will focus on sports this year in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Montrouge
Through September 3
Paris beaches
For the summer months, the banks of the river and canals are transformed into miniature beaches for Paris Plages.
Various locations, Paris
September 1-3
Free amusements 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: Lumières Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc at the Hôtel de Sully © Boris Molinier
Various locations, Paris
Through September 3
Outdoor jazz
The Paris Jazz Festival offers free weekend concerts in the park (admission to park: €6).
Parc Floral, Paris
September 8
Book launch
The Complete Fear of Kathy Acker by Jack Skelley (present as a hologram) will be launched at 7pm.
After 8 Books, Paris
Through 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
August 30–September 10
All that jazz
The festival Jazz à la Villette returns with a lineup including Mulatu Astatke, Lee Fields, Oumou Sangaré, Henri Texier and De La Soul.
La Villette, Paris
September 7-10
World food
The Village International de la Gastronomie is the world’s largest event devoted to the cuisine of all five continents. Tastings, workshops, round-table discussions and more.
Quai Jacques Chirac, Paris
September 8-10
Feminist family festival
The WeToo Festival is a “festive, familial and political experience” with performances and talks for children, teenagers and adults.
Cité Fertile, Pantin
September 8-10
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
September 8-10
Paradise in Paris
The newspaper Le Parisien sponsors the Paris Paradis festival with concerts, performances, stand-up comedy, workshops, talks and more. Reserve on the website.
Parc de la Villette, Paris
September 6-11
Tribal art walk
Dozens of galleries put on special shows of world art for Parcours des Mondes.
Saint Germain des Prés, Paris
September 14
Art fair
Some 30 galleries representing a wide range of artistic styles take part in Nocturne Rive Droite.
Various locations, Paris
September 15-17
Left-wing fun
The Fête de l’Humanité, the Communist Party newspaper’s annual festival, will feature concerts (Mass Hysteria, Robespierre, Les Vulves Assassines and many, many more), debates, exhibitions, etc.
Base 217, Plessis-Pâté/Brétigny-sur-Orge
September 15-17
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. Dance performances and DJ sets will be held on the building’s forecourt.
Le Monde headquarters & MK2 Bibliothèque, Paris
September 16-17
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 17
Take back the streets!
On the Journée Paris Respire, motor traffic (with the exception of buses, taxis and emergency vehicles) will be banned in parts of Paris, notably the Champs-Élysées and the 1st through 4th arrondissements from 11am to 6pm.
City of Paris
Through September 17
Shaping up for the Olympics
Sports meet the arts for Festival Forme Olympique, an ongoing series of free Olympics-related events and performances sponsored by the City of Paris.
Various locations, Paris
September 21
Street food
This edition of the street-food pop-up Le Food Market, will feature a Biergarten.
1-34, boulevard de Belleville, Paris
August 31–September 22
Fashion on film
The retrospective Cinema and Fashion in 20 Indispensable Films includes everything from Fellini’s Roma to Phantom Thread.
Cinémathèque Française, Paris
September 8–24
Big top festival
The pop-up Village du Cirque festival features all types of performances, even a queer act called “Dicklove.”
Pelouse de Reuilly, Paris
September 30
Urban Farm Festival
The eco-conscious Ici C’est Prairie festival includes concerts, DJ sets, a “hip-hop village” and food trucks on an experimental farm in the city.
La Prairie du Canal, Bobigny
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 October 1
Free outdoor art
Monumental works by eight international contemporary artists are on show during the Extatiques festival.
La Défense & La Seine Musicale, Paris
October 9
Paralympic tickets
Tickets for the 2024 Paralympic Games go on sale online.
Online, Paris
Through December 21, 2023
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 December 31
Free outdoor concerts
Free music in the bandstands of Paris’s parks and gardens for Kiosques en Fête.