Mary AnneMay is glorious and one of the best months if you want to see the sights before the crowds arrive. The weather is very good even in the north of France and the parks and gardens have woken up and are blossoming. Look out for these major events in France in May 2024.
To Sep 22, 2024: 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. The connection between contemporary art and Impressionism is also a theme in the concerts, major Impressionist exhibitions, installations, dance and more, including the exhibition Whistler, the Butterfly Effect at the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum) in Rouen (May 24-Jul 24), and a Gwen John exhibition at the Château-Musée in Dieppe from end June to end September.
To Nov 3, 2024: International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire Château in the Loire Valley is a fabulous, huge Festival, equivalent to (and bigger than) the Chelsea Flower Show of France. The Château and its grounds are lovely and the festival of a series of gardens from international designers always delivers beautiful sights.
To Jan 2024: Chartres en lumières (Chartres Illuminated). 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.
Events in France starting in May 2024
May 1, 2023: Labour Day (Fête du Travail or Fête du Premier Mais). As with other French public holidays, some attractions and museums will close. (For all French public holidays, see the link at the end of the article).
May 4-11, 2024: Jazz Sous les Pommiers (Jazz under the Apple Trees). This well-established jazz festival is held at Coutances, in Normandy. Established and up-and-coming artists take part; there are performances in the streets and more. It’s spread over 7 stages including one for amateur musicians and it ranges from New Orleans jazz to electronic music.
May 6-9 2024: 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.
May 7-12, 2024: Nuits Sonores is an urban-oriented electronic music festival in Lyon. The innovative and exciting programme welcomes performers from around the world. It takes place in museums, disused factories, a theatre and the city hall. And along with the music come contemporary art, exhibitions, films and more.
May 8, 2024: VE (Victory in Europe) Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945 or Jour de la Liberation) Like all public holidays in France, public offices and banks are closed, but you’ll find attractions and shops open. Many cities also hold parades. As this year is the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings on June 6, 1944, there will be many different events.
May 9, 2024: Ascension Day when public offices and banks are shut, but many attractions and shops stay open.
May 10-12, 2024: The French Motorcycle Grand Prix takes place every year in Le Mans on the main racetrack. It’s an important event with around 100,000 people coming to the Bugatti circuit. You can see the race on giant screens. There’s entertainment including concerts, and a shopping village where you can buy all that gear. On Saturday evening there’s a special motor show where you can see and hear the riders talking about the sport and the race on stage.
If you’re in Le Mans, check out the fabulous 24-Hours of Le Mans car and motor bike museum. There’s plenty to see.
Here’s a general guide to Le Mans, a Tale of Two Cities: what to see and do, where to stay, eat and more. What surprised me (and many first-time visitors to Le Mans) is the beautifully preserved, and extensive, mediaeval quarter at the heart of the city. Guide to Plantagenet Le Mans.
May 14-25, 2024: Cannes Film Festival. The most famous film festival in the world is a glittering occasion on the Cote d’Azur. Prizes include the best film, best director, best actor, best actress, Jury Prize, Grand Prix and the famous Palme D’Or. The main screenings take place on the Boulevard de la Croisette, in the Festival and Conference Centre. It’s for professionals but many go to Cannes to catch sight of their favourites. And the outdoor Beach cinema is open to all and shows a different film every night.
May 17-26, 2024: Floralies is a popular garden festival, held this year for the first time at the Logis de la Chabotterie in Saint Sulpice le Verdon, Montréverd in the Vendée department (it’s usually in Nantes). This year it’s the Flower Games in honour of the Olympics. The international garden event is held every five years and has five categories like Water games which features wetland and aquatic plants, water walls and aqueducts.
May 18, 2024: European Museum Night. Taking place throughout Europe, over 1,200 French museums open their doors, most free from 6pm to midnight. There are often special events from storytelling tours to screenings and fireworks.
May 18-19, 2024: Coutellia is an extraordinary knife-makers event that attracts exhibitors from all over the world. It takes place in Thiers, one of the great knife-making centres in the Auvergne. There’s more about Thiers and Coutellia on MechTraveller’s excellent website.
May 19, 2024: Pentecost or Whit Sunday and Whit Monday are official French holidays when shops, businesses, banks and more close so everybody can party.
