When to visit the French Riviera and Provence: events calendar
The main events that come back every year, month by month. Next to each one you will find a tip for a sunrise or sunset nearby, so you can plan the day around it.
Dates move a little from year to year. Check the organiser’s website before you book. Dates and links checked on 10 October 2026.
January
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 8:00 and sets around 17:20; the day lasts about 9 h 20 min.
-
Rallye Monte-Carlo
- When
- second half of January
- Where
- Monaco and the mountain roads behind the coast
- Next
- 21–24 January 2027
The opening round of the World Rally Championship. The cars start and finish in Monaco, and the stages run over the passes above the Riviera, often on snow and ice.
Sunset: Tête de Chien, towards Nice, around 17:30 (January 23)
-
Mimosa in bloom
- When
- late January to early March
- Where
- Tanneron hills, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Bormes-les-Mimosas
- Next
- mimosa festival in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, 10–14 February 2027
In the middle of winter the hills west of Cannes turn yellow. The Route du Mimosa runs from Bormes-les-Mimosas to Grasse, and Mandelieu holds its mimosa festival in February.
Sunset here: around 17:55 (February 10) · sunrise and sunset in Cannes
February
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 7:30 and sets around 18:00; the day lasts about 10 h 30 min.
-
Mimosa in bloom
- When
- late January to early March
- Where
- Tanneron hills, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, Bormes-les-Mimosas
- Next
- mimosa festival in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, 10–14 February 2027
In the middle of winter the hills west of Cannes turn yellow. The Route du Mimosa runs from Bormes-les-Mimosas to Grasse, and Mandelieu holds its mimosa festival in February.
Sunset here: around 17:55 (February 10) · sunrise and sunset in Cannes
-
Nice Carnival
- When
- two weeks in February, sometimes into early March
- Where
- Nice
- Next
- 9–28 February 2027, theme “Vive l’Amour”
One of the biggest carnivals in the world: parades of giant floats on Place Masséna, in the daytime and after dark, and the Battle of Flowers on the Promenade des Anglais.
Sunset: Castle Hill, Nice, around 17:55 (February 20)
-
Lemon Festival (Fête du Citron)
- When
- two weeks in February, at the same time as the Nice Carnival
- Where
- Menton
- Next
- 13–28 February 2027
Huge sculptures made of lemons and oranges in the Biovès gardens, and parades of citrus floats along the seafront.
Sunset here: around 18:05 (February 20) · sunrise and sunset in Menton
March
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 6:45 and sets around 18:35; the day lasts about 11 h 55 min.
-
Paris–Nice cycling race
- When
- mid-March
- Where
- Nice
- Next
- 7–14 March 2027
The “Race to the Sun” ends with a weekend of stages in the hills above Nice and a finish in the city.
Sunset: Castle Hill, Nice, around 18:20 (March 13)
-
Easter Feria
- When
- Easter weekend (March or April)
- Where
- Arles
- Next
- 26–29 March 2027
The feria opens the season in the Roman arena: music and food stalls in the streets, Camargue horses and bulls.
Sunset here: around 19:00 (March 27)
April
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 6:50 and sets around 20:15; the day lasts about 13 h 25 min.
-
Monte-Carlo Masters
- When
- mid-April
- Where
- Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, next to Monaco
- Next
- 3–11 April 2027
The first big clay-court tennis tournament of the season, played on courts set above the sea.
Sunrise: Tête de Chien, La Turbie, around 7:00 (April 7)
May
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 6:05 and sets around 20:50; the day lasts about 14 h 45 min.
-
Cannes Film Festival
- When
- twelve days in mid-May
- Where
- Cannes
- Next
- 11–22 May 2027
The red carpet on the steps of the Palais des Festivals, and free open-air screenings on the beach in the evenings (Cinéma de la Plage).
Sunrise: La Gravette beach, Antibes, around 6:15 (May 16)
-
La Bravade
- When
- 16–18 May every year
- Where
- Saint-Tropez
- Next
- 16–18 May 2027
For more than four centuries the town has honoured its patron saint with processions in historic uniforms and deafening musket salutes.
Sunrise: Coastal path, Saint-Tropez, around 6:10 (May 17)
June
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 5:50 and sets around 21:15; the day lasts about 15 h 25 min.
-
Monaco Grand Prix
- When
- early June (in late May until 2025)
- Where
- Monaco
- Next
- 4–6 June 2027
The best-known Formula 1 race, run on the streets of the principality. Hotel prices along the whole coast rise sharply for the weekend.
Sunrise: Tête de Chien, La Turbie, around 6:05 (June 5)
-
Fête de la Musique
- When
- 21 June
- Where
- every town in France
- Next
- 21 June 2027
On the longest day of the year there are free concerts in streets and squares all over the country, from big stages to bands on café terraces.
Sunset: Port of Nice from Mont Boron, around 20:50 (June 21)
-
Lavender in bloom
- When
- mid-June to mid-July on the Valensole plateau, until early August around Sault
- Where
- Valensole plateau, Luberon, Sault
The fields are at their best in late June and early July. The harvest on the Valensole plateau starts around mid-July, so do not leave it too late.
Sunset here: around 21:20 (July 1)
July
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 6:05 and sets around 21:10; the day lasts about 15 h 10 min.
-
Lavender in bloom
- When
- mid-June to mid-July on the Valensole plateau, until early August around Sault
- Where
- Valensole plateau, Luberon, Sault
The fields are at their best in late June and early July. The harvest on the Valensole plateau starts around mid-July, so do not leave it too late.
