Facing a multi-day ozone pollution episode, the Paris Police Prefecture announced that a set of restrictions will take effect in Île-de-France starting this Thursday, May 28, 2026 at noon, and run through Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The flagship measure of the plan: differentiated traffic restrictions, which gate the regional core to the least-polluting vehicles. The episode affects all eight departments of Île-de-France, from Seine-Saint-Denis to the Yvelines.
In practice, differentiated traffic means that only vehicles displaying a Crit'Air sticker of class 0, 1 or 2 are allowed to circulate inside the area bounded by the A86 ring road (the outer belt excluded). Vehicles with Crit'Air classes 3, 4, 5, and those with no classification must stay off the roads unless an exemption is granted by the current prefectural order. Road checks are planned to ensure compliance with these rules.
Furthermore, speed limits have been cut across all roads in the region: 110 km/h on motorways usually capped at 130, 90 km/h where the standard limit is 110, and 70 km/h on expressways and on national and departmental roads that are normally limited to 80 or 90. Heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes in transit are also required to bypass Paris via the Île-de-France ring road.
It’s no coincidence that this episode arrives in the middle of a heat wave. According to Airparif, the Île-de-France air quality monitoring group, the strong sunshine combined with high temperatures drives up the photochemical production of ozone. The information-recommendation threshold of 180 µg/m³ is expected to be exceeded, posing a real health risk, especially for vulnerable individuals. It’s a “persistent” episode, lasting three days and potentially extending through Saturday.
The emergency plan goes beyond just traffic management. The prefect also calls for the temporary halt of the most polluting industrial activities and the postponement of maintenance work that uses volatile organic compounds (solvents, paints, varnishes, glues) in green spaces, public gardens and private properties. The measures affect both professionals and private individuals planning a project this weekend.
For residents of Île-de-France who want to leave their car in the parking lot, Île-de-France Mobilités is activating the forfait antipollutiont until Saturday inclusive: for €5.10 per day, you can travel on public transport unlimited across the entire network (excluding airports). A concrete alternative to get around without making the situation worse.
The prefecture also urges remote work, carpooling, and limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Indoors, keep windows closed during the hottest hours. To monitor air quality in real time, updates are available on the police prefecture site and on the ARS Île-de-France site.
€5.10 anti-pollution pass active in Île-de-France through Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Anti-pollution package, differentiated traffic, free parking: faced with an ozone peak affecting the entire Île-de-France region since May 26, 2026, Île-de-France Mobilités is rolling out a set of measures through Saturday, May 30. [Read more]
In light of the ongoing ozone pollution episode in Île-de-France, the City of Paris extends free residential parking this Thursday, May 28, 2026. Here are the application conditions and recommendations to follow to limit pollutant emissions. [Read more]
The heatwave is already here in May 2026 across Paris and Île-de-France. Pools, leisure centers, shaded terraces, air‑conditioned cinemas: we round up the best ways to stay cool during this warm spell. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From May 28, 2026 to May 30, 2026
€5.10 anti-pollution pass active in Île-de-France through Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Pollution in Paris: Free residential parking extended this Thursday, May 28, 2026.
Heatwave: where to cool off in Paris and Île-de-France? Smart ideas for when it’s extremely hot.
