What’s On in Paris – March 2026

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS DIFFERENCE: in France is Sunday, March 29th (at 2am, clocks will spring forward to 3am), three weeks later than Daylight Savings in the US (which takes place March 8th).

VACANCES SCOLAIRES (French School Holidays) IN PARIS: February 21 – March 9. This usually affects how crowded tourist sights may be, as well as train and hotel prices.

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March 1
The Chinese New Year Parade in the largest Chinatown in Paris — the 13th arrondissement — takes place today from 2pm to 5pm, beginning in front of Tang Frères at 48 Avenue d’Ivry, and parading along the Avenue de Choisy, Porte de Choisy, and Avenue d’Ivry (just follow the crowds). If you don’t get there early to secure a good spot, it will be very hard to see over people’s heads! Find more tips on celebrating the Chinese New Year in the 13th arrondissement here.

March 1st (and every 1st Sunday)
Many museums and monuments in Paris are open for free the first Sunday of the month. In March, that includes the Orsay, Picasso, Cluny, Arts-et-Métiers, Musée Rodin, Orangerie, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Musée Delacroix, Musée Gustave Moreau, Cité de l’Architecture, Musée des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, Cité de la Céramique de Sèvres, Musée Jean-Jacques Henner, Musée départemental Albert-Kahn, Quai Branly, Musée de l’histoire de l’Immigration, and the Château Fontainebleau. Monuments include the Arc de Triomphe, Pantheon, Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Château de Versailles, Château de Vincennes, and Saint-Denis Basilica. Be sure to check each museum’s website, as some still require you to have a timed ticket; even if the entrance is free. See the full list here.

March 3–10
The Théâtre du Châtelet (1 place du Châtelet, 1st) is screening the biggest runway shows of Paris Fashion Week live on a big screen, free and open to all. Shows include Saint Laurent, Chanel, Balenciaga, Jean-Paul Gaultier, McQueen, Chloé, Isabel Marant, and more, see the times listed here. No reservation needed, but arrive early as seats are first-come, first-served. Free entry, with a complimentary drink included.

March 4 – April 12
While the Fondation Louis Vuitton prepares for the major Calder exhibition opening April 15, the building remains open at a reduced rate for visits to the permanent “Architectural journey” exhibition on Frank Gehry’s design, including original scale models, drone footage, sketches, and access to the terraces with their panoramic views. And don’t forget: your ticket also gives you free access to the Jardin d’Acclimatation next door, a scenic shortcut between the Foundation and the metro station. Open Wed-Sun 10am-8pm, tickets €5. 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi – Bois de Boulogne, 16th

March 6-8
The French soup kitchen charity Restos du Coeur are holding their annual collection drive in supermarkets throughout the city for three days. Volunteers will be at the exits with boxes to collect food and hygiene items, “a box of rice, a can of food, a shower gel…each donation is a valuable help for those we support.” For more info (including on how to volunteer for the event): https://collecte.restosducoeur.org/

March 7
The Cercle de France association hosts its 4th Gala Evening and Ball of the Two Empires at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand (2 rue Scribe, 9th). This elegant charity evening celebrates two anniversaries at once: the 200th birthday of Empress Eugénie and the 250th anniversary of American Independence. The night begins with a theatrical lecture, cocktail reception, and photography workshop, before a full gala dinner with period entertainment — including the dramatic “arrival” of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Benjamin Franklin, and his fellow American envoys, complete with period dance performances. At 9pm the Second Empire Ball opens with the entrance of Napoleon III and Eugénie herself. Proceeds benefit the Fondation Eugène Napoléon, which supports young women facing social, economic, or family hardship. Dress code is black tie or dark suit, with long dress or Second Empire attire encouraged. Tickets available via the Cercle de France website, from €110 to just attend the dance ball (with a glass of Champagne), or €290 for the full evening with dinner, entertainment, and ball (€520 for the VIP seating and extras).

March 7-8
The Gros Marché is hosting Le Sales Connes Fest at Ground Control (81, rue du Charolais, 12th) with a feminist market on Saturday (12 stands), and a street art tribute on Sunday, in addition to round tables, games, and live DJ. As usual, there will be the bookstore, record shop, and the Ground Control food court. Free entry, open Saturday noon-midnight, Sunday until 10pm.

