September 21-22
Heritage days
The doors to normally closed monuments and other buildings open to the public for the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine.
Various locations, Paris
October 8
Metaperceptions
School of Looking artists Cleary & Connolly and neuroscientist Guillaume Dumas team up for a bilingual event: “Perception dans Tous ses Étata,” an evening designed to open your eyes to the extraordinary complexities of perception, complete with illusions and wearable sculptures to experience animal vision. Art and science clash to explore the myriad worlds of perception, including AI, how to teach machines to write poetry; strange interactions between color and motion perception; neurodiversity, hypersensibility, and different ways of perceiving the world. Reduced entry for Paris Update readers with the code PARISUPDATE (€15 instead of €25). Book here.
Théâtre La Reine Blanche, Paris
September 24
World music
Songs of life, love and loss by Anna Tanvir and Maninder.
Cinémorphe, Paris
September 27-29
Paradise in Paris
The newspaper Le Parisien sponsors the Paris Paradis festival with free concerts, performances, stand-up comedy, workshops, talks and more. Sign up on the website.
Hippodrome d’Auteuil, Paris
September 20-29
Foreign worlds in Paris
Thirty foreign cultural centers in Paris hold special events – exhibitions, performances and meetings with artists – for the Semaine des Cultures Étrangères. Above: An image from “Panorama Live,” a performance at the Czech Center in Paris.
Various locations, Paris
September 20-22
Mediterranean food festival
Brunch, cookery classes and an open food market mark the third year of Food Temple.
Le Carreau du Temple Paris
September 18-22
Street fair
Urban Week celebrates street life with art, food, music and walks.
La Défense, Paris
September 20-October 5
Chanson française
L’Estival features French-language singers.
Various locations, Saint Germain-en-Laye
Through October 5
Women’s Art exhibition
Art on the theme of the veil by 100 women artists is celebrated at Beyond the Veil. Above: Art by Israeli artist Tami Barlev will be shown at the exhibition.
Mémoire de l’Avenir, Paris
September 18-26
Film festival
Popular French actor Melvil Poupaud is celebrated in a festival of 24 of his films; the actor will appear at Forum des Images as part of Mille Melvil.
Forum des images, Paris
September 21-October 27
Irish visual art
Ursula Burke will present art focussing on identity and representation in the Northern Irish context, through embroidery, sculpture, and drawing.
Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris
Through September 29
Free outdoor opera
Opéra Côté Cour puts on live performances on Sundays at 3:30 pm and 5 pm.
Bercy Village, Paris
September 29
English-language book sale
SOS Help marks the beginning of autumn with a book sale – books priced at just 2€ each.
American Cathedral, Paris
October 5
Visit the Louvre for free
Since January of this year, the iconic Louvre Museum has opened its doors for free at night, the first Saturday of each month.
Musée de Louvre, Paris
Through December 31
Contemporary arts festival
The Festival d’Automne presents leading talents in art, dance, film, theater and more from around the world.
Various venues, Paris & Île de France
Through September 22
Dance festival
Échelle Humaine presents works by leading contemporary choreographers.
Lafayette Anticipations, Paris
Through Oct. 13
Dance in historic sites
Monuments en Mouvement offers free dance performances in national monuments like the Pantheon and Saint-Chapelle in Paris and various châteaux.
Various locations
October 5-7
Whisky-a-go-go
Whisky tastings, food pairings, cocktails and more at the Festival Whisky Live Paris.
La Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris
September 26-29
Surf and skate on screen
Films inspired by surfing and skateboarding are screened at the unique Paris Surf and Skateboard Film Festival.
Cinéma l’entrepôt, Paris
Through September 22
Focus on graphic design
The Biennale International de Design Graphique Chaumont is a four-month festival of workshops, group discussions, concerts and conferences on the subject of graphics creation.
Various locations, Paris
Through October 15
More than a food market
Experience a new 5,000-square-meter food market with a focus on healthy eating, featuring art and performance, at Le Marché Pop.
77 avenue du Docteur Arnold Netter, Paris
September 19
French film with English subtitles
Lost in Frenchlation presents Je Promets d’Être Sage (Lost & Found), directed by Ronan Le Page.