Every summer, Paris and the Île-de-France region empty out, much to the delight of tourists exploring the city. But it's also a vibrant time for locals—Parisian residents who stay in the city during the warmer months. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the multitude of events and activities happening across the four corners of the Greater Paris area. From music and art to cinema and theatre... all cultural disciplines are in the spotlight throughout these two lively months!
Summer 2023 in Paris promises to be packed with a wide array of events and activities. From the headline-grabbing Lollapalooza and Rock en Seine, to outdoor cinema screenings at La Villette, the beloved Canal Festival, an open-air classical music festival in Montmartre, and even a massive monumental exhibition... To help you plan, here's a curated list of must-see events and hidden gems to explore this summer in Paris and Île-de-France.
Paris Plages 2025: six free swimming areas and a Brazilian atmosphere all summer long!
Paris Plages 2025 returns to sunbathe the capital from July 5 to August 31, for a 24th edition of swimming, relaxation and culture. Deckchairs, palm trees and swimsuits will be set up at six Parisian spots, with this year's edition under the Brazilian sun. Summer in Paris has never been so caliente ... [Read more]
L'Été du Canal 2025, the must-see summer festival on the canals of Paris
L'Été du Canal is the must-attend summer event in Paris! And the good news is that this Parisian summer hotspot is back from July 5 to August 10, 2025. On the program for this 18th edition: free workshops, floating concerts, street art, open-air cinema and strolls along the canals. [Read more]
Garden Parvis 2023: La Défense's must-see summer event
Paris La Défense reopens its doors to Garden Parvis! Open free of charge to all from Thursday June 29 to Saturday July 29, 2023, and every day thereafter, Garden Parvis promises to be the must-see summer event in western Paris, with a new gourmet offering, the Table du Chef by Julien Sebbag, leisure areas not to mention concerts and dj sets... all spread over 6,000m². [Read more]
Music and Theater Festivals
Lollapalooza Paris 2023: the complete line-up and concert times
Lollapalooza Paris is back! Join us at the Hippodrome ParisLongchamp on Friday, July 21, Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23, 2023 for live performances by Kendrick Lamar, Aya Nakamura, Damso, Kygo, Rosalía, Lil Nas X, as well as Stray Kids, OneRepublic, Central Cee, John Butler, Kaleo, Ava Max and Royal Republic! Click here for the full program and concert times! [Read more]
Théâtre de Verdure Festival 2025 in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne: the festival for young and old alike
Enjoy a unique theatrical experience at the Festival du Théâtre de Verdure 2025, located in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. From June 14 to September 28, 2025, this festival offers a wide range of shows for all ages. [Read more]
Paris Jazz Festival 2025 at the Parc Floral: here's the line-up of free concerts
The Paris Jazz Festival returns to the Parc Floral from June 25 to September 7, 2025, with as many musical talents to see and hear in a bucolic setting. Discover the program for this series of free concerts! [Read more]
Classique au Vert 2025: here's the program for the free concert festival at the Parc Floral de Paris
The Classique au Vert Festival returns to the heart of the Parc Floral de Paris from June 25 to September 7, 2025. Once again this year, Classique au Vert invites music lovers and neophytes alike to enjoy a good tempo and good weather with renowned and up-and-coming artists. [Read more]
Paris l'été Festival: dance, exhibition, magic, performance, music... All the 2025 program
As every year, the Paris l'été Festival enchants the capital during the summer season. Join us from July 12 to August 5, 2025, in the four corners of Paris (and even further afield, in the suburbs) to discover a cutting-edge cultural program featuring dance, circus, theater, installation and music! [Read more]
Les Pestacles 2024, the music festival for kids in the Parc Floral
Les Pestacles at the Parc Floral de Paris is the must-see summer event for families from June 26 to September 4, 2024. Imagine concerts of all kinds, shows, dance, workshops and discovery trails, all set in the pleasant, flower-filled surroundings of the Bois de Vincennes. [Read more]
Les Trois Beaux Days 2025: open-air concerts at the Montmartre Arena
Les Trois Beaux Days is the summer festival of choice for those staying in Paris. The famous concert hall Les Trois Baudets is organizing three evenings of not-to-be-missed open-air concerts at the Arènes de Montmartre. Join us in the 18th arrondissement on Thursday, July 3, Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, 2025, for this summer event! [Read more]
Les Arènes Lyriques 2025, the open-air classical music festival on the Butte Montmartre
The classical music festival Les Arènes Lyriques returns to Paris from July 23 to August 16, 2025. The program? Open-air concerts at the Arènes de Montmartre all summer long: the perfect opportunity to enjoy a special evening in the very private garden of the Arènes. [Read more]
Rock en Seine 2026: Tyler, The Creator joins the line-up
Rock en Seine has (already) announced its return to the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud! In 2026, the Parisian festival will be back with five days of concerts and festivities on Wednesday, August 26, Thursday, August 27, Friday, August 28, Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30. On the program? The Cure, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and Tyler, The Creator, as well as Deftones, Turnstile, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Amyl and The Sniffers, and The Black Keys. [Read more]
La Villette open-air cinema returns with two screenings a day this summer 2025
The Festival de cinéma en plein air de La Villette returns from July 23 to August 17, 2025 with a new feature: two daily screenings, at 6pm for families and 9pm for film buffs, on the Prairie du Triangle. [Read more]
Opéra d'été 2023: free screenings in 3 Île-de-France departments
This year, Opéra d'été is (already) celebrating its 10th anniversary, and to mark the occasion we've put together a program of no fewer than 5 free screenings to be discovered in 3 departments of the Paris region. "The Marriage of Figaro", "Swan Lake" or "A Midsummer Night's Dream"... discover the 2023 Opéra d'été program! [Read more]
Gare aux Docs 2025: a free, committed film festival on the tracks of the REcyclerie
Fancy an open-air film festival on the railroad tracks of Paris's Petite Ceinture? Then head for the REcyclerie, from July 4 to August 30, 2025, to enjoy documentaries on a wide range of subjects. [Read more]
Charon's Wheel: Burning Man's incredible installation comes to Paris this summer
It's called "Charon's Wheel" and was created by American artist Peter Hudson for the Burning Man festival. This summer, this monumental installation is touring Europe, with a stopover in Paris from July 11 to 30, 2023. [Read more]
Les Extatiques 2024 take over Ile Seguin with circus, street art and contemporary art
Les Extatiques, the free contemporary open-air exhibition, is heading for the Ïle des Arts this year. From September 21 to November 21, the spot is transformed into a free artistic promenade combining contemporary art and live performance. [Read more]
Jardin d'été 2025: the free, festive festival returns to the Musée du Quai Branly
The Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac invites you to plunge into the enchanting world of Japanese summer festivals with its summer event, Jardin d'été, from July 5 to August 31, 2025. This edition features a particularly gourmet program of world flavors and cuisines, all summer long. [Read more]
Formes olympiques 2023, the free festival between sport and art this summer in Paris
Concert, show, exhibition, sport: with the Formes olympiques festival, from June 23 to September 17, 2023, we're enjoying a host of free events, all over Paris. Here's a selection of not-to-be-missed events. [Read more]
