le 19 juin 2026
Late June is one of my favorite times of year in France. The summer solstice on June 21 marks the longest day of the year, and in Paris, those extra hours of daylight and the sound of music throughout the city, seem to invite everyone outdoors.
Whether you’re spending these days in Paris or simply bringing a little French inspiration into your everyday life at home, here are a few happenings making the summer season particularly festive.
Starting today and running through the weekend, the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping returns to the Champ de Mars. Elite riders and horses compete at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in one of the most beautiful settings in the world of equestrian sport. Even if you’re not a devoted follower of horse jumping, the combination of athleticism, elegance, and a spectacular Paris backdrop makes this a uniquely French experience. It’s all so exciting!
On Sunday, June 21, summer officially begins with the beloved Fête de la Musique. Since 1982 this event has grown considerably with musicians of every kind transforming streets, squares, churches, and cafés into open-air concert venues. One of my favorite things about this celebration is its spontaneity. You may turn a corner and discover a string quartet in a courtyard or a jazz ensemble performing outside a neighborhood café. For one evening, the entire city becomes a concert hall.
Sunday also marks Fête des Pères in France, with family celebrations across the country. Expect long lunches in restaurants, small gifts, cards, and simple gestures of appreciation for fathers—an understated but meaningful tradition woven into the early summer rhythm of French life.
Also on Sunday, one of the most memorable symbols of the Paris Olympic Games—the Olympic Cauldron—returns to the Tuileries Garden. Through September 14, visitors can once again admire the balloon floating above the gardens between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde. It is a whimsical sight and a lovely reminder of the extraordinary atmosphere that surrounded the Games.
The Palace of Versailles continues its celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with an immersive virtual reality experience—the Light of Liberty— exploring the relationship between France and the birth of the United States. For those traveling with children or grandchildren, this interactive experience offers a particularly engaging way to explore a meaningful chapter of our shared history, and another example of how French cultural institutions bring the past vividly to life.
From June 25 through 28, the Panthéon will offer free admission. Located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, this remarkable monument is the final resting place of Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Marie Curie, and Josephine Baker. If you have never descended into the crypt—or if it has been years since your last visit—I highly recommend adding it to your list. It is one of those places that always leaves me inspired.
As summer begins under the skies of Paris, the city offers countless reasons to step outside and savor the season. From music-filled streets and elegant sporting events to reminders of the shared history between France and the United States, late June is a wonderful time to be in Paris.
#ICYMI
Check out my recent post on French Philosophers Who Helped Shape America— if you’re in Paris this week, it’s the perfect time to see Voltaire and Rousseau resting beneath its grand dome.
For a bit of nostalgia, here’s a fun look back at my June 2009 post on Fête de la Musique and the craziness of the day – even back then.
xoxo, Jeannine
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