What’s On in Paris – June 2025

Events added throughout the month, check back for updates!

First Sunday – June 1
For this first Sunday of the month, many Paris museums and monuments are open free to the public, including the Musée du Quai Branly, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, gardens of the Musée Albert Kahn, La Monnaie de Paris, l’Orangerie, and the Château de Versailles. But be forewarned: reservations are a must. Three chateaux don’t require reservations: Château de Fontainebleau, Château de Malmaison, and Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

June 1-29
The 16th annual “Chopin au Jardin” festival features free Chopin concerts at the Kiosque du Parc Montsouris (14th) every Sunday from 5-6pm. The festival is organized by the City of Warsaw, Stołeczna Estrada and the Polish Institute of Paris. See the full program here.

First Friday – June 6
Tonight is the Free First Friday at the Louvre, where the evening visit (from 6pm-9pm) is free the first Friday of the month (except July-August). Tickets are required, and are only available two weeks in advance, and time slots fill up fast! Book online here: https://www.louvre.fr/expositions-et-evenements/evenements-activites/les-nocturnes-du-mercredi-et-du-vendredi

June 5–8
The Grande Braderie de la Mode returns to BETC – Les Magasins Généraux (1 rue de l’Ancien Canal, metro Église de Pantin) for a four-day designer sale benefiting the HIV/AIDS charity AIDES. Open from 11am to 7pm (closing at 6pm Saturday and Sunday), this fashion charity event features pieces from over 100 top brands including Isabel Marant, A.P.C., Chloé, AMI Paris, and Dries Van Noten — all at up to 70% off. Entry is €2 with reservation, time slots fill up fast, reserve here: https://www.billetweb.fr/grande-braderie-de-la-mode1

June 7
It’s the 24th annual Nuit Blanche in Paris, when cultural events take place all night long (usually for free) in museums, cultural centers and in the open air. Find the program here online, or check out the information centers on the night from 7pm-2am at the Place Saint-Paul (4th), corner of 73 Quai de Valmy and 1 rue Jean Poulmarch (10th), and outside the Gare de Montparnasse (Place Raoul Dautry, 15th).

June 7-8
The famous rose gardens of the Parc de Bagatelle (Bois de Boulogne, 16th) are featured at their finest this weekend for the annual “Weekend de la Rose”. Come see over 1200 varieties of rose including the ones competing for “Best in Show”, gardening workshops and demonstrations, and practical gardening tips, including how to garden without pesticides (the City of Paris no longer uses any pesticides in the Municipal Gardens). There’s also a flower market if you’re in the mood to shop. Open 10am-6pm, entry €2.70.

June 7-14
This week is the Festival du Mieux Manger, or “Festival of Better Eating” a festive week dedicated to the promotion of sustainable food and agriculture to reduce our environmental impact with cooking classes, tasting workshops, activities, and conferences hosted throughout Paris. The opening day (June 7, 11am–10pm) features a local farmer’s market at Place des Fêtes (19th arrondissement). On Sunday (June 8), join the giant “banquet solidaire” communal meal on Place Baudoyer (4th arrondissement) with live music and thousand-hand cooking. The closing celebration (June 14, 2–7pm) brings food, talks, books, and music to the Académie du Climat (4th). All events are free (some require registration), and all are in French—but many only require your taste buds. Full program online.. Note that some events require registration, even if all are free of cost. All of the events are in French, and the full program is in French, but if you try the auto-translate you’ll find many events that only need your taste buds! 😉

June 9th is the Monday after Pentecost, an official “bank holidays” in France. Aside from some smaller restaurants and shops, most places will be open as usual.

June 12
Le Food Market is a monthly open-air food festival on Boulevard Belleville (between metro Ménilmontant and Couronnes) with over a dozen stands serving up tasty dishes of all kinds at affordable prices (kind of like a gathering of static food trucks, but without the wheels) from 6pm-10:30pm. This month’s theme is “Ravito” (meaning “refreshments” for athletes). It can get quite crowded, so get there early to avoid waiting (there are huge tables to sit and eat).

