March in France has a host of events and it’s a lovely month. The weather is changing; Spring starts to appear and France’s great gardens and parks are showing off the first of their new colours.

To Mar 1, 2026: The Menton Lemon Festival which began in 1934 is as colourful as ever. 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.

To Mar 1, 2026: Porte de Versailles International Agricultural Show is the biggest agricultural event in France. It’s been 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.

To 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 competitions and get your games signed in the Palais des Festivals.

To 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 have 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 and for some parades you will have to buy tickets in advance.

To 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.

To 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.

To Mar 22, 2026: Limoux Carnival in the Aude, Languedoc-Roussillon. For over 400 years the Limoux Carnival has celebrated 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 takes place every weekend to March.

To Apr 17, 2026: Dunkirk Carnival in Nord-Pas de Calais is one of those events when the French appear to go totally bonkers. Go there to appreciate the extraordinary 300-year old party as it sweeps through the town. 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 starting in March 2026

Mar 7-8, 2026: Sarlat Fest’Oie (Goose Festival) is one of the best known March events. It takes place in the picturesque town of Sarlat-la-Canéda in Périgord, an area famous for its geese. There’s an all-you-can-eat banquet, naturally, and the chance to savour street food like goose soup from one of the stalls. Buy products in the bustling market and follow flocks of geese as they are led through the city.

Mar 8-15, 2026: Paris to Nice is one of France’s iconic cycling races.  Begun in 1933 by Albert Lejeune, director of two newspapers, the 83^rd edition will see 21 teams compete, with most of the big names who will go on to complete in the Tour de France. The Race to the Sun starts at Perray-en-Yvelines and gives you the chance to see the champions as they pass through small villages. It’s far less crowded than the famous Tour de France, so pick a good spot and get a good view.

Mar 9-31, 2026: Les Printemps des Poètes. Poetry festivals, large and small take place all over France, from a reading in a café to a fully fledged festival. And the one in Nice on the Côte d’Azur is one of the best known. This very French festival is the most esoteric of events in France in March 2023. Not for the faint-hearted! This year’s theme is Freedom. Live Force. Deployed. No I don’t understand this so maybe I should go to the festival.

Mar 11-Apr 19, 2026: Monte-Carlo Spring Arts Festival is a classical music festival that runs from Thursdays to Sundays over the month. Founded originally in 1970 by Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, it features great European orchestras and takes place in the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage and One Monte-Carlo.  It’s not expensive for such a prestigious event; tickets are from €20-40.

Mar 13-22, 2026: Foire de Chatou on the Ile des Impressionnistes, north east of Paris.  France’s biggest antiques fair has everything from expensive to bric a brac from the 17^th to the 20^th century. 300 vetted dealers offer genuine items.

Best Brocante and Flea Markets in France
Guide to Flea Markets and Brocante Shopping in France. Where to go and how to buy

Mar 20-Sep 20, 2026: Impressionist Destination in Normandy celebrates the 150^th 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.

More about Normandy and Impressionism
Normandy and Impressionism
Guide to Impressionist Painters

Mar 26, 2026: La Trace du Fromage on the Aubrac plateau in Aveyron gives you the chance to walk, cross-country ski or snowshoe over the extraordinary Aubrac landscape on the search for cheese, mulled wine, gentian, fouace and aligot. Celebrating Lagouile AOP, it’s organised by the Cooperative Jeune Montagne. Go from from buron to buron – small stone shelters where shepherds live with their herds during the summer and make cheese by hand.

Mar 26-28, 2026: The Rallye Le Touquet Pas-de-Calais starts the 2025 French Rally Championship. Over 150 drivers wizz through the countryside and along the coast.

Mar 26-29, 2026: Drawing Week, Paris. Different venues celebrate the art of drawing. Try the Drawing Now Art Fair at the Carreau du Temple.

Mar 26-29, 2026: The annual Canadian Film Festival in Dieppe is the leading festival for Canadian film enthusiasts and industry professionals. Established in 2013, the 50-odd screenings take place in the Megarama theatre.

Mar 27, 2026: International Cheese Day. This might be international but in a country which is famous for Charles de Gaulle’s remark: “How can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?”, you can expect quite a lot. The aim is to champion rare and raw milk cheeses from across the country so make sure you shop for cheeses on this day and look out for local events.
Food of France

Mar 27-30, 2026: International Cheese and Wine Fair at Coulommiers in the south of France. Exhibitors and craftspeople set up their stalls in the forecourt of the sugar factory offering local product tastings, a livestock exhibition and contests as well as the chance to buy all those tempting goodies.

Mar 27-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.

Mar 27-29, 2026: Vignoble en Fete, Gers, Saint Mont. Winegrowers demonstrate their knowledge and products to visitors. Held annually, last weekend of March.

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 February 2026
Events in France in April 2026
Events in France in May 2026
Events in France in June 2026
Events in France in July 2026
Events in France in August 2026
Events in France in September 2026
Events in France in October 2026
Events in France in November 2026
Events in France in December 2026

Major New Events and Openings in France in 2026

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 23^rd.

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

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