The Moon Festival 2026, or Mid-Autumn Festival, lands this year on Friday, September 25, 2026, and the celebrations spill far beyond that single night. The 13th arrondissement remains the beating heart of the party, with its Ivry and Choisy avenues, but Belleville, straddling the 19th and 20th, as well as several Île-de-France towns all the way to the Yvelines, are also joining the celebration.
We’ve uncovered the must-see picks not to miss this year, from street performances and gourmet markets to family-friendly shows. To feel worldlier and celebrate this moment with family or friends, we’re off to discover what’s out there.
The Moon Festival is an Asian tradition dating back more than 1,300 years. It’s the second most important festival across Asia, just behind the Lunar New Year, yet it remains relatively low-profile in France. The 15th day of the eighth lunar month is said to be when the moon appears roundest and brightest of the year.
Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans and Japanese use this date to gather with family, head out to admire the full moon, and savor the famous gâteaux de lune. These small round cakes, stamped with intricate patterns, conceal a sweet filling of fruit, melon or lotus seeds, nuts, or red bean paste.
Behind the festivities, legends abound. The most widespread tale claims the celebration marks China's victory over the Mongols in 1368. Supposedly, messages announcing the day of the attack were slipped into cakes, distributed under the cloak. Since the Mongols did not eat sweet pastries, the ruse would have gone unnoticed.
As September 25, 2026 draws near, the mooncakes flood the display windows of Asian groceries and specialty pastry shops. Head to Tang Frères and the stores in the 13th arrondissement, along Avenue d'Ivry or Avenue de Choisy, where cardboard boxes can start piling up as early as the end of August. The Belleville district and Rue du Maire in the 3rd also hide some charming surprises.
To navigate between the traditional versions with salted egg yolk and the more contemporary creations featuring matcha or chocolate, we’ve gathered our top picks in our guide to the best mooncakes in Paris. And if you’re strolling along Avenue de Choisy, La Pâtisserie de Saison is worth a detour for its banh mi and house-made sweets.
Lion dances, calligraphy workshops, screenings, concerts and Asian street-food markets: the lineup spans several days and spills across the city’s arrondissements. The Rice Market is shaping up as the must-attend culinary event in the 13th, while local associations and the Mairie du 13e relay the details of the free activities on their sites. The full program can be found just below.
Rice Market 2026 Paris 13th arrondissement: the street-food rendezvous of the Moon Festival
Rice Market returns for its fourth edition in Paris’s 13th arrondissement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. This free Asian market gathers gastronomy, cultural workshops, and warm reunions around the Moon Festival. [Read more]
Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 at Jardin Yili: a Chinese night-time event in Yvelines
Yili Garden, France’s only traditional Chinese garden tucked away in the Yvelines, opens its lantern-lit paths for a Moon Festival evening. Tales, a tea ceremony, mooncakes, and a live concert will shape the night of September 26, 2026. [Read more]
Moon Festival Night at the Paris Élysées Club
Sponsored - To keep the festivities going, this gaming club is hosting a special evening on Saturday, October 3, 2026, featuring lantern decorations, a lavish Asian fine-dining menu at the club’s restaurant, and themed prize draws throughout the night. Adults only. [Read more]
Moon Festival in Paris’s 13th arrondissement 2026: free activities lineup
The Moon Festival settles into Paris's 13th arrondissement through September 26, 2026, around Place d'Italie. A France–Korea exhibition, the RICE Asian market, concerts, a literary evening, and stand-up compose a program that's completely free. [Read more]
Moon Festival 2026: Free show from Nanjing in Paris
The Moon Festival is celebrated in the garden of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Paris’s 7th arrondissement with the show “Paris under the Moon of Nanjing,” on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Singing, dance, traditional costumes, and mooncakes are on the program, free of charge with advance booking. [Read more]
Happy Moon Festival Paris!
Did you know?
Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival: origin and significance of this Asian festival
Every year, several Asian countries celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, better known as the Moon Festival, on the evening of the 15thᵉ day of the eighth lunar month. This year, the date is Monday, October 6, 2025. So, what's the story behind this festival and where does it come from? Let's find out. [Read more]
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Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival: origin and significance of this Asian festival