March 8
Today is International Women’s Day, known in France as the Journée Internationale des Droits des Femmes (International Women’s Rights Day). There are many different events all over Paris on March 7th and 8th, and this year Americans in Paris can participate in the French tradition of 100% legal and organized protest marches by joining the Indivisible Paris contingent in solidarity with women in the US for the Grève Féministe March in Paris today from 1:30pm at Place de Stalingrad (44 Quai de la Loire – Metro Laumière). There will be a Feminist Village of French women’s organizations there from 11am.

March 8
The Red Wheelbarrow English Bookstore (11 rue de Médicis, 6th) is hosting a special book launch International Women’s Day, “A History of France in 21 Women” by Kathryn Pangonis, from 7pm. RSVP to francebooklaunch@gmail.com before March 3rd to attend.

March 12 & 14
The Paris Choral Society presents Northern Sounds at the American Cathedral in Paris (23 avenue George V, 8th), a program dedicated to the rich choral traditions of Northern Europe, featuring works by Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius, Arvo Pärt, Ola Gjeilo, and composers from Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, and Denmark. Two performances: Thursday March 12 at 8pm and Saturday March 14 at 6pm. Tickets €22 in advance, €25 on the door, €10 for students, at https://www.parischoralsociety.org/tickets

March 12 – April 18
Street artist Jef Aérosol presents Interstices at Galerie Mathgoth (1 rue Alphonse Boudard, 13th), bringing together around fifty new stencil paintings alongside a newly released album of fourteen songs composed by the artist. Each work is paired with a QR code so visitors can listen to the corresponding track, creating an immersive exhibition where image and sound unfold together. Open Wed–Sat 2–7pm, free entry; opening reception March 12 from 6–9pm.

March 13-22
The 110th annual Foire de Chatou gathers nearly 500 antique and second-hand dealers at île des Impressionnistes, 10 minutes from Paris. Expect high quality goods from vintage jewellery to industrial furniture, mid-century lighting to 18th century antiquities. Plus regional French foods, oysters and both a cocktail and a champagne bar! Entry €10 (free for under-15s), purchase on-site; there’s a free shuttle bus from RER station Rueil-Malmaison from 10am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 6pm, approximately every 30 minutes. Open 10am-7pm.

March 15th (for the festival April 4-19)
Reservations open March 15th for booking your free timeslot to picnic under the cherry blossom tress at the Parc de Sceaux’s annual Hanami festival. As I mentioned in the March Secrets of Paris newsletter, the Parc de Sceaux — a vast park just 25 minutes south of Paris on RER B famous for its cherry blossom orchard — will now require reservations to be able to sit in the specific sections of the park under the blossoming trees from April 4-19th (in order to reduce the crowds trampling the tree roots). The reservations are only needed for relaxing or picnicking; you can still observe them on foot or sit elsewhere in the park without reservations. The reservations are free, but will certainly fill up fast (the site is currently only in French, you’ll need an auto-translator): https://www.oandb.fr/fr/event/billetterie-hanami-2026

March 15 & 22
The first and second rounds of French municipal elections take place throughout France two Sundays in a row. Results will be posted on Paris City Hall’s website as they come in: Paris.fr

March 18-22
The Paris Music Festival returns with 51 unique concerts across 17 unexpected venues in the capital. This festival, showcasing emerging and talented artists, offers short, immersive performances the Sunset-Sunside, Hôtel de la Marine, Ground Control, La Manufacture Chanson, Château de Vincennes, Studio de l’Ermitage, and the Bateau El Alamein. Ticket prices range from €5 to €20, with details and reservations available at paris-music.com.

March 19
FFRandonnée Paris’s monthly “Panamée” urban walk is a fascinating way to see the city with the locals. The March walk is a free, three-hour cultural stroll dedicated to the Founding Fathers of he United States for 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, including places frequented by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, among others. These walks often attract large groups (sometimes a few hundred people), but it’s not a tight tour format: the group naturally spreads out, there’s no obligation to interact, and many people come alone simply to listen and walk. Think of it as a moving, open-air lecture (en français!) through the city rather than a small guided tour. The walk departs at 7pm from Square Alboni (near Passy metro) and ends around 10pm in front of the Métro Palais Royal. Free, no registration required, and open to everyone: just show up, dress for the weather, and be ready for a long evening walk, entirely en français.