June 14
Pique-nique en Blanc (White Picnic) returns to the Château de Chantilly (45 minutes north of Paris) from 7pm to 12:30am for its sixth festive edition in the castle’s formal French gardens. Participants must dress entirely in white (no prints or stripes) and bring their own picnic and white tablecloths. The evening features a dance floor, vinyl DJ sets, vintage wooden lawn games, food trucks, drink stands, and a final illumination show over the Volière garden. Admission is €20 (free for children under 7, ticket required). Last entrance at 9:30pm, and the event ends promptly at 12:30am. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Safety guidelines include no alcohol over 15°, no metal cutlery or flames (LED candles allowed), and no animals (except guide dogs). In case of bad weather, the event will be postponed to July 19, 2025, with no refunds.

June 14-15
One of the original Parisian artist squats (totally legal now), Les Frigos (aka 91 Quai de la Gare) open their artist studios to the public for a free open house all weekend for the annual Portes Ouvertes. Open Saturday and Sunday from 2-8pm. There will be concerts, performances, and food as well as artworks for sale.

June 17-23
The 14th annual Champs-Élysées Film Festival celebrating independent French and American films takes place in cinemas on and around the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, with screenings open to the public (passes from €50). One of the best events of the festival is without a doubt the Lost in Frenchlation party on June 22rd with a screening of “L’Incroyable Femme des Neiges” (“The Incredible Snow Woman”), in French with English subtitles. The evening begins at 6:30pm with drinks on the rooftop of the Drugstore Publicis, then the film screening downstairs from 8:30pm, followed by a Q&A with cast & crew. Tickets are €45.

June 21
Secrets of Paris contributor and author Scott Dominic Carpenter, will be reading from his latest memoir, Paris Lost and Found, today at 4pm at Bill & Rosa’s Book Room (42 rue du Chemin Vert, 92100  Boulogne, M° Porte de St Cloud). “From bizarre encounters on the Metro to comical clashes with authority figures, and even a quixotic battle against a flock of migrant parrots, unveils sides of the great city that are as quirky as they are authentic. With his unique blend of wit, insight, and wistfulness, Carpenter charts a path through his new labyrinth of solitude after losing his wife to dementia—only to emerge on the other side, squinting into the bright light of hope and new beginnings.” Free event, sign up by email at BRbookroom@gmail.com

June 21
Fête de la Musique! The 43rd annual all-night music festival takes place throughout France, but in Paris the whole city is overtaken: public spaces, bars, cafés, parks, sidewalks and even the streets are closed off for live music of every kind, performed by both famous and amateur musicians, from late afternoon through early morning, all concerts are free and open to everyone. Please note the main metro lines will be running all night, but it will be hard to get around by taxi because of road closures (and Vélibs are typically locked down for the night). Bring your earplugs if you expect to try and sleep! Here’s the list of events in Paris.

June 19-23
Tickets may already be sold for the highly anticipated annual event, Les Créateurs ont du Cœur – Summer 2025 Braderie, at the Bastille Design Center (74 boulevard Richard Lenoir, 11th arrondissement), for five days of designer shopping at bargain prices, all for a good cause. This solidarity sale supports Arcat’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Expect high-end clothing, accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, home décor, and more, all new (donated by designers for the event). Entry is €2 (donated entirely to Arcat), but the spots go fast! Open Thursday and Friday from 10am to 7pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday and Monday from 10am to 3pm. Closest metros: Richard-Lenoir (line 5), Saint-Ambroise (line 9). Most of the best items go the first day, so get there early if possible.

June 21 – December 13
De Paris à Belém: 10 ans d’actions mondiales pour le climat is a new free exhibition at the l’Hôtel de Ville (5 rue Lobau, 4th arrondissement) marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement (COP21) and looking ahead to COP30 in Belém. It features powerful visuals like a monumental work by Shepard Fairey (Obey) on the façade and striking photographs by Sebastião Salgado, alongside interactive installations for all ages. The exhibit also highlights the role of cities in global climate action (read this interview with the Canadian Cities Guru Brent Toderian about the exhibit). A child-friendly visitor path includes a booklet and works created by Paris youth. Open Tuesday through Saturday. Free admission, but online reservation required.

