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France boasts a dynamic and varied calendar of holidays and 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, you are in the right place. Discover what’s on in France this year with this round-up of major events and festivals in France 2025.
Public Holidays in France 2025
These days are marked red on our calendars, as we don’t work. Although France is a secular republic, most public holidays in France have a religious (Catholic) origin.
- 1 January – New Year
- 21 April – Easter Monday
- 1 May – Workers’ Day
- 8 May – The Armistice, end of the WW2 in France
- 29 May – The Ascension, a religious festival
- 9 June – Pentecost Monday
- 14 June – National Day
- 15 August – Assumption of Mary
- 1 November – All Saints
- 11 November – The Armistice, end of WWI in France
- 25 December – Christmas Day.
French Festivals and Major Events in France 2025
Here’s the list of the upcoming French festivals and major events in France 2025.
Events in France January 2025
1 January – New Year (public holiday)
6 January – Epiphany. Although it is not a holiday in France, the French celebrate this Catholic holiday with the Galette du Roi
7 January to 12 February – Guadeloupe Carnival, one of France’s most colorful
8 January to 4 February – Winter Sales in all of France
10 January – Croissant National Day
11 to 23 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!
25 to 26 January – The Saint-Vincent Tournante is a wine festival held yearly in a different wine village of Bourgogne. The event celebrates the patron saint of winegrowers, Saint Vincent. This year 2025, the activities will be held in the village of Ladoix-Serrygny in the Côte de Beaune.
Events in France February 2025
2 February – Chandeleur. For La Chandeleur (Candlemas), the French eat crêpes! Look for a nice crêperie near your hotel and celebrate with us
8 February – Bal du Chat Noir in Dunkerque. The festivities of the Dunkirk Carnival 2025 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 and a strong drum beat behind
12 to 16 February – Fête du Mimosa (Mimosa Festival) in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, located along La Route du Mimosa, Southern France
12 February to 2 March – Carnival of Nice
15 February to 2 March – Fête du Citron, Menton’s Lemon Festival, one of the best festivals in France in wintertime!
16 February – International Syrah Day. Don’t miss this opportunity to taste some of the best Syrahs in France, like a Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Cornas, or Crozes-Hermitage in the Rhône Valley Wine Region.
Events in France March 2025
1 to 2 March – Sarlat Fest’Oie (Goose Festival) in Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne)
9 to 16 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
20 March – Spring in France
27 March – Cheese National Day.
Events in France April 2025
1 April to 31 October – Grandes Eaux et Jardins Musicaux de Versailles (Water and Music Festivals) in the Gardens of Versailles. It is possible to do the show alone or in combination with the Château de Versailles
1 April – Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny opens its doors to visitors. Check out this quick guide to Monet’s Gardens in Giverny
12 April – Paris-Roubaix, considered one of the world’s most dangerous cycling races. You can check out the itinerary here
13 April – Marathon of Paris
14 April – World Tannat Day. Let’s celebrate this tannic red wine red by drinking a Madiran wine from the south-west of France
17 April – World Malbec Day. Let’s celebrate this grape born in south-west France and its bold, velvet flavors by drinking a glass of wine from the Bergeracois or Northern Gascogne wine production areas
25 April – World Viognier Day. World Viognier Day is always celebrated on the last Friday of the month, this year on 25 April. Let’s celebrate this French white grape, known for its luscious textures and exotic flavors, by drinking a glass of Château-Grillet or Condrieu in the Rhône Valley Wine Area
25 to 27 April – Journées Romaines de Nîmes (Nîmes’ Roman Days). For several days, the city of Nîmes is transformed into a real Roman camp, with historical re-enactments, entertainment, and shows.
Events in France May 2025
1 May – Workers’ Day (public holiday)
2 May – World Sauvignon Blanc Day. World Sauvignon Blanc Day is always celebrated on the first Friday of the month, this year on 2 May. Let’s celebrate this zesty, aromatic white grape that thrives in the Loire Valley, perhaps by drinking a glass of Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé wine
TBD to TBD 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
11 May – Nuit des Cathédrales. For the Night of Cathedrals, the participating cathedrals open their doors until midnight and offer a varied cultural and spiritual program with concerts, exhibitions, conferences, shows, guided tours, meditations, prayers, and periods of silence
13 to 24 May – Cannes Film Festival
18 May – Nuit Européenne des Musées, when many museums in France stay open until midnight. Check out the full program
19 May to 8 June – Roland Garros (the French Open). This is the only Grand Slam tournament held on a clay court
22 May – World Chardonnay Day. International Chardonnay Day is celebrated annually on the Thursday before Memorial Day in the United States, which this year falls on 22 May. Let’s celebrate the most planted white grape variety with a Burgundy wine or a glass of champagne.
