Mary AnneSo many great events take place in France this April 2026, with Easter being a real magnet at the beginning of the month. Events range from antique fairs to music festivals. Parks and gardens show off their blossoms and blooms and Chartres starts the season by lighting up its iconic buildings.
To Apr 17, 2026: Banlieues Bleues Festival in Saint Denis, Paris. New jazz musicians from around the world come together in this popular festival. It includes takes place in different venues including Dynamo, the main venue open all year round.
To Apr 19, 2026: Monte-Carlo Spring Festival is a classical music festival that runs from Thursdays to Sundays over the month. Founded originally by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace in 1970, it features some of the great European orchestras and takes place in different venues in Monte-Carlo. Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage and One Monte-Carlo.
To Apr 27, 2026: Dunkirk Carnival in Nord-Pas de Calais is one of those events when the French appear to go totally bonkers. It’s an extraordinary 300-year old party taking the town over. The carnival celebrates the boats setting off for voyages to the rich fishing grounds off Newfoundland and Iceland – voyages which lasted for months. Shrove Tuesday is the highlight with musicians dressed as fishermen leading the parades, complete with ‘giants’ and 450 kilos of wrapped, smoked herrings hurled from the balcony of the City Hall. As I wrote, bonkers.
The carnival is mainly at weekends, with some events on a weekday. Check the website.
To Sep 20, 2026: Impressionist Destination in Normandy celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Impressionists. Around 150 to 200 events are organised in the main cities celebrating the art: Rouen, Caen, Le Havre, Cherbourg, Giverny, Honfleur, Port-en-Bessin-Huppain, Fécamp and Saint Lô and in other smaller towns. Events are still being confirmed which I will add as they appear.
This year, Normandy and Paris commemorate the death of Claude Monet in 1926. I will update the event as details are released.
More about Normandy and Impressionism
Normandy and Impressionism
Guide to Impressionist Painters
Events in France starting in April 2026
April 1, 2026: April Fool’s Day, known as le poisson d’avril in France. Why fish? The origins of le poisson d’avril are veiled in obscurity like so many traditions, but it’s believed to go back to the practice of giving fish as a gift to celebrate the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter. There’s a tradition of sticking paper cut-out fish onto people’s backs without them knowing so watch your back.
Apr 1-Nov 1, 2026: Giverny, Claude Monet’s house and garden open for the season. A visit is a must on most people’s itinerary and this year with so many great events in Normandy it will be busier than ever.
Apr 4-6, 2025: Les Quais du Polar in Lyon sees international names celebrating authors and filmmakers of crime fiction. Around 60,000 fans come for the debates, meetings, readings, signing sessions, concerts, plays and crime film screenings that are chosen by the authors. The free events take place at city hall, the Opera and Palais de la Bourse. It’s one of the biggest crime fiction events in France.
Apr 2-6, 2026: L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Antiques Fair is one of the great antiques events of Europe and of all the events in France in April, it’s one of my favourites. It takes place in the pretty south of France town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, one of the antique capitals of France. It’s the place for a bargain or a masterpiece depending on your budget.
Apr 3-5, 2026: Les Quais du Polar in Lyon sees international names celebrating authors and filmmakers of crime fiction. Around 60,000 fans come for the debates, meetings, readings, signing sessions, concerts, plays and crime film screenings that are chosen by the authors. The free events take place at City Hall, and Palais de la Bourse. It’s one of the biggest crime fiction events in France. In 2026 the theme is the links between science and crime fiction.
Apr 3-6, 2026: Easter Feria in Arles. This is the first event in the French bullfighting season. There are corridas in the arenas, but there’s much more: bull-running (course camarquaise), street events, musical entertainment and abrivados where the bulls are led from the pastures to the arena and back by costumed guardians on horseback. But if you’re not a fan, keep away.
Apr 4-6, 2026: The International Kite and Wind Festival takes place in the seaside resort of Châtelaillon-sur-Plage in Charentes-Maritimes. It’s a spectacular sight as over 800 kites fill the sky. To add to the excitement there are kite-surfing demonstrations, kite creation workshops for children and more.
Apr 5, 2026: Easter Sunday. Despite being such a catholic country, France only observes Easter Sunday and Monday as public holidays, not Good Friday. But with healthy commercial and gourmet interests at heart, the pâtisseries and shops fill with Easter bunnies and all kinds of goodies weeks before and after Easter.
