Paris is always a good idea, but it’s especially irresistible this July! From music in the gardens of Versailles to exciting Bastille Day celebrations and the Tour de France, there’s plenty to keep you busy. Here’s our curated guide to what you won’t want to miss this month.
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Paris is always a good idea, but it’s especially irresistible in July! From the Tour de France finale and Bastille Day celebrations to major art exhibitions and a tropical carnival on the Champs-Élysées, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
Here’s our curated guide to what you won’t want to miss this month.
What’s happening now in Paris:
- Summer Sales in Paris | June 24 – July 21, 2026
- Tour de France | July 4 – 26, 2026
- Paris Tropical Carnival | July 5, 2026
- Bastille Day / Fête Nationale | July 14, 2026
- Fête des Tuileries | All Month
- Musical Fountains Show at Versailles | All Summer
- Paris Music Festivals in July | All Month
Summer Sales in Paris | June 24 — July 21, 2026
The limited-time summer sale season ends soon, so hurry to your favorite Paris stores to get the good deals before they’re gone! Les soldes d’été end July 21, and most shops start their final démarques, meaning markdowns, of up to -70% around two weeks before the end of the sales!
If it’s your first time in Paris or if you’re just looking for some new ideas for where to shop in the city, we’ve also shared our picks for the best places in Paris to shop the sales.
Tour de France | July 4 – 26, 2026
The 2026 Tour de France doesn’t actually start in France, but in Barcelona, Spain. The racers will quickly cross the border into France, however, and then over the following 22 days, they’ll pedal their way around France, before crossing the finish line on the Champs-Elysées on July 26.
See our recommendations for where to watch the 2026 Tour de France in Paris.
Paris Tropical Carnival | July 5, 2026
The Carnaval Tropical de Paris returns to the Champs-Élysées for its 26th edition on Sunday, July 5. Roughly 4,000 dancers and musicians from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Guiana, and international guest delegations will parade from Place de la Concorde up to the Arc de Triomphe, with a costume competition finale staged between the Grand Palais and Petit Palais. This year’s theme, “Paris V’Îles Lumières,” imagining Paris as an archipelago of connected island cultures.
Details:
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Roughly 1pm – 6pm
Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris
Free and open to all
Bastille Day | July 14, 2026
July 14 is France’s fête nationale (national holiday), known as Bastille Day around the world. As you can imagine, Paris is even more exciting than usual on this day.
From the military parade in the morning to all-night-long dance parties at the fire stations in the city — and oui, they’re every bit as much fun as you’d think — there are tons of special events and activities on the agenda.
Check out this article to learn what to do on Bastille Day in Paris.
Fête des Tuileries | June 20 – August 23, 2026
In the summer, the pretty Jardin des Tuileries transforms into a fairground. Each July and August, you’ll find slides, swings, food stands, and of course the Grande Roue (a giant Ferris wheel) amongst the fountains and flowers.
The fair is free to enter, but you have to pay to ride.
Details:
June 20 – August 23, 2026
Jardin des Tuileries, 75001 Paris
Free entry
Musical Fountains Show at the Château de Versailles | All Summer
Every weekend through November 1, 2026, the spectacular Musical Fountains Show continues at the Château de Versailles. Les Grandes Eaux Musicales let visitors feel like they are part of the royal court of Louis XIV.
While wandering through hidden groves that are usually closed to the public, the palace’s extraordinary 17th-century fountains flow to the rhythm of period music.
Details:
April 4 – November 1, 2026
Château de Versailles, Place d’Armes, 78000 Versailles
RER C Gare de Versailles Château de Versailles
July Music Festivals in Paris
The outdoor music festival fun continues in Paris this month, with the Paris Jazz Festival in the Parc Floral, Les Arènes Lyriques in Montmartre, and more.
Concerts for kids are also on the agenda, with the ongoing Pestacles Festival too.
Learn more about all of the music festivals in Paris this summer.
Festivals du Parc Floral: Paris Jazz Festival | June 28 – Sept 6, 2026
This year marks the 32nd edition of the Paris Jazz Festival, with nine free weekend concerts at the Parc Floral de Vincennes. The 2026 lineup includes Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, Caribbean jazz project Poets of Forest, and a closing-night set from Kyoto Jazz Massive marking their 30th anniversary.
Details:
June 28 – September 6, 2026 (weekends)
Parc Floral de Paris, Route de la Pyramide, 75012 Paris
Concerts free, 2.80€ entry to the botanical gardens
Visit the Festivals du Parc Floral website for the full program.
European Young Talents Festival | July 5 – July 25, 2026
Some of the most talented young European musicians converge on Paris for three weeks each summer for the Festival Européen Jeunes Talents. The classical music festival showcases award-winning professional instrumentalists in some 20 concerts taking place in the courtyard of the beautiful Hôtel de Soubise of the National Archives in Paris and the Temple du Foyer de l’Âme.
Details:
July 5 – 25, 2026
Hôtel de Soubise, 60 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003 Paris
Metro Rambuteau or Hôtel de Ville
Concerts Tuesdays through Sundays
Les Arènes Lyriques | July 22 – Aug 15, 2026
If you’re in Paris in late July, this open-air classical and opera series in the hidden Arènes de Montmartre — a garden a few minutes from Sacré-Cœur that opens only for this event — is one of the city’s most romantic summer evenings. The 2026 program, E Fra le nubi d’or, takes its theme from the final aria of Catalani’s La Wally. New this year: a dedicated children’s series, Les Arènes Lyriques des enfants, runs July 23 – August 7.
Details:
July 22 – August 15, 202
Jardin des Arènes de Montmartre
25 Rue Chappe, 75018 Paris
Ready To Plan Your Paris Getaway?
Now that you know what’s on the agenda, learn what to expect from Paris weather in July.
