Events in France in May 2025

May is a lovely month and not yet in the busy season so you can see the sights at your own pace before the crowds arrive. The weather is good and the parks and gardens have woken up and are blossoming. Look out for these major events in France in May 2025.

If you’re in Normandy, visit Caen. 2025 is Caen Millennium Year and it’s celebrating in style.

Caen Castle from above showing walls with round towers and inner buildings — Caen Castle © Francois Monier – Septieme Ciel

To May 11, 2025: Foire de Paris. The annual Paris Fair has around 400,000 visitors and 1,250 exhibitors. Held at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, it’s the place for a huge shopping binge for your house, garden crafts, second hand clothes and more plus entertainment.

Paris Fair Second hand bargains with girl at rail of clothes in warehouse atmosphere with rails behind her — Paris Fair Second Hand Bargains

To Nov 1, 2025: 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.

Claude MOnet's kitchen at Giverny with chaise longe in forefront, large window and paintings on walls — Claude Monet’s Atelier at Giverny © Maison et jardins de Claude Monet Giverny

To Nov 3, 2025: 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. This year’s theme is Once Upon a Time in the Garden.

chaumont Festival poster 2025 with open book and chaumont on it and wording at top left — Chaumont Garden Festival 2022 – Grenade! © E. Sander

To Jan 2026: 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.

Chartres lit up festival with crowd in square looking at band playing on stage lit in purple — Chartres Lip Up

Events in France starting in May 2025

May 1, 2025: 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 3-4, 2025: Fiera di u Casgiu. This fabulous cheese fair in Venacu, Corsica, offers great cheeses and a competition to find the best cheese on the island.

Poster for corsica Cheese Fair with drawn goats and words — Corsica Cheese Fair

May 8, 2025: 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.

May 9-11, 2025: 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.

French Motor Cycle Grand Prix showing 5 riders racing on bikes turning a corner and leaning dangerously to right — French Motor cycle Grand Prix at Le Mans © Repsol/CC-BY-SA 2.0

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.

Narrow cobbled street in medieval Le Mans in sunlight showing old stone houses covered with greenery — Medieval Le Mans © Ville du Mans

May 13-24, 2025: 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.

From above: star in flowing white dress on red steps at Cannes Film Festival — Cannes Film Festival © Aurelien Velia/FDC

May 15-Jun 30, 2025: D-Day Commemorated. 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.

American troops landing at Omaha beach June 6, 1944. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Map showing all 5 beach positions — Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches

May 17, 2025: 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 17-18, 2025: 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.

Coutellia knifefestival with man to left watching guy in front of a forge treating a knife blade — Coutellia Festival © Serge Bullo

May 19-Jun 8, 2025: 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.

View of Roland Garros tennis Paris showing domed seating and tall tower in front in leafy setting — Roland Garros © Mister No/CC-BY-SA 3.0

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.

Suzanne Lenglen playing tennis in 1920. Old black and white photo of her in the air doing a backhand shot with one arm raised behind her. She's in long skirts — Suzanne Lenglen playing in 1920 Public domain via Wikimedia

May 21-Jun 24, 2025: 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.

Poster for Festival Saint Denis 2025 with drawing of trumpet player on top of church — Satin Denis Festival 2025

May 23-25, 2025: Gypsy pilgrimage to Les Saintes Maries de la Mer. Romany community from around Europe gather to venerate their Saint Sara-la-Kali (Sara the Black) who guards the Romanies where ever they live. The remains of Saint Sara are said to be in the crypt under the church in the town. Religious ceremonies honour the saint; children are baptized; there’s music, parades and celebrations. Why here? A boat with the two Biblical Marys and Sara on board was cast out of Palestine and drifted across the Mediterranean to land in the Rhône estuary.

Gypsies with long candles raised in a church in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer — Gypsy Pilgrimage © Les Saintes Maries de la Mer

May 22-25, 2025: Monaco Grand Prix has taken place in the city since 1929. The slowest, hardest race in the Formula 1 championship runs over 3 days with free trials and qualifiers in the first days.

Black and white photo of 1932 Monaco Grand Prix with one old car passing another on a bend with no crowds watching — 1932 Monaco Grand Prix Public domain

May 24-31, 2025: Jazz Sous les Pommiers (Jazz under the Apple Trees). This well-established, important 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.

Jazz sous les pommiers festival in coutance normandy with many blowing horn with confetti coming out on stage withpeople watching on ground. Daytime — Jazz sous les pommiers © Selbymay/CC-BY-SA 4.0

May 28-Jun 1, 2025: 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.

Nuits sonores 2025 poster with horizontal lines like people and signs and words in green — Nuits Sonores 2025

May 29, 2025: Ascension Day when public offices and banks are shut, but many attractions and shops stay open.

May 31-Jun 1, 2025: 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.