As the world slowly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, our attention is once again turning to in-person gatherings and a return to normalcy. And the best news is, we (finally) get to travel again!
The City of Lights, the City of Love — Paris goes by many names. With stunning architecture and history, it’s no surprise it will be a hot destination post-travel ban. There’s nothing like an elegant Paris, France event to make your experience even more memorable. To help you get back into the swing of things, we’ve researched major Paris events and festivals to look forward to in the year ahead.
There are certain dates in the Paris events calendar any visitor should take note of. Several of these annual Paris festivals are well worth planning your entire trip around.
Here’s a brief rundown of some of the big recurring events in Paris:
If there were ever a Paris, France event that defines the city, it would be Paris Fashion Week. For the men’s fashion and haute couture shows, the event occurs in January and June/July, whereas the women take the stage in March and September/October.
Parisians consider their city to be the world’s style capital, and fashionistas from all over the world flock to this glamorous Paris event. For celebrity spotters, consider making your way to the Grand Palais or Espace Eiffel to see some stars.
Everyone knows one of the biggest attractions France can offer is the incredible food. One of the most important festivals in Paris is a tribute to the country’s gastronomic heritage. Since French cuisine was honored by UNESCO, this three-day foodie festival takes place throughout Paris.
From banquets to tastings and special market days, Paris shows off the best of French food and drink. If you want to try it out, make sure to plan your trip mid-to-late March.
Part of the social season in Western Europe, Roland Garros is one of the world’s four grand slam tennis tournaments. From the high-profile Philippe Chatrier court to the Suzanne Lenglen and Simonne Mathieu courts, get your tickets early as they’re in high demand.
For the best chance of getting tickets to the biggest games, make sure you purchase your tickets as early as mid-March.
To attend Roland Garros, plan your trip for May/June.
Enjoy an even more unique trip to Paris as the streets come to life with incredible music. Free parties and concerts pop up around the city to match up with the summer solstice. Ask anyone where the best parties are, and you’ll always get different answers, but we recommend Place Denfert-Rochereau.
Fall in love with the city all over again each time you wander the streets to the tunes of free live music. If you want to experience this unique street festival, it usually takes place in mid-to-late June.
Paris Pride, or Marche des Fiertés, is one of the world’s biggest annual celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community. Taking place in June, various locations around Paris join the carnival procession and contribute to the amazing concerts throughout the city.
If you want to join one big party supporting the LGBTQ+ community, or you’re looking for a Paris event that really sparkles, this is the event to attend.
Taking place at the Palace of Versailles, this event harkens back to King Louis XIV’s famous banquets. The Sun King was well-known for his nobility-packed masquerade balls. Today, it’s the ordinary people who get to enjoy splendid luxury at one of the world’s most stunning buildings.
Visit the outskirts of Paris in June and conform to the dress code of authentic 18th century baroque. Don’t worry if you’re fresh out of baroque outfits — specialist outlets throughout the city are ready and waiting to rent or sell everything you need to party all night long, 18th-century style.
The above list is just a (very) short selection of festivals in Paris. There are countless major and minor events taking place throughout every month of the year.
Let’s discuss what you can look forward to if you decide on a post-pandemic trip to the stunning French capital for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.
Summer is well-known to be stifling in Paris, especially because not all old buildings have air conditioning. This is why there’s no better option than an open-air cinema event.
Situated in the Parc de la Villette, huge crowds descend on the northeast of Paris to sample the best of French film. Don’t worry if you’re not versed in French cinema, there’s also a great selection of old and new foreign releases.
Grab a prime picnic spot, bring along a bottle of wine, and soak in the atmosphere of a late Parisian summer evening.
Outside of the U.S., Paris is the lowkey jazz capital of the world. For musical Paris, France events, look no further than an August/September trip to Paris.
Located around La Villette, this celebration of jazz legends like Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington, who lived in the city, sees jazz ensembles paying tribute. A range of big names from world music and hip-hop also present a truly eclectic mix of musical genius.
In the western portion of Paris, the city holds the annual horse race at the Hippodrome de Longchamp. It just so happens to be one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and a staple of the Paris events calendar.
Visit Paris in October to see this racing holy grail. Don’t worry about dolling up for this historic race because the dress code is always laissez-faire.
Think you’ve already seen everything a Paris event has to offer? Stroll over to Paris’s steepest neighborhood in October and tackle the hills of Montmartre.
Each year, the locals descend upon this private vineyard to celebrate one of the country’s most famous vintages. If you’ve got a nose for incredible wine, this Paris event is simply unmissable.
From free tastings to dance parties and charity wine auctions, the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre is a marvel to behold.
Paris has wine, it has fashion, and it has music. And of course, it also has chocolate. Schedule a trip to the Paris Expo in Porte de Versailles this October to enjoy the Salon du Chocolat.
Chocoholics cannot miss out on the world’s largest chocolate festival. As far as events in Paris go, the Salon du Chocolat is mastery and craftsmanship unmatched. The world’s greatest chocolatiers attend the Salon to show off incredible party pieces, sell premium goods, and conduct workshops.
One may get a different impression when hearing about the Paris Pitchfork Festival. Rather than a political revolution, the Pitchfork Festival is a celebration of all things music.
Set inside a former slaughterhouse in the Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris invites the best international pop, alternative rock, and hip-hop acts to play old classics and brand-new symphonies.
Past headliners include the Knife and Skepta. If it’s the best in music, you’ll probably find it here.
To see the latest headliners in person, buy your tickets to this November festival early. It sells out fast and is perhaps the quickest growing festival on the Paris events calendar.
This one is less of an official Paris, France event and more of a suggestion for a beautiful time to visit. The lights of Paris in December before Christmas are just one of the many magical reasons to plan a visit during the winter months.
From the Rue de Rivoli to the City Hall and, of course, the Eiffel Tower, witness the spellbinding spectacle at this most special time of year.
Visit the Tuileries Christmas Market or shop the wooden chalets in front of City Hall; there’s simply no better place in the world to experience the magic of the holiday parties.
While there are countless reasons why you should visit Paris, upcoming events may give you some inspiration for when to visit. Don’t want to wait for a Parisian event? You can plan your own with the help of SmartWorks.
But why Paris?
Paris is a city that has enchanted millions worldwide. Even today, there’s something about Paris you just can’t find anywhere else.
From history to culture to style to cuisine, this is a city that has it all. Consider hosting your next event in the French capital, and let us help you with the venue.
We specialize in helping businesses put on everything from gala dinner parties to full product launches, providing the space needed to make sure your event goes off without a hitch. Contact us today to find out more about how we can support your next Paris, France event.
While the world is steadily marching towards normalcy, nobody knows what the future holds, and plans can change at any time. Make sure you have someone on your side who can keep you updated on the latest rules and regulations.
From socially distanced events to high standards of hygiene, SmartWorks has helped thousands of people to put on events that are memorable, fun, and, most of all, safe.
Get in touch with SmartWorks to find out more about how our destination management company can help you host meetings, conferences, and events.