What’s On in Paris – January 2025

Looking specifically for holiday markets, events, and what’s open on New Year’s Day? Check out the 32-page 2024 Paris Holiday Guide with holiday listings through January 12th.

VACANCES SCOLAIRES (French School Holidays): December 21st, 2024 – January 6th, 2025

Through January 4
The Louvre museum is usually open late nights Wednesday and Fridays until 9pm, but for the holiday season they’re open until 9pm every night except Tuesdays (when they’re always closed), December 31st and January 1st. Reserve your timeslot online in advance (up until 7:30pm, rooms start closing at 8:30pm).

January 5th (and every 1st Sunday)
Many museums and monuments in Paris are open for free the first Sunday of the month. In January that includes the Centre Pompidou, Orsay, l’Orangerie, Rodin, Picasso, Delacroix, Cluny, Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Panthéon, Versailles and Fontainebleau. You might want to try one of the (slightly) less crowded establishments, such as Cité de l’Architecture, Arts-et-Métiers, Cité de la Céramique de Sèvres, Guimet, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Cité Nationale de l’Histoire de l’Immigration – Palais de la Porte Dorée, Musée Albert-Kahn, Château de Vincennes or the Saint-Denis Basilica. Those which don’t require reservations may have long lines, so bundle up! See the full list here.

January 5
Today is the Catholic celebration, Epiphany (when baby Jesus was visited by the three wise men). Whether Catholic or not, the French celebrate with food (of course), specifically the beloved Galette des Rois, or King Cake. In case you didn’t know, and don’t want to break a tooth, each galette has a ceramic fève (figurine) hidden inside (the one who kinds it gets to wear the crown and be King or Queen for the day), so bite down gingerly until it’s found. 😉 Learn more about it here on the France24 video.

Through January 5
The exhibition Lesage, 100 ans de mode et de décoration celebrates the centenary of the renowned embroidery house Lesage, known for its work with Chanel. The show highlights its exceptional craftsmanship, from vintage pieces like Balenciaga’s jacket (1962-1963) to modern creations such as Chanel’s 3D collection and collaborations with young designers. At the Gallery du 19M, 2 Place Skanderbeg, 19th arrondissement, open Wednesday to Friday 11am-6pm, weekends 11am-7pm. Free admission with reservation online (slots fill up fast!). It’s on the edge of the city along the périphérique; I recommend taking the bus 45 or tram 3b to get as close as possible (or a taxi if you can afford it).

Through January 5
The wonderful Musée Jacquemart-André (158 Boulevard Haussmann, 8th) celebrates its reopening after a full renovation with Masterpieces from the Borghese Gallery. For the first time, works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini, and Botticelli travel from Rome to Paris. Highlights include Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio and Lady with a Unicorn. Open daily 10am-6pm (until 10pm on Fridays). Tickets €18, reduced prices available. Don’t forget to visit the museum’s gorgeous salon du thé.

January 8 – February 4
The twice-annual sales (soldes en français) kick off in shops all over France, with clothing and home goods up to 70% off. Even if “everything is cheaper online,” the sales are a great time to support small, independent shops, especially those that are usually a bit out of your price range.

January 10-12
The District 13 Art Fair returns to the Hôtel Drouot auction house (9 rue Drouot, 9th) for three days to display the works of the 170 biggest names in street art and graffiti from around the world including Seth, D*Face, Obey, INTI, Sonic, Felipe Pantone, Add Fuel, Okuda San Miguel, JonOne, Queen Andrea, Jo di Bona, l’insecte, Richard Orlinski, Petite Poissone, Chloé Kelly Miller, Delteil Géraud, Jo Di Bona, JonOne, Keymi, Motte, Jace, Speedy Graphito, Reso, L’Outsider, and 13 Bis. Vernissage on the 9th at 3pm. Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Price: €10/15 – Free under 12.

January 12
It’s the fourth annual “Free Coffee Day” at Devotions Café (5 Rue Ramey, 18th) in Montmartre, from 9:30am-4pm (excludes the pistachio coffee, juices, and protein smoothies). They also serve vegan-friendly brunch!

