Mary AnneEvents in France in February 2026 are about so much more than Valentine’s Day (important though that is…). Check out these events in France in February to see how inventive the French are with their celebrations of the arts, culture, not forgeting their mad and serious festivals.
To Feb 1, 2026: More film talent at the Fantasy Film Festival in the Gérardmer ski resort in the Vosges, Grand Est. Since 1994 the festival offers 100 screenings of 50 films. It includes around 40 new films plus retrospectives of different directors shown on 4 cinema screens. Plus exhibitions, theatre and street performances, make-up stands, video games and window display competitions.
To Feb 1, 2026: The International Comic Strip Festival in Angoulême is a great event where professionals from all over the world meet around 200,000 fans. It’s comprehensive with giant tents full of stands taken by different publishers. There are signings, exhibitions, screenings, debates, conferences, meetings, concerts and competitions. The youth area has a range of activities, games and all sorts of workshops.
To Feb 1, 2026: Nantes’ classical music festival La Folle Journée has been held annually since 1995. For five days there are around 250 concerts of fairly short duration (45 minutes) at an affordable price, encouraging those new to classic music.
To Feb 1, 2026: The annual Salon Rétromobile started in 1976 and is now one of the best-known collector car exhibitions in Europe, drawing over more than 130,000 visitors, 450 exhibitors and 500 automobiles. It’s held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre.
Enthusiasts, owners and collectors gather at the show each year, to view amazing cars and collections, to source parts and services (restoration, insurance, etc) they need. On Jan 29, 2026, Rétromobile holds an exceptional auction of collector cars, held by Gooding Christie’s.
To Feb 3, 2026: Les Soldes d’Hiver. This is the French sale season and the chance for some great bargains. And they are genuine as the January Sales dates are subject to strict law.
However, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle and Vosges have different dates: Jan 2-Feb 3, 2026. More information on the government website.
More about Sales and Discount Shopping in France.
To Feb 7, 2026: Rallye de Monte-Carlo Historique is a great international event, officially starting and ending in Monaco. Legendary cars start the race to Monaco and go through different cities on different dates. Like the Tour de France cycle race, it consists of different stages testing different skills.
The whole event ends with the Prize Ceremony and Gala Night in the Salles des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club.
Find more historic cars at the Top Car Museums in France, and at the famous Le Mans 24 Hour Museum.
To Feb 7, 2026: The Festival de Court Métrage (International Short Film Festival) started in 1979 at a student film club in Clermont-Ferrand. Today’s it’s the world’s largest short film events. 13 cinemas show films to professionals, amateurs and film lovers. It’s seen the start of many a career for actors, directors, producers and technicians and has become the second biggest film festival in France after Cannes.
As in previous years, please indulge me. I am ruthlessly promoting it as my son starred in a film which was shown here in 2008: Ralph, First Love Hurts. He’s no longer in the acting profession but as a proud mum (with a house in the Auvergne), what else can I do? It was filmed in Marseille and is full of delightful touches.
Here’s the film:
To Feb 7, 2026: Rallye de Monte-Carlo Historique is a great international event, officially starting and ending in Monaco. Legendary cars start the race to Monaco and go through different cities on different dates. Like the Tour de France cycle race, it consists of different stages testing different skills.
The whole event ends with the Prize Ceremony and Gala Night in the Salles des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club.
Find more historic cars at the Top Car Museums in France, and at the famous Le Mans 24 Hour Museum.
To Mar 22, 2026: Limoux Carnival in the Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon kicks off the French carnival season in style. For over 400 years it’s been celebrating a group of local millers who, having paid off their taxes to the local monks, roamed through the streets, handing out flour and treats to the locals. And they’ve been doing it ever since. This fabulous costumed event, the longest carnival in the world, takes place every weekend.
To Apr 17, 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.
Events in France starting in February 2026
Feb 5-9, 2026: The annual Salon Rétromobile is a must for everyone interested in this huge show. Started in 1976, it’s become one of the best-known collector car exhibitions in Europe. Over 13,000 visitors go to see the 500 and more automobiles shown by 450 exhibitors. It’s at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Exhibition Centre.
Find more historic cars at the Top Car Museums in France, and at the famous Le Mans 24 Hour Museum.
Feb 5-8, 2026: Bordeaux Show Jumping Contest is something every lover of such events should enjoy. Top class equestrian events feature international riders; amateur events give young riders the chance to excel. It starts with top French dressage riders, but also includes a variety of event from driving to jumping over cross-country obstacles, team competitions, poney events and more.
Feb 6-8, 2026: Salon des Vignerons. Held in Calais (one of my favourite French cities), this is the chance for those in the north of France (not a wine-producing region) to taste great wines from the rest of the country. Try wines from Alsace to Champagne, the Jura to Burgundy. It’s a fun, fairly small, low-key event with tastings, the chance to talk to wine producers and good food.
Feb 6-15, 2026: Strasbourg Mon Amour held around St Valentine’s Day is a real mix of over 40 different events, from quirky nights out to different tours of Strasbourg’s museums, gourmet events and more.