See how the French celebrate Easter
Visit one of the great Sacred Sites of France
Conques in the Lot Valley is one of the abbeys you should see
Apr 7-12, 2026: European Days of Crafts (Journées Européennes des Métiers d’Art) takes place all over Europe. It’s a real eye-opener where galleries, studios and workshops stage exhibitions, installations, open houses, performances and more. Meet the artists and craftspeople, learn something of their craft, from tapestry weavers to leather toolers, jewellery designers to book binders and bicycle makers, and get inspired.
Apr 11, 2026-Jan 2027: Chartres en lumières (Chartres Illuminated). The first night of this great festival starts with a 10km-long walk which you can join. This was the first city to light up its glorious buildings every night and it’s still one of the best light shows in France. Wander the streets to see monks walking, the theatre resplendent and the cathedral turned into the story of its past.
Apr 11, 2026: Paris-Roubaix cycle race challenges top riders during the race called the ‘Hell of the North’. It follows a circuitous route over 172 kms. In fact it’s three races so if you’re in the area, check first to make sure you don’t get caught up in it!
Apr 12, 2026: The Paris Marathon is now one of the most important marathons in the world. 40,000 entrants from over 100 countries battle it out over the 42.195 km of this mythical athletics challenge.
Apr 14-19, 2026: Le Printemps de Bourges. Both famous and young up-and-coming musicians come to Bourges for a variety of rock, rap, electro and more concerts. Don’t miss events like films and talks and there are free concerts on outdoor stages and in 20 or so bars. A fringe festival takes over the streets.
Apr 17-19, 2026: The Paris Book Fair is an important European event taking place in the Grand Palais in the centre of Paris and other venues like the Musée des arts et métiers. Over 1000 publishers and 2,000 authors meet the public at around 500 stands.
Apr 18-26, 2026: Festival de l’oiseau et de la nature (Bird and Nature Festival). Taking place in the beautiful Somme Bay, this is one to try to see. It attracts families with trips on foot, on horseback, in a carriage, a kayak or boat introducing you to the environment, the birds, seals in the Bay and more. Lots going on plus animal documentaries to watch on screen, exhibitions and more.
Apr 18-24, 2026: The famous north France International Kite Festival takes over the sandy beaches of Berck-sur-Mer as thousands of extraordinary looking kites take to the skies. If you’re in the UK this is one of the great events in France in April 2024 that is easy and quick to travel to.
Apr 22-Nov 1, 2026: International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire Château in the Loire Valley is an annual, fabulous, huge Festival, and can claim to be the Chelsea Flower Show of France. The Château and grounds are lovely and the festival of a series of gardens from international designers always delivers some surprises.
Apr 23-26, 2026: Bayonne Ham Fair. Taking place in Bayonne since 1462, the fair runs along the River Nive where farmers and butchers set up their stalls beside the old Carreau des halles. Discover the secrets of one of France’s famous foods, the hams marked with the famous Lauburu seal.
Apr 24-26, 2026: Les Journées Romanaines de Nîmes (Roman Days of Nîmes) takes over the whole city and it’s quite a spectacle. This year it’s Germanicus battling it out with the enraged barbarians, a fight you can see in Arènes (grand arena) with around 500 participants.There’s a Legionaires’ fort to discover, a grand banquet, and more. Events in the streets, brass bands and folk groups entertaining the crowd, exhibitions, a free concert and more to enjoy. This year Spartacus defies Rome.
Jan 31-Feb 1, 2026: La Percée du Vin Jaune in the Jura returns after its 2025 cancellation. It celebrates the release of the famous Jura Vin Jaune. There are tastings across the region and special events but the main event is held in Lons-le-Saunier.
Events in France in 2026
Have I missed an event you think I should include? Please do let me know.
Events in France in January 2026
Events in France in February 2026
Events in France in March 2026
I am updating the events in France in 2026 but have left 2025 events as many of France’s major events occur each year, usually at the same time of the month.
Events in France in May 2025
Events in France in June 2025
Events in France in July 2025
Events in France in August 2025
Events in France in September 2025
Events in France in October 2025
Events in France in November 2025
Events in France in December 2025
Geography of France
To help you find those events, here are a couple of articles on the geography of France:
Regions of France
Departments of France
AND…
French Public Holidays
Food Festivals in France