Through June 22
Fighting in Exile: Artists and France 1939–1945 is on view at the Musée de l’Armée (Hôtel National des Invalides, 129 rue de Grenelle, 7th arrondissement) in the third-floor temporary exhibition hall, daily from 10am to 6pm. Included with general museum admission. This powerful show marks the 80th anniversary of the Liberation through the lens of artists, intellectuals, and political figures who fled Nazi-occupied France and used art to uphold the values of liberty and resistance. Featuring works and stories from major figures such as Picasso, Calder, Fernand Léger, and Anna Marly. Only in French, so you may need a translator app on your phone.

June 26
Catch a special free screening of the summer’s highly-acclaimed documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough, tonight at UNESCO Headquarters (125 avenue de Suffren, 7th arrondissement, metro Ségur or École Militaire). The screening is followed by a roundtable with scientists and filmmakers on coral bleaching, climate change, and sustainable fisheries. Free, registration required by June 24 for in-person attendance. Doors open 6:30pm.

June 27-29
Solidays is one of the best summer music festivals in France. For the 27th anniversary of the festival, this year’s acts include MC Solar, Zaho de SagazanKalash, Sean Paul, Lamomali, Gims, and over 160,000 attendees are expected to join the fight against AIDS at Paris-Longchamp racecourse. Day passes start at €64 and sell out fast!  

June 27 – August 2
Les Murs Ouverts #71 returns to Le Lavo//Matik (20 boulevard du Général Jean Simon, 13th arrondissement) with over 60 urban artists exhibiting their latest works across a wide range of styles, formats, and prices. Opening receptions are Friday, June 27 from 5–9pm and Saturday, June 28 until 7pm. Free entry.

Through June 28
The Portuguese street artist Bordalo II’s latest show, Irréversible, is on view at Galerie Mathgoth (1 rue Alphonse Boudard, 13th arrondissement) from Wednesday to Sunday, 2:30–7pm. Free admission. It’s “a bold and urgent manifesto on the environmental cost of overconsumption and globalized waste.” Known for his large-scale portraits of endangered animals made entirely from plastic trash, Bordalo II also debuts a more intimate new series titled Provocs, using urban furniture and everyday materials to critique societal norms and contradictions. The opening vernissage is Saturday, May 24 from 3pm, with the artist present.

June 28
The Pride March is back! This year the Marche des Fiertés, the march for LGBTQI+ rights, will take place from outside metro Palais Royal- Musée du Louvre in the center of Paris, and finishes at the Place de la Nation in the 12th.

Through August 10
I’m always a bit averse to paying to look at street art (because the whole point is that it’s accessible to everyone). But if you’re just visiting and want to see a lot of artists in one place (and indoors), you can check out the Zoo Art Show Paris La Défense, an immersive urban art installation featuring works by over 500 international artists across 4,000m² and four themed floors in the business district just outside Paris (the end of metro line 1, La Défense, exit 5 Calder–Miró, then look for at 4 place de la Défense). Open Wednesdays, weekends, holidays from 10am–5:30pm. Tickets €18 online (no sales on site). Expect massive murals, 3D illusions, digital installations, and works by icons like M. Chat, Okuda, and Banksy, plus live shows, workshops, and food.