Feb 11-15, 2026: Mimosa Festival in Mandelieu La Napoule. This popular event in Mandelieu near Tanneron the largest mimosa forest in Europe has taken place since 1931. Flower and light parades, Miss Mandelieu contest, a concert and of course a special dinner. Each year has a theme; in 2026 it’s the Carnival of Carnivals, with 12 international carnivals taking part.
Feb 11-Mar 1, 2026: Nice Carnaval, PACA. The theme for 2026 is the Long Live the Queen! referring to Nice, the Queen of the Riviera. Taking over the streets and square, the Carnival procession and the Battle of the Flowers has to be seen to be believed. Place Masséna is at the heart of the celebrations as extraordinary floats parade past the stands while street art, bands and performances entertain. Check the website; it’s not daily.
Feb 13-15, 2026: Enduropale, Pas de Calais: Wild bike racing on the beaches at Le Touquet, Stella and Merlimont attracts around 150,000 spectators to watch the dare devils race through the sand.
Feb 13-17, 2026: The Granville Carnaval, like the one at Dunkirk, is all about fish and cod in particular. It began 150 years ago when the local fishermen set off for the Grand Banks fisheries off Newfoundland and with the dangerous trip ahead of them, madly partied before they went It’s a great event, with 40 or so floats, 3,000 participants and over 150,000 visitors. It rivals Dunkirk for its downright eccentricities.
Feb 14, 2026: St Valentine’s Day. This is as well celebrated in France as elsewhere; after all the country is known as a pretty romantic place. Check for special events where you are. Champagne corks pop and the restaurants fill up. If you’re in Champagne, visit charming Epernay. Of if you’re in Reims, visit one of the Champagne houses.
Feb 14-15, 2026: Le Corso Fleuri Bormes les Mimosas Flower Procession. The traditional floral procession in the medieval village of Bormes-les-Mimosas with its dozen floats is a sight to see. 12 tonnes of branches and 80,000 flowers are woven into the decorations on the floats. A brass band helps it all fly along. There’s a small charge and the festivities go on well into the early hours, ending with the flower battle. Le Corso Fleuri began in 1920.
Feb 14-Mar 1, 2026: The Menton Lemon Festival began in 1934. Over 300 professionals using 145 tonnes of citrus fruits (yes, that’s right) create extraordinary citrus-themed floats. They parade around the Promenade du Soleil on citrus-themed floats. Dancers and folk groups entertain and throw tons of confetti. The central Biovès Gardens are transformed with temporary sculptures in those bright orange and yellow coloured fruits, some as high as 10 metres. This year the theme is The Wonders of Life.
Feb 20-22, 2026: Mulhouse Carnaval in Alsace fills the streets with decorated floats and bands of pipes and drums. Events include a ball in a marquee, an international cavalcade and of course the election of the carnival king and queen. This year’s theme is 800 years + 1: in 2026, let’s celebrate a new page of our history.
Feb 21-Mar 1, 2026: Porte de Versailles International Agricultural Show is the biggest agricultural event in France, held since 1964. For anyone interested in agriculture it’s a must with over international 1,000 exhibitors from around the world. They show off 3,000 animals, a cornucopia of fruit and vegetables, as well as agricultural items and more. Four areas take in livestock farming and its related industries; gastronomic products from France and elsewhere; cultivation and the plant industries; and agricultural services and trades.
Feb 27-Mar 1, 2026: Cannes Festival International des Jeux (International Games Festival) began in 1987. Game designers, publishing companies and fellow game-players come here for traditional games, classics, board games, videos, simulation games, collectors’ items and more. Watch the gaming competitions and get your games signed in the Palais des Festivals.
Feb 27-Mar 1, 2026: The Annecy Venetian Carnival is a spectacular carnival set around the lake and in the town in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. It’s not nearly as old as its inspiration – the Venetian carnival (1162!) but began in 1996. Masked figures, many dressed as Commedia dell’arte figures parade the streets, parks, gardens and quays…in silence. It’s very beautiful, and rather sinister.
Feb 28-Mar 1, 2026: The Violet Festival has taken place in Tourrettes-sur-Loup since 1952. Begun in 1880 when the village in the Alpes-Maritimes in southern France became famous for its violet growing farms, the festival celebrates the end of the violet season with serenades, dances, a floral procession and finally a flower battle for everyone.
Events in France in 2026
If you know of other events you think I should include, please do let me know!
Events in France in January 2026
Events in France in March 2025
Events in France in April 2025
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
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.
French School Holidays
As we know, bureaucracy in France is super efficient. For schools, the country is divided into three zones which however are not so obviously organised. You might expect the zones to run from north to south (or the other way round). Why , for instance, does zone B have Lille and Nice? Here are the zones and the different times of the school breaks.
Zone A: Lyon, Grenoble, Besançon, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Bordeaux, Limoges and Poitiers. 2026 winter holidays are from Feb 7 to Feb 23rd.
Zone B: Aix-Marseille, Nice, Lille, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg, Amiens, Normandie, Nancy-Metz, Nice, Orléans-Tours and Reims. Feb 14 to Mar 2.
Zone C: Paris, Créteil, Versailles, Montpellier and Toulouse. Feb 21 to Mar 9.
Corsica: Feb 13-Mar 1
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