Sunset here: around 21:20 (July 1)
-
Festival d’Avignon
- When
- about three weeks in July
- Where
- Avignon
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026: 4–25 July)
One of the largest theatre festivals in the world. Besides the main programme, with performances in the courtyard of the Popes’ Palace, the “Off” festival fills every hall and street in town.
Sunset here: around 21:20 (July 15)
-
Rencontres d’Arles
- When
- opening week in early July, exhibitions until early autumn
- Where
- Arles
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026: 6 July – 4 October)
A photography festival with dozens of exhibitions in churches, cloisters and old industrial halls all over the town.
Sunset here: around 21:25 (July 7)
-
Jazz à Juan and Nice Jazz Fest
- When
- July, the Nice festival in some years in August
- Where
- Juan-les-Pins (Antibes) and Nice
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026: Jazz à Juan 9–19 July, Nice Jazz Fest 23–26 July)
Two of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. In Juan-les-Pins the stage stands under the pines with the sea right behind it.
Sunrise: La Gravette beach, Antibes, around 6:10 (July 15)
-
Bastille Day
- When
- 14 July (in some towns on the evening of the 13th)
- Where
- the whole coast
- Next
- 14 July 2027
The national holiday ends with fireworks over the sea in almost every town on the coast.
Sunset: Port of Nice from Mont Boron, around 20:50 (July 14)
-
Fireworks festivals
- When
- several evenings in July and August
- Where
- Cannes and Monaco
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026 in Cannes: 4, 14 and 22 July, 4, 15 and 24 August)
Fireworks teams from different countries compete over the bay of Cannes and over the port of Monaco. The shows are free to watch from the seafront.
Sunset here: around 20:55 (August 1) · sunrise and sunset in Cannes
August
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 6:35 and sets around 20:35; the day lasts about 14 h 00 min.
-
Fireworks festivals
- When
- several evenings in July and August
- Where
- Cannes and Monaco
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026 in Cannes: 4, 14 and 22 July, 4, 15 and 24 August)
Fireworks teams from different countries compete over the bay of Cannes and over the port of Monaco. The shows are free to watch from the seafront.
Sunset here: around 20:55 (August 1) · sunrise and sunset in Cannes
September
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 7:10 and sets around 19:40; the day lasts about 12 h 30 min.
-
Cannes Yachting Festival
- When
- first half of September
- Where
- Cannes
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026: 8–13 September)
The largest boat show in Europe held on the water, in the Old Port and Port Canto.
Sunset here: around 19:50 (September 10) · sunrise and sunset in Cannes
-
European Heritage Days
- When
- third weekend of September
- Where
- all of France
- Next
- 18–19 September 2027 (to be confirmed)
Palaces, town halls, villas and gardens that are normally closed open their doors, and many museums are free.
Sunset: Castle Hill, Nice, around 19:25 (September 18)
-
Monaco Yacht Show
- When
- late September
- Where
- Monaco
- Next
- dates not announced yet, details soon (in 2026: 23–26 September)
Port Hercule fills with more than a hundred superyachts. Even without a ticket, the view of the port from above is worth the walk.
Sunrise: Tête de Chien, La Turbie, around 7:20 (September 25)
-
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
- When
- late September to early October
- Where
- Saint-Tropez
- Next
- 26 September – 4 October 2027
Hundreds of classic and modern sailing yachts race in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The Régates Royales in Cannes take place just before, in late September.
Sunrise: Pampelonne beach, Ramatuelle, around 7:30 (September 30)
October
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 7:45 and sets around 18:50; the day lasts about 11 h 05 min.
-
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
- When
- late September to early October
- Where
- Saint-Tropez
- Next
- 26 September – 4 October 2027
Hundreds of classic and modern sailing yachts race in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The Régates Royales in Cannes take place just before, in late September.
Sunrise: Pampelonne beach, Ramatuelle, around 7:30 (September 30)
-
Chestnut Festival
- When
- the last three Sundays of October
- Where
- Collobrières, in the Massif des Maures
- Next
- Sundays 11, 18 and 25 October 2026
A village in the chestnut forests behind Saint-Tropez celebrates the harvest: roasted chestnuts, chestnut cream and a large market.
Sunset here: around 18:50 (October 18)
November
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 7:25 and sets around 17:05; the day lasts about 9 h 40 min.
-
Nice–Cannes Marathon
- When
- early November
- Where
- from Nice to Cannes along the coast
- Next
- Sunday 8 November 2026, start at 8:00
The Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes starts in the morning on the Promenade des Anglais and follows the sea all the way to the Croisette in Cannes.
Sunrise: Promenade des Anglais, Nice, around 7:15 (November 8)
-
Monaco National Day
- When
- 19 November, fireworks on the evening of the 18th
- Where
- Monaco
- Next
- 19 November 2026
The principality is dressed in red and white. On the eve of the holiday there are fireworks over the port.
Sunset: Tête de Chien, towards Nice, around 17:05 (November 18)
December
Mid-month in Nice the sun rises around 7:55 and sets around 16:55; the day lasts about 8 h 55 min.
-
Christmas markets and the santon fair
- When
- from late November to the end of December
- Where
- Nice, Monaco, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence
- Next
- santon fair in Marseille 14 November 2026 – 3 January 2027; Christmas village in Nice from 27 November 2026 (to be confirmed)
Christmas villages with a big wheel in Nice and on the port of Monaco, and in Marseille the santon fair, with the clay figures of the Provençal nativity scene, held since 1803.
Sunset: Castle Hill, Nice, around 16:50 (December 15)