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Arts & Culture
Most Popular Events in France 2024 (Celebrations and Famous French Festivals 2024)
03/04/2024France boasts a dynamic and varied calendar of major events. From historic dates to famous French festivals or sports events, there’s always something to celebrate in France!
If you want to plan your trip to France around one of the French festivals and celebrations, discover what’s on in France this year with our round-up of major events in France in 2024.
French Celebrations, Festivals, and Other Events in France 2024
Events in France January 2024
1 January – New Year (public holiday).
7 January to 14 February – Guadeloupe Carnival, one of France’s most colorful.
10 January – Croissant National Day.
10 January to 6 February – Winter Sales in all of France.
13 to 25 January – Grande Odysée Savoye-Montblanc in Savoye and Haut-Savoye. This sled dog race is renowned for being one of the longest and most difficult in the world due to its altitude difference which totals more than 25,000 meters!
20 January – Bal du Chat Noir in Dunkerque. The festivities of the Dunkirk Carnival 2024 are held every weekend for many weeks (click here for the full program), but the real start is signaled by the Bal du Chat Noir (Ball of the Black Cat). When Mardi Gras comes around, the three joyful bands from Dunkirk Carnival – Citadel, Rosendael, and Malo – happily parade through the streets, belting traditional songs with naughty lyrics with a strong drum beat behind.
27-28 January – The Saint-Vincent Tournante is a wine festival held every year in a different wine village of Bourgogne. The event celebrates the patron saint of winegrowers, Saint Vincent. This traditional festival, which takes place the last weekend of January, highlights the diversity of Burgundy terroirs and wines through numerous food and wine activities. This year 2024, the activities will be held in the villages of Chambolle-Musigny and Morey-Saint-Denis, both in Côte de Nuits.
Events in France February 2024
14 to 18 February – Fête du Mimosa (Mimosa Festival) in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, located along La Route du Mimosa, Southern France.
16 February – Syrah’s International Day! Syrah, originally from the Rhône Valley in France, is the 8th most planted grape variety in the world.
17 February to 3 March – Carnival of Nice.
17 February to 3 March – Fête du Citron, Menton’s Lemon Festival, one of the best festivals in France in wintertime!
21 February – Missak Manouchian will join the Grands Hommes and Femmes of France in the Panthéon of Paris. Born in Armenia, he will be the first foreign resistant and communist to join the Panthéon 83 years after his execution by the Germans in 1944. Missak will be accompanied by Mélinée, his wife, and also resistant, even if she is not honored.
Events in France March 2024
2 to 3 March – Sarlat Fest’Oie (Goose Festival) in Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne).
3 to 10 March – Paris-Nice, one of France’s iconic cycling races.
13 March – World Riesling Day! This is the perfect excuse to travel to Alsace in March.
20 March – Macaron National Day
27 March – Cheese National Day
Events in France April 2024
1 April to 31 October – Grandes Eaux et Jardins Musicaux de Versailles (Water and Music Festivals) in the Gardens of Versailles.
7 April – Marathon of Paris.
16 April – The Paris Olympics Torch Ceremony will take place on the hallowed grounds of Olympia (Greece).
Events in France May 2024
1 May – Workers’ Day (public holiday).
3 to 5 May – Journées Romaines de Nîmes (Nîmes’ Roman Days).
7 to 16 May – The Fête du Pain, the bread festival (Parvis du Notre Dame), promotes traditional French breadmaking and includes the Best Baguette contest.
8 May – The Armistice (national holiday), end of the WW2 in France.
8 May – The Olympic Flame will arrive in France at the port of Marseille. The Olympic Torch Relay will start in France mainland and overseas.
9 May – Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour arrives in France on 9 May at La Défense Arena in Paris and 2 June at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon. Et oui, there are many swifties also in France!
9 May – Nuit des Cathédrales. For the Night of Cathedrals, the participating cathedrals leave their doors open until midnight and offer a varied cultural and spiritual program with concerts, exhibitions, conferences, shows, guided tours, meditations, prayers, and periods of silence.
