It's that post-summertime of year again! What are the unmissable events in September?
September is a great time to visit the French capital and enjoy the pleasant autumn weather. After the summer holidays, Parisians gear up for a variety of cultural and festive outings. Autumn brings a host of vibrant events to match the spectacular array of colour on trees.
© Paris 2024
The Paralympics in Paris 2024 runs into September! On 1 and 2 September, the paratriathlon events will be held around the Pont Alexandre III. On Monday 2 September, the wheelchair rugby competition promises some top performances and a great spectacle! From 4 to 8 September 2024, it's the para powerlifting events at the Arena Porte de la Chapelle. The para judo competition takes place at the Arena Champ-de-Mars from 5 to 7 September 2024. And on Sunday 8 September, it all comes to an end with the grand closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 at the Stade de France.
A few steps from the Eiffel Tower, the event ‘SPOT24 – the Olympic Exhibition, sport and urban cultures’ is the only Olympic exhibition and showcases new Olympic disciplines: breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, sport climbing, 3x3 basketball and surfing.
Throughout 2024, the Cultural Olympiad mixes art and sport.
The exhibition ‘Fashion on the Move’ at the Palais Galliera (until September 2025) retraces the history of fashion from the 18th century to the present. Taking place at the same time as the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this exhibition also looks at the relationship between clothing and sporting activities.
The Panthéon takes a look at the history of Paralympism with the exhibition ‘Histoire(s) du paralympisme’ (working title). The exhibition focuses on the history and struggles of Paralympism from its very beginnings. From the rehabilitation of those wounded in war to the media coverage of sports events for disabled athletes, the exhibition highlights the key events and dates that have contributed to the recognition of Paralympism in the world of sport and within our societies.
For a sporting September, the 45th edition of the Paris-Versailles race will be held on 29 September 2024. The Grande Classique, as the race is known, draws 25,000 runners each year. The 16-km route goes from the Eiffel Tower (Quai Jacques Chirac) to the Château de Versailles.
These are also the last days - until 15 September 2024 - to enjoy La Métropolitaine, a major event bearing the Cultural Olympiad label. The programme includes exhibitions, performances, workshops, conferences, projections, immersive experiences... in 13 venues across Greater Paris.
© OTCP
Boasting such iconic buildings as the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré Cœur Basilica and the Arc de Triomphe Paris has a wealth of heritage. On the third weekend of September each year, numerous monuments in Paris region open up to the public for the European Heritage Days (21 and 22 September 2024).
On this occasion, many one-off activities and tours are organized to enable people to discover (or rediscover) well-known venues and visit places that are usually off-limits to the general public, such as the Élysée Palace. Parisian 'Grands magasins' and luxury houses also open the doors of their storerooms or workshops. And the Paris metro offers tours of its control rooms and so-called ‘ghost’ stations. Museums, theatres, monuments, universities, colleges, hospitals and many other more or less well-known venues all welcome visitors. Visits are always free but are sometimes require prior booking.
This is your chance to go behind the scenes at some of the most amazing places in the capital, such as the Cirque Bouglione (the world’s oldest circus), the striking Closerie and Villa Falbala by the artist Jean Dubuffet at the Foundation bearing his name, the restoration workshops at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace aerospace museum and the oldest basketball court in the world at the YMCA Union de Paris.
© Elodie Gutbrod Creatividie
New exhibitions are a major feature of the back-to-school period in September.
From 24 September 2024, the Jeu de Paume looks at the fascinating career of filmmaker and artist Chantal Akerman, who used a variety of media to produce a vast body of work imbued with burlesque, tragedy, and poetry. Another female artist, Tina Barney, is also being honoured at the Jeu de Paume with Europe's first retrospective of her work. Photo enthusiasts can discover the group portraits of this American photographer, particularly interested in relations between different generations. The Musée d'Orsay is hosting the first retrospective in France of the Norwegian painter Harriet Backer. She was the most famous artist in Norway at the end of the 19th century, known for her works depicting indoor and outdoor scenes, combining realistic inspiration with the innovations of Impressionism.