June 28 to September 13
The Association Française d’Astronomie hosts free stargazing evenings in 21 different parks and gardens across Paris this summer. Events begin at 9pm and run until 1am. The schedule includes: June 28 – Jardin Federico García Lorca (4th arrondissement), July 4 – Square Séverine (20th arrondissement), July 5 – Jardin des Grands Explorateurs (6th arrondissement), July 11 – Jardin Villemin-Mahsa Jîna Amini (10th arrondissement), July 12 – Parc André Citroën (15th arrondissement), July 13 – Square Louis XIII (4th arrondissement), July 18 – Parc Martin Luther King (17th arrondissement), July 19 – Parc de Choisy (13th arrondissement), July 25 – Bois de Charonne (20th arrondissement), July 26 – Jardin du Ranelagh (16th arrondissement), August 1 – Parc Montsouris (14th arrondissement), August 2 – Jardin d’Éole (18th arrondissement), August 3 – Square Louise Michel (18th arrondissement), August 14 – Parc de la Butte Chapeau Rouge (19th arrondissement), August 15 – Parc Monceau (8th arrondissement), August 16 – Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19th arrondissement), August 22 – Jardin de Reuilly-Paul Pernin (12th arrondissement), August 23 – Parc de Belleville (20th), August 27 – Jardin Shakespeare (16th arrondissement), August 29 – Square Léon Serpollet (18th arrondissement), August 30 – Square des Arènes de Lutèce (5th arrondissement), and September 13 – Parc Montsouris (14th arrondissement).

June 29
Cookbook author David Lebovitz (L’Appart, The Sweet Life in Paris) and La Cuisine owner Jane Bertch (The French Ingredient) will be signing their books in person at La Cuisine Cooking School (78 quai de l’Hôtel de Ville, 4th arrondissement,) from 3–4:30pm. Guests are welcome to bring books they already own. Note: the venue cannot accept credit cards or Venmo for purchases.

Through June 29
Foire Saint-Sulpice returns to Place Saint-Sulpice (6th arrondissement) with six weeks of rotating cultural and artistic fairs, from rare book dealers and antiques to ceramics and contemporary printmaking. Each themed week features artisan stalls, demonstrations, roundtables, and activities, all with free entry. Highlights include the Salon de la Bibliophilie (May 22–25), Salon des Antiquaires (May 29–June 8), Journées de l’Estampe (June 9–10), Marché de la Poésie (June 18–22), Journée de l’Écologie (June 23), and Saint-Sulpice Céramique (June 26–29). Open daily from late morning to evening. Entrance at 78 rue Bonaparte. Full program: foire-saint-sulpice.fr

June 29–July 2
La Fête du Cinéma returns for four days of discounted screenings across France. From Sunday through Wednesday, all standard film tickets are just €5 (excluding 3D, special events, and extras) for a large selection of films, including The Return of Ulysses, F1- The Film, Falcon Express, Life of Chuck, and Dragons (along with my French and international films). See the website for the full list.

Through June 30
Paris Noir: Artistic Circulations and Anti-Colonial Resistance, 1950–2000 at the Centre Pompidou (19 rue Beaubourg, 4th arrondissement) is the final exhibition before the museum closes for five years of renovations. The exhibit explores the influence of Black artists in France from the 1950s to 2000. Featuring works by over 150 artists from Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean—many never before shown in France—it traces the rise of diasporic creativity in Paris through abstraction, surrealism, and political figuration. Highlights include new commissions and a circular matrix inspired by Édouard Glissant’s concept of the “Whole-World.” Open daily (except Tuesday) from 11am to 9pm, and Thursdays until 11pm. Closed May 1. €17, concessions €14. Advance booking recommended.

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.

Through October 12
“Instants Données” is the latest exhibition at the Musée Maillol featuring 400 carefully selected photographs by the legendary French photographer, Robert Doisneau. Although best known for his post-card photos of Paris taken from the 1930s through the 1980s, the lovers kissing in front of the Hôtel de Ville, the “curved” Eiffel Tower, or even Picasso with “hands” made of petits pains. But he also documented the lives of Parisians we don’t normally see on camera: factory workers, poor children playing in the street, the homeless, prostitutes, miners, labor unionists on strike, humble café owners…. I loved him images of the suburbs of Paris, both the pre-war shanty towns and the post-war housing projects, “each ugly, but in different ways”, and the photos he took of artist and writer friends and their ateliers. Allow at least an hour to fully enjoy! Open daily 10:30am-6:30pm (Wednesdays until 10pm). Reserve online in advance, tickets €16.50 (€12.50 for ages 6-25).