Inter-union May Day 2026 march in Paris: here’s the route

Every May 1st, there are numerous demonstrations across France to mark Labour Day and International Workers' Day.

Why is May 1st a public holiday in France? History and origins
This year, May 1st falls on a Friday! But do you know why this day is a public holiday in France? Are you familiar with the history and origins of Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day? Here’s the story. [Read more]

This year, the trade union front (CGT, FSU, Solidaires, the student union Unef, and the Union of Students) plans a united demonstration under the banner of "peace" and "freedom." " May 1st is OUR day, the International Workers’ Day, the only public holiday that is paid, celebrated in 163 countries. It’s the mobilization that won it for us more than a century ago and kept it alive just a few days ago, even as Macronist allies on the right and the far right tried to push through a law to force 1.4 million workers to work that day. Our protests this year will be an opportunity to celebrate this victory and to solemnly warn politicians and employers: we will not TOUCH May 1st", the unions state in a press release published on April 23.

Moreover, the unions also plan to take advantage of this May Day to "protest against the cost of living, to demand that our work be properly compensated", but also "for peace, in solidarity with the millions of workers who are under bombardment", and finally to "demand prospects for progress".

Remember, last year’s May Day protests drew about 157,000 participants across France, including 32,000 in Paris, according to the Interior Ministry. The CGT, for its part, put the turnout at 300,000, with 100,000 in the capital.

• To be read
• Why is May 1st a public holiday in France? History and origins
• News and information from this web Wednesday April 29, 2026 s in Paris and the Île-de-France region
• Metro and RER updates: closures, work, and demonstrations in Paris this Wednesday April 29, 2026

May Day 2026 protest in Paris: here's the route

The procession will kick off on Friday, May 1, 2026 from Place de la République in the 11th arrondissement of the capital, before heading along Boulevard Voltaire, passing through Place Léon Blum, looping back onto Boulevard Voltaire, and finally arriving at Place de la Nation, the event’s final gathering point.

To ensure the smooth running of this event, the Paris Police Prefecture has issued a arrêté temporarily altering parking on certain streets in the 10th, 11th and 12th arrondissements of central Paris for the May 1st protest.

The May Day demonstration in Paris is not only an annual tradition but also a focal point for expressing current social and political concerns. This new unified march promises a large turnout, reflecting the tensions and aspirations of French society.