What To Do in Paris in March
Discover the first hints of spring as you stroll through the parks of Paris. Tourist crowds are still light in March and visitors can also enjoy festivals celebrating the arts, cinema and literature.
The arrival of March means that those lovely first signs of spring are just around the corner in Paris. Soon the trees will be blossoming, spring flowers will be pushing through the ground in the Champ de Mars and Luxembourg Gardens and the colors of spring will be in the air. March is full of festivals – books, music, cinema and arts. Find out all there is to see and do in spring in Paris!
Banlieues Bleues Jazz Festival
20 March - 17 April 2026
The 36th annual Banlieues Bleues jazz festival kicks off in March with concerts held in several locations in the Seine-Saint-Denis area northeast of Paris. This festival attracts musicians from around the world and is a staple of the springtime for jazz enthusiasts in Paris. Check the website (only in French) for the concert schedule and booking information.
Website: http://www.banlieuesbleues.org/
International Tourism Show
12 - 15 March 2026
If you work in the travel industry you'll be familiar with the Salon Mondial du Tourisme, the International Tourism Show, which is the largest travel fair in France. With more than 100,000 visitors expected, the show is located at the grand Porte de Versailles Paris Expo.
Website: http://www.lemondeaparis.com/
Printemps du Cinéma
22 - 24 March 2026
If you love foreign films you will want to add Printemps du Cinéma to your schedule. This is a fun and popular three-day film festival that takes place in various small cinemas around Paris. Organized by the National Federation of cinema.
La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel
21 - 22 March 2026
The Eiffel Tower will hold its fifth annual Vertical Race, in which athletes will ascend the 1,665 steps of the iconic landmark. The open architecture of the Eiffel Tower provides an uncommonly excellent view of the event, unlike most vertical races that take place in enclosed stairwells. Participation in the amateur race is drawn by lottery. 40 professional athletes from around the world will then race against the clock and one another.
Cinéma du Réel - International Documentary Film Festival
21 - 28 March 2026
The festival has been an annual event since 1984, showcasing the works of leading documentary filmmakers and providing a platform for new directors to establish themselves. The festival takes place in several locations throughout the heart of the city and tickets are no more then €6 per person.
Website: http://www.cinemadureel.org/en
Drawing Now Paris Exhibition
26 - 29 March 2026
Now in its 17th edition, the Drawing Now Paris Exhibition will take this year's event as an opportunity to reflect not only on the progression of contemporary drawing during the last 50 years but also the event's own development and achievements over the course of a decade. The event will be held at the beautiful Carreau du Temple, a covered market in the 3rd arrondissement, where the works of 400 artists invited from around the world will be displayed.
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