July 9-August 21
Paris beaches
For the summer months, the banks of the river and canals are transformed into miniature beaches for Paris Plages.
Various locations, Paris
Through July 13
Eclectic music festival
Days Off presents acts ranging from Jarvis Cocker to St. Vincent.
Philharmonie de Paris
July 9-August 28
Tuileries Secrets
Secret d’Arcadie returns for its second year with a puzzle trail around the iconic Tuileries Gardens. Above: The gardens in all their glory. Photo: Paris Tourist Office.
Jardin des Tuileries, Paris
Through July 31
Stanley Donen retrospective
The celebrated American director of Hollywood’s Golden Age is spotlighted at the Cinémathèque.
Cinémathèque Française, Paris
July 10
Contemporary art festival
Festival 193 Beach combines cutting-edge art with beach culture: think volleyball and DJ sets at Paris’s indoor beach.
Sand Fabrik, Pantin
July 11-31
Summer arts festival
Paris Festival d’Eté is an annual festival of music, dance, theater and more from around the world.
Various locations, Paris
July 16-September 1
Son et lumière
A sound and light show, La Nuit aux Invalides, this year focuses on the story and legacy of Napoleon.
Hôtel National des Invalides, Paris
July 16-17
Contemporary music festival
Chicago’s well-known Lollapalooza Festival comes to France for its Paris edition. The international lineup includes Imagine Dragons and Phoebe Bridgers.
Hippodrome Longchamp, Paris
Through July 11
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 31
Vintage vehicles
Retro cars and motorbikes take to the streets of Paris for the 15th annual Traversée de Paris, beginning at the National Vintage Cars conservatory.
Vincennes, Paris, Meudon
Through August 28
Old-school funfair
Bumper cars, ghost trains and more classics in the Tuileries Gardens for the Fête des Tuileries.
Tuileries Gardens, 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
Throughout the summer
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
Through July 23
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 9-August 14
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
Through August 28
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 September 7
Outdoor jazz
The Paris Jazz Festival offers free weekend concerts in the park (admission to park: €6).
Parc Floral, Paris
July 8-10
Free outdoor films
This year’s Festival Paradiso includes outdoor screenings at La Seine Musicale.
La Seine Musicale, Paris
Throughout the summer
Garden visits
Green spaces throughout the region hold cultural events for Jardins Ouverts en Île-de-France.
Various locations, Île-de-France
Through August 6
Music festival
Popular La Villette venue Cabaret Sauvage presents a month-long summer festival of DJ sets and club nights.
Cabaret Sauvage, Paris
Throughout the summer
Stranger Things in Paris
Stranger Things Store: Fans of the Netflix series are queuing up for an immersive experience based on it.
44, avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris
Through July 24
Summer reading
Author readings, workshops and more: Partir en Livre is bringing back reading as a top summer activity for young people.
Various locations, France
Ongoing
The Louvre by night
Paris’s most iconic museum will open Friday nights until 9:45 from July.
Musée de Louvre, Paris
Through July 19
Soldes
The official summer retail sales period.
Paris & most of France
Through July 11
On the dark side
The Cinémathèque spotlights British Noir Film.
Cinémathèque Française, Paris
Throughout the summer
Free outdoor concerts
Free music in the bandstands of Paris’s parks and gardens for Kiosques en Fête.
Various locations, Paris
Through October 1
Candlelit château
Every Saturday, 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 July 13
The urban future
Architecture and urban design take center stage at the second Biennale d’Architecture et de Paysage.
Various venues, Versailles
Ongoing
Notre Dame in AR
The history of the iconic Parisian landmark, from its construction in the Middle Ages to the 2019 fire, is chronicled in augmented reality. Reservation required.
Collège des Bernardins, Paris
Through August 21
Inflatable art
For Pop Air, the artworks of 15 international artists are blown up and made inflatable for visitors young and old to enjoy. In collaboration with the Balloon Museum in Rome.
La Villette, Paris
July 8
French movies with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Les Goûts et les Couleurs, followed by a Q&A with director Michel Leclerc.
Club de L’Étoile, Paris
Ongoing
Save the Musée de l’Éventail
A crowdfunding campaign is underway to help save the Musée de l’Éventail, Paris’s museum of fans and fan-making.