You still have a bit of time to see some of the major exhibitions that you might have missed during the first half of 2023. Catch up with ‘Metal’ at the Philharmonie (until 29 September 2024), ‘Mexica. Offerings and gods at the templo mayor’ at the Musée du Quai Branly (until 8 September 2024), ‘Once upon a time, stadiums’ at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine (until 16 September 2024)…
© C. Recoura
Closed since August 2023, the Musée Jacquemart-André once again welcomes visitors! A year of renovations for a major makeover including the restoration of the grand staircase and the ceiling painted by Giambattista Tiepolo. On the courtyard side, the outdoor area has also been planted, returning it to the appearance it had when it was created at the end of the 19th century.
Save the date, 6 September 2024, for the reopening of the Musée Jacquemart-André and the launch of its inaugural exhibition devoted to the Galerie Borghèse in Rome.
© François Guillon
The Dream Nation Festival (which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024) and the Peacock Society Festival (held in the Parc de Choisy in Créteil) are the two other major electronic music events this autumn.
NB : the Techno Parade which usually takes place in mid-September will not be held in 2024. See you in 2025.
The Nocturnes Electro (electro party), with its famous DJs (programme to be announced), will be back in the gardens of the Château de Versailles on September 2024, for an unforgettable evening!
Each year, less than 45 minutes from Paris, the Fête de l’Humanité, a festival founded by the newspaper L’Humanité in 1930, attracts established artists and emerging talents to its many stages. This must-see Paris musical event has played host in the past to big-name performers such as Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill and Jacques Dutronc. In 2024, the Fête de l’Humanité takes place on 13, 14 and 15 September.
Mylène Farmer's three concerts at the Stade de France promise to be one of the highlights of the autumn season. On 25 September, fans of Abba can relive the heyday of the Swedish pop group with the tribute band Mania at the Salle Pleyel.
© Marie-Sophie Leturcq
The summer season continues,...
For fans of jazz and swing, Jazz à La Villette is a must-see – all the more so as it’s now a family outing, including a kids’ version of the festival : Jazz à la Villette for Kids.
Foodies take note: as in previous years, the Sirha Omnivore Paris will be held at the Parc Floral de Paris, and some of the best young chefs in the world will be there. Round table discussions, demonstrations, tasting sessions and masterclasses will give gourmets plenty of food for thought.
Unusual, to say the least! The world’s first film festival focusing on sharks, the Paris Shark Fest, returns at the Club de l’Etoile. The programme includes previews, documentaries, short films, talks, and other events.
Spotlight on the world of the home and interior decoration with Maison & Objet, the house & home decor show, which presents the latest innovations and inspirations in the world of design and interior decor from 5 to 9 September 2024 at the Parc des expositions Paris Nord Villepinte. At the same time, don't miss Paris Design Week, from 5 to 14 September 2024, which transforms Paris into the capital of creation and design. During the ten days of the festival, take a discovery tour of partner galleries and sites in Paris!
From 28 to 30 September 2024, Whisky Live Paris and Cocktail Street will be at the Grande Halle de la Villette, for the pleasure of whisky and mixology fans.
© Group ERAL
Watch out for your eyes, Fashion Week returns (September 23, 2024) with its ready-to-wear catwalk shows (until October 1, 2024) – an opportunity to find out the key trends for next season.
From 24 September 2024, the Première Classe show devoted to fashion accessories will be held in the Jardin des Tuileries.
These fashion events in September are also an ideal opportunity to discover – if you don’t already know it – the new design and artistic crafts community venue Galerie du 19M, installed in a building designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti in the Porte d’Aubervilliers district (19th arrondissement). The Musée Yves Saint Laurent and the Galerie Dior are also a must for fashion enthusiasts.
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To get some fresh air and make the most of the late summer days before the kids go back to school, head for La Fête au Bois de Boulogne(formerly known as the Fête à Neuneu) which takes up residence in the Bois de Boulognein early September (dates to be confirmed). The fair has been delighting young and old for more than 30 years, with rides and attractions for all ages, including merry-go-rounds, mini-roller coasters, swing carousels and a Big Wheel.
Amusement parks and theme parks will of course stay open as autumn begins in September.
Not forgetting the Sherwood Parc and L'Île de Robinson...
