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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

From the end of the spring school holidays to May Day demonstrations and traditions plus a deadline for voting, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 28 April 2024 09:24 CEST
Updated: 29 April 2024 08:22 CEST
On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week
A young French girl with the word 'non' painted on her forehead during a demonstration on May 1st in 2005 in Paris. (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP)

Monday

School holidays end – Pupils in Zone A, which includes both Lyon and Bordeaux, will go back to school after their spring holidays on Monday. Zone C (Paris and the south-west) schools have already gone back but schools in Zone B (northern France) have another week off. Meanwhile schools in Corsica are just starting their two-week spring holiday.

Do France’s school holiday zones make any sense?

Heathrow strike – For those looking to visit the UK with flights going through London’s Heathrow airport, beware that border force officers are expected to strike from Monday, April 29th to Thursday, May 2nd.

Tuesday

End of Passover – The Jewish festival of Passover which began on April 22nd will end after nightfall on April 30th.

Wednesday

May day – Also known as the fête du travail or labour day, May 1st is a paid holiday (jour férié) for workers in France. There are plenty of traditions surrounding it, including widespread protests and mobilisations for workers’ rights and other social issues. In Paris, several unions including CGT have called for people to meet at Place de la République at 2pm for the march.

On May Day, you might also notice people giving each other muguet, or lily-of-the-valley in English.

READ MORE: Muguet: France’s lucky May flower

Elections deadline – If you are eligible to vote in the European elections, you should verify you are properly registered. May 1st is the deadline for online registrations, while May 3rd is the deadline for those sent by the post. The elections themselves will take place in June.

Friday

Movie screening – For those in the Paris area, Lost in Frenchlation will screen French films with English subtitles throughout the month of May. The first screening will be on Friday, May 3rd for the film ‘Pas de vagues’.

READ MORE: French films with English subtitles to watch in May 2024

Saturday

Olympic anniversary – Saturday, May 4th marks 100 years since the last time Paris hosted the Olympic Games, in 1924.

Sunday

Orthodox Easter – Christians who follow the eastern Orthodox calendar will celebrate Easter on Sunday, May 5th this year.

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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week

From the start of the Cannes Film Festival to the European night of museums and increased medical costs, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 12 May 2024 08:01 CEST
Updated: 13 May 2024 08:09 CEST
On the Agenda: What's happening in France this week

Monday

‘Choose France’ Summit – French President Emmanuel Macron will chair the 7th annual ‘Choose France’ summit, which gathers foreign business leaders and investors to the Château de Versailles. This year, the theme will be centered on the Paris Olympic Games. 

QR codes – People who live in central Paris may need to register for a QR code during the Olympic Games. The platform opens to the public on Monday.

READ MORE: Paris Olympics: Who needs a QR code to get around and how to sign up for one

Assisted dying bill – A special commission within France’s Assemblée Nationale will begin examining a bill aimed at legalising assisted death for the terminally ill. The full bill will be presented before parliament for debates starting on May 27th.

Tuesday

The Cannes Film Festival – The 77th edition of the Cannes film festival will take place from May 14th to 25th at the Palais des festivals et des congrès in Cannes. 

Wednesday

MaPrimeRénov changes – France’s scheme to help households pay for energy renovations to their homes will change between May 15th and December 31st. First, you will still be able to use it to finance single projects work, such as fixing insulation, and you will be able to do this without giving a prior energy rating, which means that homes with lower energy scores will be eligible for single-project renovations longer.

READ MORE: GUIDE: French property grants you might be eligible for

Increased medical costs – In January, the French government announced plans to double two types of healthcare expenses, one being the participation forfaitaire, which will increase from a flat rate of €1 to between €2-3 starting on May 15th. These are the small healthcare costs for things like prescriptions, appointments and travel to and from healthcare visits that are not reimbursed by the state.

READ MORE: Why medical costs are rising in France in 2024

Thursday

Firefighter’s strike – Firefighters in France are planning to strike on Thursday in the hopes of getting better recognition for occupational illnesses, including cancer. While firefighters in France do have the right to strike, they are subject to a minimum service obligation and, if necessary, small teams can be requisitioned by local authorities for emergencies.

Friday

Art rock festival – If you are a fan of rock music, you might be interested in the Art Rock festival in Saint-Brieuc in Brittany. It will run from Friday May 17th to Sunday May 19th, with well-known performers like the Libertines, Morcheeba and Clara Ysé. More info on ticketing here.

Saturday

European night of Museums – On Saturday, May 18th many museums will keep their doors open – for free – all night long as part of the “European night of museums”. This year will mark the 20th edition of the event since its launch in 2005. Several Paris museums take part, outside of Paris you can find more information on the website for your local town hall. For Paris, more information here.

Sunday

Pharmacists to strike – Unions representing pharmacists have called for strikes in protect over drug shortages, low wages and the sale of medication on the internet. On-call pharmacists have been asked to walk out during the Pentecost long-weekend (May 18th to 20th, including Sunday), and for all pharmacies across France to close on Thursday, May 30th.

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