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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

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

From two French matches in the 2024 Euros to the annual Fête de la Musique and the start of the official campaign period for France's upcoming parliamentary elections, here's what is happening in France this week.

Published: 16 June 2024 08:10 CEST
Updated: 17 June 2024 08:19 CEST
On the Agenda: What’s happening in France this week
People take part in the French midsummer Festival of Music, "Fete de la Musique" on Place de la Republique in Paris on June 21, 2021. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP)

Monday

Euro 2024 – The France team will play its first match against Austria on June 17th at 9pm at the Merkur Spiel Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. Bars and cafés around France will likely be screening the game, so expect larger crowds than usual, and it will also be shown on free-view French TV.

READ MORE: How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament on TV in France

Ceremony rehearsal – With a little over a month to go from the start of the Paris Olympic Games, there will be a second rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony, due to take place along the Seine river, on Monday morning.

Start of the official campaign period – As France prepares for snap parliamentary elections at the end of June and beginning of July, the official election posters will begin to be put up starting on Monday, with the candidates having already been finalised on Sunday.

With the official campaign period beginning, TV and radio stations will be required to give strictly controlled allowances of time to each party.

You can keep up with all the latest election news in our Elections section here, or sign up to receive our bi-weekly election briefing by email during the campaign period.

READ MORE: What happens next as France heads for snap elections?

Tuesday

Anniversary of de Gaulle’s appeal – On June 18th, 1940, Charles de Gaulle made his famous ‘Appel‘ after arriving in London following the loss of the Battle of France. Many consider it to be an important moment for the start of the French Resistance during World War II – this year marks the 84th anniversary and there will be commemoration events in towns and cities around France.

Thursday

Joséphine Baker festival – The second annual Joséphine Baker festival, recognising the artist as well as her activism against racism and anti-Semitism, will be held from June 20th-23rd in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and Sarlat in the Dordogne département.

READ MORE: 26 unmissable summer 2024 festivals and events in France

Friday

Fête de la musique – Every year, France rings in the the longest day of the year and the start of summer with the Fête de la Musique, in which towns and cities across France see a day of concerts, music events and street musicians. 

Museum for women artists – Europe’s first museum dedicated to showcasing the works of female artists is due to open in Cannes on June 21st.

READ MORE: France to get first museum in Europe dedicated to women artists

Netherlands v France – As the Euros continue, the French team will play against the Netherlands on Friday, June 21st at 9pm at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany.

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WHAT CHANGES IN FRANCE

What changes in France in July?

Elections, the Olympics and a bit of a national do. Here are a few things for your French diary in July

Published: 25 June 2024 08:43 CEST
What changes in France in July?

Gas prices up

Gas prices are set to rise 12 percent on July 1st for an estimated 10 million French households that use gas to heat their homes. That’s a big jump, but – even accounting for this latest increase – July’s prices will still be 3.5 percent lower than they were in January. 

Elections I

Brits living in France who are eligible to vote should have cast their ballots already, or got a proxy to do it, because Britain decides its next government on July 4th, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised many back in May by calling a summer election.

Schools’ out

Schools in France break-up for the long summer holidays after classes on July 5th, or 6th if there are Saturday morning classes. 

READ ALSO Travel to France: What to expect on roads, rails and airports this summer

Elections II

Voting in the second round of France’s snap parliamentary elections takes place on July 7th [the first round of voting is on June 30th], after President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament following a dismal showing in the European elections.

We’ll have to wait and see the results before we start working out what happens next – you can keep up with all the latest election news HERE.

Car Laws

All new cars sold in the EU from July 7th must be equipped with an intelligent speed control system known as Adaptation Intelligente de Vitesse (AIV) these are intended to ensure vehicles automatically adhere to local speed limits.

Exams I

The results of this year’s baccalauréat exams are due to be published on July 8th. The exams mark the end of schooling for French pupils and a rush to sort out university places as offers come in.

Fêtes de Bayonne

Known for drawing large crowds, this five-day event celebrates Basque culture with the famous bull run, large parties, street performances, traditional dances, and fireworks. You can even buy a traditional outfit (in the colours of white and red) at a local market nearby to better join in the celebration. This year, the event will run from July 10th until the 14th.

Exams II

The results of this year’s brevet exams – taken by pupils aged 15 or 16 – are due to be published on July 11th. 

Fête nationale

July 14th is France’s Fête nationale, sometimes incorrectly known as Bastille Day in the Anglophone world. It is officially a public holiday – but it falls on a Sunday this year, so there’s no long weekend in store.

The big military parade is on the Champs-Elysées in Paris but most towns do something to mark the occasion, with concerts, parties and big, loud, fireworks displays. 

Game lanes

Some 185km of lanes on parts of the A1, A4, A12, A13, the périphérique and some main roads in Paris will be reserved exclusively for use by vehicles accredited for the Olympic and Paralympic Games from July 15th until after the summer sporting extravaganzas come to an end. Non-accredited road users caught using the lanes could be fined €135.

Horsing around

Fans of all things horses should head to southwest France for the Equestrian Festival at the National Stud Farm in Tarbes, which gets under way this year on July 16th and runs to July 21st. 

Bicycle Race

The epic Tour de France reaches its Champagne-swilling climax, for one Olympic year only, in Nice on July 21st.

How to follow the Tour de France on French TV (and why you might want to)

Bargain Hunt

The government-mandated four-week summer sales period ends on July 23rd.

READ ALSO Everything you need to know about the 2024 summer sales in France

Games of the XXXIII Olympiad

That’s the official title of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The big event of the summer in France runs from July 26th to August 11th. 

You can find all the latest Olympic news HERE, and if you intend to be in Paris for the Games (whether as a resident or a visitor) you can find all the practical information on things like security zones, public transport changes and Games venues HERE.

Taxes

You should be notified of any tax reimbursements due from your 2023 declarations by the end of July.

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