Fête de la Musique, Paris, France

The Fête de la Musique takes place all over Paris, throughout France and in many cities around the world. In Paris the music fills public spaces: streets, squares, parks, courtyards and the banks of the Seine. The city is easy to get around by metro, bus and RER, and on the festival night several metro and RER lines run until morning, while many central streets turn into lively pedestrian zones.

The festival was launched in 1982 by the French Ministry of Culture under Jack Lang and has since become a global phenomenon celebrated on five continents. Its format is open and inclusive: amateur and professional musicians alike perform for free in public spaces. Paris hosts every genre, from classical and jazz to rock, electronic and world music. Each year the event draws hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators, making it one of the most popular cultural celebrations in France.

The Fête de la Musique is held every year on 21 June, the day of the summer solstice. The next edition falls on Monday, 21 June 2027, with events running throughout the day and especially in the evening, when the city turns into one large open-air concert venue.

Prices and Opening Hours

The Fête de la Musique is completely free: all performances in public spaces are open to everyone without tickets, which is one of the core principles of the festival. Some indoor concerts or special events organized by venues may require tickets, but the vast majority of performances remain free. Music starts in the afternoon, most concerts begin in the early evening and continue until midnight or later, depending on the location and local regulations. For the festival night Île-de-France Mobilités usually sells a special unlimited travel pass: in 2026 it cost €4.20 and was valid from 17:00 on 21 June until 7:00 the next morning.