14 to 25 May – Cannes Film Festival.
26 May to 9 June – Roland Garros (the French Open). This is the only Grand Slam tournament held on a clay court.
Events in France June 2024
1 June – Nuit Blanche in Paris.
1 to 2 June – Médievales de Provins, France’s most important Medieval Fair.
6 June – 80th Anniversary of the Landings in Normandy. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, will lead a moving ceremony in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach) with the presence of the foreign counterparts (except Putin, who is considered “persona non grata”).
15 to 16 June – 24 Heures du Mans (24 Hours of Le Mans) in the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans.
21 June – Fête de la Musique. This French festival 2024 celebrates music and the arrival of summer in France.
26 June to 23 July – Summer Sales in all of France.
29 June to 21 July – The Tour de France 2024 will start from Italy for the first time. This year, the Tour de France will have a particular itinerary, with a finish line in Nice (instead of Paris) on 21 July. This is not to overlap with the organization of the Summer Olympic Games.
29 June to 21 July – Avignon’s International Theater Festival. This year, the Festival will be held earlier than usual not to overlap with the Summer Olympic Games.
Events in France July 2024
10 to 14 July – Fêtes de Bayonne. This year the dates are earlier than usual, not to overlap with the Summer Olympic Games.
14 July – Fête Nationale (France’s National Day). The most spectacular celebrations and parades take place in Paris.
21 July – Final Stage of the Tour de France. This year, the last stage arrives in Nice.
26 July to 11 August – Paris will welcome the Summer Olympics 2024, one of the world’s most popular events – check out the Olympic calendar with the full program of competitions and events. Some competitions will be hosted in other French cities, like Marseille and Nice – check out the full list of 2024 Olympic Cities in France.
Events in France August 2024
12 to 18 August – Festival Interceltique de Lorient (Inter-Celtic Festival of Lorient), during which artists from Celtic regions such as Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and even Canada, Australia, and Northern Spain are invited.
15 August – Assumption of Mary (public holiday).
22 to 27 August – Fêtes de la Saint Louis in Sète. This Festival is dedicated to the Sun King, who decided to build the port of Sète, with games hosted along the Royal Canal.
28 August to 9 September – Paralympic Games.
Events in France September 2024
2 to 3 September – The Grande Braderie in Lille is the biggest flea market event in France.
6 to 15 September – Festival de Cinéma Américain in Deauville.
7 September – Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc.
21 to 22 September – Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) with many museums and other cultural buildings free to visit.
Events in France October 2024
11 to 15 October – Fête des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival) in Montmartre, Paris.
18 to 20 October – Nuit des Châteaux. Visit historic châteaux throughout France, all lit up at night. Check out the list of castles participating in the event here.
26-27 October – Fête du Piment (Chilli Festival) in Espelette, Basque Country.
31 October – Halloween.
Events in France November 2024
1 November – All Saints (public holiday).
7 November – International Merlot Day! This is the perfect excuse to visit the Bordeaux Wine Area, especially Garonne’s Right Bank (Saint-Emilion, Pommerol,..) where Merlot is king.
10 November – The town of Sables-d’Olonne will see the departure of the 10th Edition of Vendée Globe, nicknamed “the Everest of the Seas.”
11 November – The Armistice, end of WWI in France (national holiday).
21 November – The arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau!
From 24 November – Christmas Markets in all of France. The Alsace Christmas Markets are France’s most popular. The Strasbourg Christmas Market dates are from 24 November to 24 December. The Colmar Christmas Market dates are not confirmed yet.
Events in France December 2024
6 to 8 December – Lyon’s Light Festival, one of the best French festivals in wintertime, which marks the beginning of the Christmas celebrations in Lyon.
8 December – Five years after the terrible fire, the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris will re-open its doors. This will be one of the major events in France this year!
25 December – Christmas Celebrations in all of France (public holiday).
31 December – New Year’s Eve.
And there you have it, the list of the most famous celebrations and festivals in France this year. What French events you don’t want to miss?