What’s on in Paris this June

9 May 2016

Attend Leading Festivals & Euro 2016 Matches During a Five-Star Stay at Hotel de Vigny

Alongside being home to some of the world’s leading museums, galleries, iconic landmarks and outstanding shopping destinations, Paris can also boast an outstanding events line-up. This June, visitors to the capital can look forward to attending leading festivals that spread out over the city’s streets, the much-anticipated Euro 2016 tournament and an array of family-friendly activities. Plan your perfect day out with our guide to what’s on in Paris this June.

Champs-Élysées Film Festival

Champs-Élysées

7th – 14th June 2016

Films fans will be in for a treat while visiting Paris this June. 15 venues along the world-famous Champs-Élysées boulevard will be rolling out their red carpets for over 80 films screenings and exclusive events as part of an eight-day film festival. For just €50 per person, attendees can look forward to watching and casting their vote over American and French cinema, as well as taking part in masterclasses led by the likes of writer and director Abel Ferrara.

The fifth edition of the Champs-Élysées Film Festival will be the first to have a jury-judged competition. The panel has been carefully curated to feature the current and future stars of French cinema, including Director Sophie Letourneur and award-winning actress Déborah François. They’ll be judging eight unreleased, independent American feature films including thriller The Loner, which follows an Iranian gangster after he’s been wrongly accused of stealing from his former boss.

While visitors can look forward to feature-length and short film competitions, previews and a whole host of evening events, industry professionals will also have the opportunity to network and learn more at conferences and roundtables including a talk on virtual reality. The nearest venue to Hotel de Vigny is Le Balzac, located a mere two-minute walk away. With such a variety of glamorous events taking place on our doorstep, June will be the ideal month for films fans to enjoy a five-star stay with us.

Paris Jazz Festival

Parc Floral de Paris

11th June – 31st July 2016

Over 100,000 visitors are set to descend on the stunning surroundings of Parc Floral de Paris for Paris Jazz Festival. Spread over eight consecutive weekends, this music-filled celebration will include concerts, workshops and conferences. There’ll be the chance to discover musicians and sounds from all over the world, including Cuba, Spain, Africa and the United States, while little ones can look forward to a variety of games and family-friendly activities.

Events will begin on the 11th of June with a weekend entirely dedicated to jazz music in Paris. Acts will include a local marching band directed by Fidel Fourneyron; lead trombonist in the French National Jazz Orchestra. Other weekends will provide the opportunity to find out more about Switzerland’s role in the genre’s popularisation, discover connections between classical and jazz music, alongside the chance to see David Linx pay tribute to singer-songwriter Jacques Brel with a little help from 16 musicians.

Away from the stage, The Ludophonotèque will offer memory and strategy games for all ages, while The Sound Fabrik will provide an opportunity to create instruments out of recycled materials including panpipes and a one-string guitar called the ‘Diddley Bow’. With such a fascinating range of activities on offer, including a conference about the sounds produced by electricity in plants, it will be an unmissable two months for music fans.

UEFA European Championship 2016

Stade de France & Parc des Princes

10th June – 10th July 2016

The ball flies through the air, bypassing the goalie’s desperate attempts to save it and hits the back of the net. 80,000 fans erupt in either joy or disappointment, evoking an electric atmosphere throughout the Stade de France… and you could be there. The UEFA European Championship will return next month for the 15th time and there’ll be no better city to watch it in than the capital of the host nation.

Games will be held in 10 outstanding venues across France, including the Stade de France and Parc des Princes; both of which are located a mere 15-minute drive from Hotel de Vigny. There’ll be 24 teams playing in total, including reigning champions Spain; each battling it out to see who’ll raise the glistening silver trophy at the Stade de France on 10th July.

Kick-off will begin at 8pm on 10th June with Romania taking on France, however football fans can start their Euro 2016 experience a little earlier by catching a glimpse of the Henri Delauney Trophy during its nationwide tour. Named after the French-born mastermind behind the games, the prize will be on display at Gare du Nord and Saint-Denis on the 8th and 9th. Whether you’re lucky enough to have a ticket or plan on joining the crowds at screenings all over the city, Paris will be the ideal destination to watch Euro 2016.

Fête de la Musique

Various Locations

21st June 2016

The longest day of the year will see Paris host a citywide street-party; with its leading landmarks, public gardens and wrought-iron balconies all becoming stages for free music concerts. The Fête de la Musique has become one of the biggest French cultural events, and will see both amateurs and professionals come together to showcase their talent.

Every taste will be taken care of with a variety of genres and acts; from pop, rock and jazz bands, to hip-hop groups, choirs and classical orchestras. Catch six-member group 'Forró de Balkão', who combine influences from the Balkan region and Northeast Brazil, or acoustic folk rock band 'Skalli' whose inspirations include the likes of Neil Young and Damon Albarn.

This annual and nationwide festival began in 1982 thanks to the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, however the concept was used internationally from 1985 and now sees over 120 countries come together to celebrate music every June. From traditional concerts to more raucous street performances, the atmosphere will be unbeatable for music fans.

Les Pestacles

Parc Floral de Paris

8th June – 28th September 2016

The Parc Floral de Paris will fill with family-friendly readings, workshops and performances every Wednesday throughout the summer thanks to Les Pestacles. Aimed at families with children aged two and over, this fun-filled festival is set to deliver a programme designed to inspire toddlers to teenagers. From street art to circus acts and even gardening, there’ll be a variety of attractions to choose between.

Past events have offered the chance to discover music from around the world, attend dance classes and explore the diversity of plant species using each of the five senses. The park’s head gardener has also led workshops that offered children a chance to create a garden using recycled materials and a variety of flora during the festival.

From reggae acts and rock bands, to opera singers and orchestras, children will have the chance to meet performers, learn about instruments, and perhaps discover a new genre of music. Whether watching acrobats, dancing along to music or discovering more about the natural world, this annual festival will offer an exciting day out every week between June and September.

With music and film festivals, fun-filled activities suited to all ages and the nail-biting Euro 2016 competition to look forward to, Paris is the ideal destination for a summer getaway.