January 12
Classic and vintage vehicles of all kinds will be on parade January 12th for the 25th annual Traversée de Paris organized by Vincennes en Anciennes. You’ll see cars, motorcycles, trucks, busses, even mopeds of all makes and models — as long as they’re at least 30 years old (many are pre-WWII). It’s not too late to sign up if you’d like to ride along in one of the vintage Renault city busses for €10/person. Participants gather behind the Château de Vincennes (in front of the Parc Floral) at 7am, and will start departing from 7:30am (through 9am), driving through the city in a massive loop around both Left and Right Banks, past all of the major monuments before finishing back at the Château de Vincennes at 5pm. Sign up by January 9th if you’d like to join (there are limited spaces). There are a few pit stops along the way (and you can hop off anytime), but be sure to bundle up, these old busses aren’t heated!  Check out Heather’s video from last year.

January 14th – February 28
French street artists Seth’s solo exhibition Escape Games opens at Galerie Itinerrance, 24bis Boulevard du Général Jean Simon, 13th arrondissement, Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-7pm. “This exhibit invites viewers to escape the uncertainties of our era through a poetic journey of resilience, imagination, and hope.” Free entry. Accessible via metro Bibliothèque François Mitterrand (line 14) or Tram T3a.

January 15
The annual Hommage à Molière takes place each year on January 15th at the Comédie-Française, where the famous French playwright died on stage in 1673. The Comédie-Française troupe pays tribute with a free performance at 8pm. There’s only one way to get tickets: directly at the Comédie-Française Salle Richelieu (Place Colette, Palais Royal, 1st) one hour before the show, from 7pm. Once there, look for the Petit Bureau, the outside ticket office along Rue de Richelieu side of the building (there will probably be a line of people already, spaces will fill fast).

January 15-28
See 20 of the best films from 2024 for just €5 for the “Les Incontournables UGC” event at any UGC cinema (you need a UGC fidelity card, but they’re free on request at any UGC ticket counter). Here are the films: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, Le Robot Sauvage, Une Vie, Tehachapi, Il Reste Encore Demain, Dune: Part 2, Tatami, Moi Capitaine, Un P’tit Truc en Plus, Riverboom, L’Histoire de Souleymane, Les Graines du Figuier Sauvage, La Plus Précieuse des Marchandises, Vice-Versa 2, Flow, le Chat qui n’Avait Plus Peur de l’Eau, Emilia Pérez, L’Amour Ouf, Pauvres Créatures, Borgo, Juré n°2, Anora, La Zone d’Intérêt.

January 18
Cảm ơn Day by Banh Mi brings Vietnamese culture to life at Point Éphémère (200 Quai de Valmy, 10th arrondissement) with a focus on authentic street food like bánh mì, gỏi cuốn, bánh bao, and thịt kho from beloved vendors Nonette, Banoi, Rouge Do, Tcha Food Truck, and Café Isaka. The free-entry event also features a creative market, photo exhibitions, and DJ sets from 12pm to 3am. There are also workshops and a ticketed showcase (from €12-€20).

Through January 19
Don’t miss “We Are Here”, the free exposition of the world’s greatest street artists at the Petit Palais. Over 200 extra-large contemporary artworks and installations by artists like Shepard Fairey, Invader, Seth, Hush and Vhils are found mixed right into the permanent collection of the beautiful Petit Palais, the city’s Fine Arts Museum in the gardens of the Champs Elysées. Watch the video here to get an idea of what to expect.

Through January 19
The Musée d’Orsay (Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 7th) presents Gustave Caillebotte: Painting Men, an exhibition that highlights the often-overlooked works of this discreet impressionist (and my personal favorite!). Through 70 modern masterpieces, including his famous Les Raboteurs de Parquet (The Floor Scrapers) the show explores how Caillebotte captures the nonchalance and struggles of Parisian men in the late 19th century. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30am-6pm (until 9:45pm on Thursdays). Tickets €16, reduced €13, free for under-26.

