Welcome to Summer in France – fêtes, flea markets and festivals galore across the whole of France – here’s our pick of the major events…
Summer officially begins in France on June 21 and ends 23 September, 2025.
National events in Summer 2025
July 14 – Fête National (Bastille Day)
A one-day holiday that commemorates the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution in 1789. An impressive military parade is held on the Champs-Elysées and celebrations feature firework displays in cities, towns and villages across France. The night before, street dances or Bals des Pompiers are hosted at fire stations by local firemen. English speakers call Fete National ‘Bastille Day’ which perplexes the French no end! (Discover the history of Bastille Day on our podcast).
August 15 – L’Assomption – Assumption of Virgin Mary
A public holiday.
20-21 September – Journées Européennes du Patrimoine – European Heritage Days
Hundreds of historic buildings, famous monuments, Government sites and places of interest – some of which are normally closed to the public for instance the Elysée Palace and the Banque de France – we know that might not sound exciting, but trust us, the opulent interiors are jaw-droppingly gorgeous – open their doors to the public. Details: journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr
Major Anniversaries
The Hillsides, Houses and Cellars of Champagne celebrate their 10th anniversary of UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and the Route du Champagne en Fete celebrates its 30th birthday.
Main Events
LUMINISCENCE REIMS
LUMINISCENCE is a cultural phenomenon in France and this year you can catch the illuminating and immersive music and light show in Reims at the 1000-year-old Basilica of Saint-Remi. As venues go, this is a spectacular historic church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, named in honour of Bishop Remigius, who baptised King Clovis of the Franks (a Germanic tribe who conquered Fault and made it Francia (France) and 3000 of his warriors in 498. The 12th-century-style chandelier has 96 candles, one for each year of the life of St Rémi (as the Bishop became), whose tomb is marked by a mausoleum from the mid-1600s.
LUMINISCENCE Reims is an extraordinary performance in an extraordinary monument. Live music featuring a choir, an incredible 360° light show projected onto every inch of the church interior, revealing its architectural details, the 24m high vaults, the soaring columns, the stained-glass windows.
Until August 16 2025 – book in advance to make sure you don’t miss this one. Tickets at: luminescence.com/reims
Tall Ships Race 2025 Normandy & Dunkirk
The Tall Ships Races 2025 will start from Le Havre, Normandy, with three days of festivities from 4-7 July. The majestic 50-strong fleet will make its first stop in Dunkirk (Northern France) three days later on 10 July, staying there until 13 July. Expect shoreside festivities and celebrations – a huge and popular spectacle. 4-13 July 2025
Main Square Music Festival, Arras, Pas-de-Calais
Arras holds one of Europe’s major musical events – The Main Square Festival. It’s a mix of the best up-and-coming artists with leading international artists. 4-6 July 2025 www.mainsquarefestival.fr
Tour de France 2025
In 2025, the Tour de France’s Grand Départ will set off from Lille in the north of France, hurtling across the Haute-de-France region for four days before heading off across France – a route of 3,320km through Normandy, Brittany, the Loire Valley, Southern France including Carcassonne, Toulouse and Montpellier, and the Alps. The greatest bike ride on earth will attract millions of viewers in person and on TV with a return to its traditional finish in Paris on the Champs-Elysées (after finishing in Nice last year due to the Olympic Games). 5 – 27 July 2025
Les Chorégies, Orange, Provence
The Roman theatre Orange hosts one of the oldest French festivals – Les Chorégies, founded 1869. It’s an amazing setting for music and theatrical performances, the ancient Roman wall makes for superb acoustics, not to mention sitting on the stone seating (take a cushion) where spectators have sat for some two thousand years, is a pretty amazing experience. June-July 2025. choregies.fr
Antiques Fair, Montreuil-sur-Mer, Pas de Calais
A grand Antiques Fair takes over the whole of the upper town. Hundreds of stalls, music, fireworks and terrific restaurants in this ‘destination gastronomique.’ 14 July 2025
Menton Music Festival, Menton, French Riviera
An annual music festival which combines beautiful classical music with stunning scenery in the lemon and orange hued town. 22 July – 8 August 2025. festival-musique-menton.fr
Nice Jazz Fest
The sunny Mediterranean city celebrates all things jazz with a superb programme featuring French and international artists in a dedicated jazz “village” with bars, a food court and petanque pitch. When the performances are over – join the afterparties for acoustic jam sessions under the stars. 24-27 July 2025. nicejazzfest.fr/en
Nuit des Etoiles
La Nuit des Etoiles, 1-3 August 2025, is organised by the French Astronomy Association with events across the country such as observing the stars from the terrace in the Tour Montparnasse in Paris or a visit at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse https://www.afastronomie.fr/les-nuits-des-etoiles
Braderie de Lille
Europe’s biggest flea market takes place through the day and night (bring a torch). Up to 10,000 sellers, 200km stalls, and 33 hours of non-stop flea market action. The Braderie de Lille starts at 14h on Saturday 6th September and ends 23h Sunday 7 September
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