March 19–22
The Urban Art Fair returns to the Carreau du Temple (4 rue Eugène Spuller, 3rd) for its 10th anniversary edition, celebrating a decade as one of the city’s international art fairs dedicated exclusively to urban art (along with District13 at Drouot each year). This year’s edition brings together 45 galleries from 9 countries, showcasing 140 artists ranging from emerging talents to major figures in the movement. Special projects include Perspectives, an outdoor installation at the Carreau du Temple entrance with monumental works by Popay, Mara, Bond Truluv, and Sébastien Preschoux; an immersive stand devoted to The Underbelly Project, the legendary clandestine art project born in the New York City subway tunnels; and a curated space designed by rapper Oli (of Bigflo & Oli). American street artist Jeff Soto will also be painting live at the MUR Oberkampf on March 20–21. Open to the public Friday and Saturday 11am–8pm, Sunday 11am–5pm. Tickets €15 (€10 reduced, free for under 12s).

March 19-21
Eglise Sainte-Trinité’s twice-yearly Trinité Vintage Shop (which sounds fancier than “Church Bazaar”) takes place March 19^th and 20^th 2-10pm, and March 21^st 2-6pm, with second-hand clothing, shoes, books, and household items. Beyond bargain-hunting, the event includes a St-Joseph wine tasting (March 19th, 8pm) and a parishioners’ music evening (March 20th, 8pm), with proceeds benefitting local charity initiatives.  

March 20–22
The Musée national de la Marine hosts the second edition of La Grande Marée, a free three-day festival dedicated to the ocean, bringing together writers, scientists, explorers, filmmakers, and environmental activists for talks, films, performances, and discussions. Most events are free and open to all (space permitting), with the special “Nuit de la Baleine” (Night of the whale) program on Saturday requiring advance reservation. Palais de Chaillot, 17 place du Trocadéro, 16th.

Through March 22
LV DREAM (26 Quai de la Mégisserie, 1st) is hosting “Louis Vuitton Art Deco Exhibition,” a free, reservation-only exhibition tracing the house’s role in the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Spread across eight rooms and featuring over 300 archival pieces, it explores the brand’s connection to the Art Deco movement through rare objects and immersive displays. Extend your visit with pastries or cocktails at Le Café Maxime Frédéric, and stop by the Gift Store for limited-edition items. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 11am-7pm.

March 22-24
The annual Printemps du Cinéma is a three-day festival where all of the participating films are just €5, from indie films to blockbusters both French and international (see the list here).

March 26
Saint-Denis Basilica is hosting The Soul of Ukraine, a concert presented as part of the “Season of Ukraine in France.” The Chamber Choir Kyiv, joined by organists Iryna Kalynovska and Quentin Guérillot, performs works by Ukrainian composers including Lesya Dychko, Hanna Havrylets, Victoria Poleva, and Valentyn Sylvestrov, blending sacred choral tradition with contemporary composition. The concert begins at 8pm; tickets €10.

March 26
Lost in Frenchlation hosts a screening of Le Rêve Américain at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville (20 rue du Temple, 4th), with drinks from 7pm and the film at 8pm, followed by a post-screening social. Based on a true story, the film follows two unlikely French underdogs who overcome language barriers and lack of connections to make it in the NBA. Tickets €5.50–€12; French with English subtitles and introduction in English.

March 27 – April 17
The 43rd Banlieues Bleues Festival unfolds across Seine-Saint-Denis, bringing three weeks of jazz, global music, and experimental sounds to 10 cities and 15 venues including Pantin, Montreuil, Saint-Denis, and Aubervilliers. Known for its forward-looking programming, the festival blends established artists with emerging talent, alongside film screenings, collaborations, and special projects. New venues this year include the Studio Zéro at the Académie Fratellini and additional spaces in Montreuil. Concerts take place most evenings; tickets sold per event.

March 28
The Sine Qua Non Run takes place at dusk from the Place de la République (10th/11th), a powerful evening race uniting women and men to stand against sexist and sexual violence — particularly the harassment that women runners face all too regularly on the streets. Choose between a 6km or 10km route looping along the canal, with the 6km starting at 6pm (€25 entry fee) and the 10km at 7pm (€30 entry fee) . Nike is the official partner, offering a free race shirt to all registered participants.Sign up here in English.

March 28–29
Pari Fermier Market brings around 50 farmers and winemakers to Paris’s 15th arrondissement for a weekend of direct-from-the-source food shopping. Expect regional specialties, artisanal preserves, cheeses, wines, and fresh produce, from 9am–7pm on Saturday and 9am–6pm on Sunday. The open-air market runs along Rue Saint-Charles (between rue de Javel and rue de la Convention), near métro Boucicaut or Charles Michels.

