Foodie Fun
Taste of Paris Festival - 9-12 May
For four days of gastronomic bliss, the Taste of Paris Festival is the place to be. Beneath the gigantic glass domes of the Grand Palais, France's top chefs will gather to create mini-restaurants and showcase their best dishes in smaller portions (so you can eat more!) Enjoy lunch from 11am - 4pm or stop by for dinner between 7 and midnight, or watch a live cooking demonstration from one of the 40 chefs in attendance. Expect big names including Christophe Michalak, Eric Frechon, François Perret, Frédéric Anton and many more.
Fête du Pain 2019, 14 - 20 May
With bread being such a central part of French life, it's no surprise that there is an entire annual festival dedicated to pain. While details of the Fête have yet to be announced, we know that these dates in May will be a bread-related extravaganza!
Le Bac Sucré - May 22nd – May 26th
Back for the fifth time, Le Bac Sucré is a celebration of everything gourmet in the chic 7th arrondissement. All along the rue du Bac, you'll find tastings and pastry creations as well as workshops and demonstrations from the experts who have made this street a go-to foodie destination. Big names involved include Victor & Hugo, Pierre Hermé, Poilâne, Thierry Marx and more.
Sports
Roland Garros 26 May - 9 June
When the tennis starts, you know summer is coming! Roland Garros returns at the end of May with Nadal and Halep defending their titles as Champions of 2018. Check out the official website here.
Roland Garros - also known as the French Open, will return to the clay courts in May!
Culture Vultures
Tous à l’Opéra 3 - 5 May
Now in its 13th year, Tous à l'Opéra aims to make the world of opera accessible to all, by offering a vibrant programme of performances, workshops and talks! In Paris, the National Library of France, National Opera, The Museum Library of Opera, the Opéra Comique and the Opera at Bastille will all be taking part. Read more here.
Visible Invisible, 14 May - October 20
Contemporary art meets the Trianon Estate at Versailles this year with a new exhibition, Visible Invisible. Five photographers have been invited to play with ideas of the visible and invisible this year, including Martin Parr, Eric Potevin, Viviane Sassen, Dove Allouche and Nan Goldin. The Trianon Estate lies a few km from Versailles and served as an "escape" from the Palace for the King and Marie Antoinette. Read about it on the website here.
Belleville Open Studios, 24 - 27 May
Celebrating its 30th outing, the Belleville Open Studios offer the chance to meet the artists, see the studios and admire the work of Paris-based artists in this funky neighbourhood. There'll be more than 200 artists taking part in 115 studios throwing open their doors to the public, for free, showcasing their work as photographers, painters, textile artists, engravers and more.
European Night of Museums 18 May
Back for its 15th edition, Night of Museums is a Europe-wide celebration of the continent's museums - in France alone last year, 1800 museums took part! For one night only, many Museums of the city will offer free access late into the night as well as accompanying events including lightshows, concerts and guided tours. Read more here
Printemps des Rues 24 - 26 May
Lovers of street art will want to check out Printemps des Rues, a weekend festival in the trendy Canal Saint Martin neighbourhood dedicated to this urban art form. There'll be plenty to entertain as well as lots to look at, with clowns, circus acts, dance and magic shows this year! Full details of the programme are coming soon, when you'll find it just here.
Saint Germain des Prés Jazz Festival - 16 - 27 May
Saint Germain des Prés Jazz Festival returns in May, when international artists descend on the historic neighbourhood and some unique venues to celebrate all things jazz. There'll be concerts in the Odéon Theatre, the Sorbonne University, the Musée Cluny and many more. Find the full programme here.