May 20, 2024: Annual Transhumance. St Rémy de Provence is famous for its transhumance when hundreds of sheep are driven through the town to begin their journey up to the pastures to grow fat and happy during the summer months. They leave from the Plateau de la Crau at 10.30am for a couple of circuits of the town, then leave for the real thing in the afternoon.
It’s not just the sheep which get excited about the event. There’s an antiques fair, an exhibition of bells, painting competition, cheese fair and sales of posters and raffle tickets.
May 20-Jun 9, 2024: Roland Garros in Paris is one of the 4 major world Grand Slam tennis tournaments. It began in 1925 and today takes place on 20 clay courts. Each match is five sets with no deciding game in the last set.
There are two major awards: the Musketeers’ Cup for men and the Suzanne Lenglen cup for women. The womens’ cup is named after the great tennis player who (among other things) was one of the early famous women wearing a bra invented in 1889 by Herminie Cadolle. There are also trophies for the winners of the men’s doubles, ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles.
May 25-26, 2024: Joan of Arc Festival (Fêtes Johanniques) in Reims, Champagne. Joan of Arc persuaded the dauphin Charles to be crowned in Reims cathedral on July 17, 1429. The Festival celebrates the event with a huge medieval fair, culminating in a historical re-enactment of them arriving in Reims. But there’s much more – a medieval village with craftspeople, minstrels and jugglers in the streets and everyone in period costume. Or watch a falconry display, wool-spinning and stone-cutting workshops.
May 26-28, 2024: Monaco Grand Prix has taken place in the city since 1929. The slowest, hardest race in the Formula 1 championship, it runs over 3 days with free trials and qualifiers in the first days.
May 29-Jun 2, 2024: Voiles d’Antibes on the Côte d’Azur is the start of the famous seaborne Mediterranean circuit races, when those beautiful rare, vintage and classic yachts unfurl their sails and race through the water.
May 29-Jun 15, 2024: Festival de musique de Sully et du Loiret. Held in the delightful Loire Valley, the festival has been running since 1973. It presents a mix of classical and jazz in the famous chateau and other local heritage buildings.
May 29-Jun 27, 2024: Saint-Denis Festival is a superb festival in the great basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris and other buildings in the arrondissement. Classical music concerts from French and international orchestras range from the classics to contemporary. Some concerts are broadcast on a giant screen in front of the basilica and there are plenty of events for children as well.
May 31-Jun 1, 2024: Rendezvous aux Jardins. This is an incredibly popular government sponsored event which takes place throughout France with around 2,400 public and private gardens opening up to the public (like Rivau below). You can talk to the gardeners, go on guided tours, watch demonstrations on plants, see exhibitions, and enjoy musical walks, games and more.
May 31-Jun 1, 2024: Salon Vivre Côté Sud in Aix-en-Provence is a must if you’re interested in interior design. Organised by the Maisons Côté Sud magazine, it’s a seductive view of living in the south of France.
May 31-Jul 27, 2024: Festival de Nîmes in Occitanie. Music festival with a big line up includes Eric Clapton, Suzanne Vega, James Blunt and many more. The festival has been wowing the crowds 1997 and is one of the important festivals in the south of France. But hurry; many concerts are sold out.
End of May-Jun 18, 2024: D-Day Commemorated. This year the commemorations are special; it’s the 80th anniversary of Day-Day Jun 6, 1944. The official events begin on Jun1, but there are many events starting in May for this. Check out the local tourist office.
Take a D-Day Landing Beach Tour from Utah to Sword
For accommodation near the D-Day Landing Beaches, check my article here.
Events in France in 2024
Have I missed an event you think I should include? Please do let me know.
Events in France in January 2024
Events in France in February 2024
Events in France in March 2024
Events in France in April 2024
I am updating the events in France in 2024 but have left 2023 as many of France’s major events occur each year, usually at the same time of the month.
Events in France in June 2023
Events in France in July 2023
Events in France in August 2023
Events in France in September 2023
Events in France in October 2023
Events in France in November 2023
Events in France in December 2023
More about great Food Festivals in France
Public holidays in France
Here’s a quick guide to the French regions and departments to help you find where the events are taking place.