The 2026 Bread Festival: the giant pop-up bakery on the Notre-Dame forecourt in Paris

La Fête du Pain is making its way back to Paris soon! The largest pop-up bakery is preparing to return to the parvis of Notre-Dame Cathedral this spring. For its latest edition in the capital, La Fête du Pain aims to delight both young and old with 10 days of baking demonstrations, activities, tastings, and surprises from May 8 to 17, 2026.

This bakery, set up under a spacious 500 m² marquee, offers an in-depth look at how bread, pastries, and other sweet treats are made. Thanks to the talented Grand Paris bakery and pastry chefs, visitors can enjoy a friendly, festive atmosphere while learning about their craft and sharing in the passion behind every delicious creation.

It's worth noting that not all bread sellers are authorized to call themselves "baker" or "bakery." That’s why the Bread Festival serves as a perfect occasion for professionals to showcase their craftsmanship, highlight the artistry behind traditional loaves, and reaffirm that authentic good bread carries a distinguished name: French Traditional Bread.

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As a reminder, the Fête du Pain was launched in 1996 on the initiative of Jean-Pierre Raffarin, then Minister for SMEs, Trade and Crafts. Since then, the event has returned every year around May 16, the day of Saint-Honoré, patron saint of millers, flour merchants, bakers and patissiers.

What’s on offer for this 30th anniversary edition of the Bread Festival? A recreated shop where Parisian bakers will welcome curious visitors and happily answer all their questions, along with competitions and award ceremonies, live demonstrations of artisanal skills led by master bakers from Île-de-France, indulgent tastings, and for the final three days, the live creation of extraordinary pieces by MOF-certified bakers—true masterpieces crafted with talent and precision.

Whether it's the different varieties of bread, from kneading to baking, including shaping... you’ll learn everything there is to know about the iconic baguette. Discover the artisanal techniques and rich culture behind it, now officially recognized as part of the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2022!

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