Events in France June 2025
6 June – 81st Anniversary of the Landings in Normandy
7 June – Nuit Blanche. The annual night-time arts festival in Paris
TBD June to TBD September – Night Fountains Show in the Gardens of Versailles (Saturdays and holidays). You can buy the tickets here
11 to 15 June – 24 Heures du Mans (24 Hours of Le Mans) in the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans
14 to 15 June – Médievales de Provins. France’s most important Medieval Fair takes place in the lovely Medieval town of Provins
21 June – Fête de la Musique. This French festival celebrates music and the arrival of summer in France
21 June – World Chenin Day. The Chenin Blanc grape variety is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of June, which falls on 21 June this year. This day is a tribute to Chenin Blanc, a highly versatile grape variety known for producing a wide range of wine styles that thrives in the Loire Valley
25 June to 22 July – Summer Sales in all of France.
Events in France July 2025
5 to 27 July – Tour de France 2025. This year, the Tour de France will be 100% French and will start from Lille. You can check out the full itinerary here
5 to 26 July – Avignon’s International Theater Festival
9 to 13 July – Fêtes de Bayonne. This is the most popular fair in the French Basque Country
14 July – Fête Nationale (France’s National Day). The most spectacular celebrations and parades take place in Paris
27 July – Final Stage of the Tour de France. This year, the finish line will be again along the Champs Elysées.
Events in France August 2025
1 to 10 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)
18 August – International Pinot Noir Day. It is time to celebrate one of the world’s most elegant and complex wine grapes, which thrives in the coldest wine regions of France like Burgundy, Loire Valley, Alsace, and Champagne
21 to 26 August – Fêtes de la Saint Louis in Sète. This Festival is dedicated to the Sun King (Louis XIV), who decided to build the port of Sète, with games hosted along the Royal Canal
28 August – International Cabernet Sauvignon Day. Celebrated annually on the Thursday before Labor Day in the United States, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most renowned red wine grapes, known for its bold structure, hints of oak, and rich flavors of blackcurrant and blackberry.
Events in France September 2025
5 to 6 September – Marathon des Châteaux du Médoc. The race starts and finishes in Pauillac and winds through the vineyards and the prestigious châteaux of Pauillac, St-Julien, St Estèphe, Médoc or Haut-Médoc. Along the way, 25 wine tastings are organized by the different châteaux
6 to 7 September – The Grande Braderie in Lille is the biggest flea market event in France
6 to 14 September – Festival de Cinéma Américain in Deauville
20 to 21 September – Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days), with many museums and other cultural buildings free to visit
22 September – Fall in France.
Events in France October 2025
TBD October to TBD November – Halloween in Disneyland Paris. You can buy your tickets to Disneyland Paris here
TBD to TBD October – Fête des Vendanges (Grape Harvest Festival) in Montmartre, Paris
TBD to TBD 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
24 October – World Champagne Day. Let’s toast to the world’s most festive drink, exclusively produced in the Champagne Wine Region. Known for its elegance and fine bubbles, here are some curious facts about champagne wine
26 October – Fête du Piment (Chilli Festival) in Espelette, Basque Country
31 October – Halloween.
Events in France November 2025
1 November – All Saints (public holiday)
7 November – International Merlot Day. This is the perfect excuse to visit Bordeaux and its wine area, especially Garonne’s Right Bank (Saint-Emilion, Pommerol,..), where Merlot is king
TBD November – The town of Sables-d’Olonne will see the departure of the 11th Edition of Vendée Globe, nicknamed “the Everest of the Seas”
11 November – The Armistice, end of WWI in France (national holiday)
20 November – The arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau. This day marks the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau, a young, fruity wine made from Gamay grape variety in the Beaujolais Wine Region
24 November – International Carmenère Day. Originally from Bordeaux, where you can still find it in some blends, Carmenère found a second home in Chile, where it is the signature wine
From TBD November – Christmas Markets in all of France. The Alsace Christmas Markets are France’s most popular. The Strasbourg Christmas Market dates are from TBD November to 24 December. The Colmar Christmas Market dates are not confirmed yet
TBD November to TBD January 2026 – Christmas at Disneyland Paris. You can buy your tickets to Disneyland Paris here.
Events in France December 2025
TBD November to TBD January 2026 – Christmas at Disneyland Paris. You can buy your tickets to Disneyland Paris here
4 December – International Cabernet Franc Day. Let’s celebrate Cabernet Franc, a grape variety known for its elegance, medium body, and flavors of red berries, herbs, and floral notes, often with a touch of spice. Cabernet Franc is a key player in Bordeaux blends and shines as a single-varietal wine in the Loire Valley
21 December – Winter in France
5 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
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?