March 28–29
The Harlem Globetrotters bring their legendary mix of basketball wizardry and comedy to the Accor Arena (8 boulevard de Bercy, 12th) for two shows — Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 3pm. This year is extra special: the iconic team is celebrating its 100th anniversary with what they’re billing as their most legendary tour ever, featuring gravity-defying dunks, jaw-dropping tricks, and plenty of crowd-pleasing humor. New this tour is a golden basketball by Spalding, plus pre-game entertainment and post-game interactions with the players. A family ticket discount is available (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children under 20). Tickets from €38.25-€78.75; VIP experiences also available. Buy on the official website or at any FNAC if you’re in Paris.

March 30
The legendary Rick Margitza Quartet returns for a one-night-only concert at La Gare / Le Gore (1 avenue Corentin Cariou, 19th), offering an evening of live jazz from 9:30pm to midnight. Entry is free (they’ll pass the hat); arrive early to secure a spot at this popular, independent venue.

March 31 – April 15
The exhibition Pas comme les autres brings together the work of 45 painters, sculptors, and video artists from the Artistes de la Glacière association—current and former students of the City of Paris’s Ateliers des Beaux-Arts. Centered on the theme of “the street,” the show explores urban space as a shared site of freedom, constraint, and creative expression. Special events include a performance by Ensemble Orage and the opening reception on April 2 (5pm & 6:30pm), a dance performance by Compagnie Je, Elles et Lui on April 10 (6:30pm), and participatory “collective plagiarism” drawing sessions on April 7–8 (2–5pm). Free entry. At the Mairie – Town Hall of the 13th arrondissement (1 place d’Italie, 13th).

Until March 31
Last chance to see Paris from the rooftop of the Montparnasse Tower before it closes for a massive, multi-year renovation project. Tickets €19-€24 depending on the day and time (sunset visits are actually cheapest), Paris looks fabulous at night when it sparkles!

Get Your Tickets Now!

April 7–12
The Journées Européennes des Métiers d’Art (JEMA) return across Paris, France, and Europe for a week of free open studios, demonstrations, workshops, and special events highlighting traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artisan practice. This year’s theme, “Cœurs à l’ouvrage,” emphasizes the collective dimension of craft and its deep regional roots, with opportunities to meet artisans, visit rarely accessible heritage sites, and explore training schools and cultural venues. Thousands of events take place citywide; full program and locations available on the website. Some places require reservations (open March 30th), which fill up fast!

April 8
Brown University in Paris welcomes New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Janet Skeslien Charles for a talk on her novel Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, which recounts the work of the American Committee for Devastated France during World War I. The discussion highlights librarian Jessie Carson’s efforts to bring books and comfort to children in occupied northern France, including the creation of traveling bookmobiles and the country’s first children’s libraries. The event begins at 7pm at 57 boulevard Saint-Germain (5th), hosted by the Brown Club of France, and is followed by a rooftop reception (with views of Notre Dame). Tickets €20; advance reservation required.

April 9–12
Art Paris 2026 returns to the Grand Palais for its 28th edition, bringing together around 165 galleries from 20 countries in a major spring showcase of modern and contemporary art. This year’s thematic sections include “Babel – Art and Language in France,” exploring the relationship between text, image, and symbols, and “Repair,” examining themes of care, memory, and resilience in contemporary creation. Alongside the main fair, visitors can explore solo presentations, emerging-gallery platforms, design editions, exhibitions, and talks. Open daily from noon (closing 8pm, 7pm Sunday); tickets €30–€35.

April 15 – May 3
The Théâtre du Châtelet presents Top Hat, the stage musical adapted from the beloved 1935 Hollywood film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, for a limited run of just 20 performances. Featuring Irving Berlin’s iconic songs (“Cheek to Cheek,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance”) and a large live orchestra with spectacular tap-dance numbers, this lavish stage adaptation recreates the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age; it is performed in English with French surtitles and runs 2h40 (with intermission). Tickets €12–€119. Théâtre du Châtelet, 1 place du Châtelet, 1st.

June 5–11
Author Stephen Clarke leads a week-long residential creative writing course at the Château de Missery in Burgundy, designed to help participants develop their voice through daily writing sessions, readings, and discussions. The program includes six nights’ accommodation and meals at the château, a visit to the wine capital of Beaune, and a concert, with a maximum of 10 participants. Contact organizers for pricing and registration details.