January 23
Looking to volunteer in Paris (and you’re a Parisian resident who can understand French)? It’s time for the 8th annual Nuit de la Solidarité, where volunteers are needed to help interview people living on the streets of Paris to better understand their profiles and needs to best adapt emergency and social mechanisms. This year, special attention will be paid to assessing the impact of the health crisis on precariousness and street situations in Paris. Learn more and register here: https://nuit-solidarite.paris.fr/index.html

January 23–26
The 9th edition of Les Nuits de la Lecture will take place across France, celebrating literature with a focus on the theme “Patrimoine” (Heritage). Over four evenings, events in Parisian monuments, libraries and other historic venues will explore intimate and collective legacies through readings, performances, tours, and discussions…only en français, of course, so if you’re looking for a way to expand your language learning, this is it! Many, but not all, of the events are free; some require tickets to enter, some are free but “first come, first served”. Get more details by clicking on the red dots on the searchable map.

January 26
Ground Control (81, rue du Charolais, 75012) hosts a solidarity banquet as part of its Politique Partout! program exploring food choices and social impact. Led by chefs Bérangère Fagart (Sélune) and Harouna Sow (Refugee Food), this communal dining event supports two charities, La Chorba and Droit à l’École. For every ticket purchased, one is donated to a beneficiary of these associations. Starter+main course+dessert for €35; option to pair with three organic wines for €50. Get tickets online here.

January 30
The Lunar New Year Food Market transforms Boulevard de Belleville into an immense open-air street food market, offering an incredible selection of Asian dishes from over a dozen vendors. Expect banh mi, bao burgers, gyoza, skewers, momos, Sichuan teppanyaki, Lao hot dogs, spring rolls, fried noodles, chiffon cakes, and more, with options ranging from Korean fried chicken to vegetarian Thai curries. Asahi Super Dry serves beer, and solo diners can meetup at the WeRoad Canteen networking table. Open 6pm-10:30pm at 1-34 Bd de Belleville, 20th arrondissement, between metros Ménilmontant and Couronnes (Line 2). Free entry, just like a traditional market; expect huge crowds.

February 1
Afterbulles on the Butte aux Cailles (35, Rue de l’Espérance Paris 13th) is hosting a Music n’ Bulles Evening with live music tonight at 7:30pm. Cécile will sing songs about Love and Paris accompanied by her ukulele and Philippe on the guitar. Fee is €39 for 3 champagnes + Gourmet plate (pay in person on the day). Reservations by telephone 01 45 81 26 36 or email to afterbulles@vinissime.fr.

Through February 2
The Musée Bourdelle (18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 15th) presents Rodin & Bourdelle, a striking exhibition that brings together over 160 works from these two monumental sculptors. Rodin, a master of modern sculpture, and Bourdelle, his former student, share a deep connection with materials like marble and the unfinished aesthetic. The exhibition explores their shared influences, with pieces like La Main de Dieu by Rodin and La Main désespérée by Bourdelle. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm. Tickets €10, reduced €8. Great little café upstairs.

Through September 7
The Bibliothèque Nationale de France (5 Rue Vivienne, 2nd) presents Le monde pour horizon, a year-long, three-part exhibition showcasing rare maps, prints, manuscripts, photos, costumes, and stage jewelry. Highlights include Hokusai’s The Great Wave and Toulouse-Lautrec’s Divan Japonais poster. With rotating exhibits every four months, visitors can return for new discoveries throughout the year. Open Tuesday 10am-8pm, Wednesday to Sunday 10am-6pm. Tickets €10, reduced €8.

Through September 21
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire Louis-Senlecq (31 Grande Rue, L’Isle-Adam) presents Trois siècles à L’Isle-Adam, an exhibition showcasing the town’s history through paintings, sculptures, watercolors, engravings, vintage posters, postcards, and historical photographs. Visitors will explore L’Isle-Adam’s evolution from the 18th century to the mid-20th century. Highlights include works by artists like Jules Dupré, depictions of the Oise River landscapes, and a focus on the town’s industrial and leisure history. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm. €6.