Heatwave summer
Summer 2026 is proving to be a blazingly hot one with Paris under 3 heatwaves as of this writing. But we can’t let the heatwave get us down right? The city is vibrant with concerts, exhibits and other fun activities for the whole family.
Here’s a roundup of some of the fun activities to enjoy this summer 2026.
Paris Plages (July 4- August 30)
It’s not summer in the city without the Paris Plages. There are plenty of beach chairs and spaces where one can sit but there are other activities like the Climbing Wall set up at the Place du Chatelet or the Tai Chi and Qi Gong every morning along the Bassin de la Villette. Special mention for the large kids space in the stretch of the beach between Pont Neuf and Pont des Arts with lots of toys for kids of all ages and the Jardin de Brume (of Mist Garden) located past Pont Neuf where you can enjoy refreshing sprays of mist.
Swimming in the Seine
Three designated areas of the Seine are once again open for swimming. They are at the bras Marie (quai de l’hôtel de ville, Paris 4th arrondissement), at Grenelle (in front of the L’île aux Cygnes in the 15th arrondissement, pictured above) and at Bercy (183, quai de Bercy in the 12th arrondissement). Please consult their websites for their hours of operation.
In addition to these 3 special spots, swimming is also authorized in a designated area of the Canal St. Martin and the Bassin de la Villette. Various municipal pools are likewise open to the public all through out summer. For those of us over in the 17th arrondissement, a brand new open air pool just opened! ( Stade de Just-Fontaine, 6 avenue Brunetière, Paris 17e.)
If you want to learn more about the history of swimming in the Seine, then check out this other post.
Theater festivals, Film and Exhibits
Head on to the Bois de Boulogne for the Shakespeare Garden Open Air Theater Festival (Route de la Reine Marguerite, 75016 ) which is packed with a full program of mini- concerts, plays, readings and other shows until September.ber 27, 2026. Please head on to their website for all the details.
Over at the Parc Floral de Paris (Esplanade du château de Vincennes, 75012), Les Pestacles , a festival for kids, is ready to welcome families with their lineup of musical theater and concerts for kids, starting from age 4. Admission to the show is free with a valid entrance ticket to the Park.
If film is more your jam, then Lost in Frenchlation’s summer camp is worth checking out. Lost in Frenchlation, shows classic French films along with more recent box office hits with English subtitles. Until August 18, they tare hosting three screenings every other Tuesday at L’Arlequin (Saint-Germain-des-Près), including Nouvelle Vague by Richard Linklater, Cléo de 5 à 7 by Agnès Varda, L’Étranger by François Ozon, and many more films.
Finally, it wouldn’t be Paris without all the fabulous exhibits in its many museums. It can get overwhelming so we’ve listed just some of our recent favorites :
Musee des Arts Decoratifs: LA MODE EN MAJESTÉ. HAUTE COUTURE ET TRADITION À LA COUR DE THAÏLANDE
This sumptuous display is quite special. It marks the 340th anniversary of the first contact between France the Siam and the 170th anniversary of the two nations’s diplomatic relations. There is so much fine work to admire here. Most of the pieces come directly from the collection of the Queen SiriKit Museum of Textiles and have never been exhibited outside of Thailand before.
Grand Palais
Since its re-opening, the Grand Palais has taken its stated mission to provide amazing exhibits and shows to heart. There are two that are worth hurrying to catch. The first one is a mix of exhibit and videos by Wael Shawky tracing the tumultuous history of Egypt’s efforts to throw off the yoke of their British colonial masters. It is thought provoking to say the least. Entrance to this exhibit is free.
The second one is an art installation by Laure Provost called Nous, Frissons d'Etoiles which mixes video, sculptures, light and sound all in relation to quantum physics. Sounds amazing right?
And here's a member tip: Head to the Salon Seine, the lovely new space all the way at the back (same entrace as the Matisse exhibit) dedicated to young people and families and enjoy comfortable seats, air-conditioning as well as different activities for kids.
As always, let's us know what you are doing, we love to keep in touch with you!
Comments