From Paris’s largest annual music festival to heavy weekend traffic on French roads and the Women’s Rugby World Cup, here’s what is happening in France this week.
Monday
Heavy traffic – After the Assumption weekend, motorists should anticipate heavier-than-usual traffic on Monday. Specifically, those returning from south-eastern France and the Riviera to northern France and the Paris region should be prepared for the A8 and A9 to be congested. Those returning from the south-west should expect traffic on the A61.
Tuesday
School aid – Eligible households in mainland France will receive the means-tested school aid (L’allocation de rentrée scolaire) on Tuesday, August 19th. It helps to cover the cost of the numerous items that they need to purchase before children head to school. The aid was sent out to households in France’s overseas départements earlier in the month.
Wednesday
New films – French cinemas tend to release new films on Wednesdays. This week, they will release several films, including the French film ‘Alpha’ by Julia Ducournau about a rebellious 13-year-old and the film ‘Sentimental value’ (Valeur sentimentale) by Joachim Trier, which premiered at Cannes.
Rock en Seine music festival – Paris’s biggest annual festival begins on Wednesday, August 20th and runs until Sunday, August 24th. This year, big names like Chappell Roan, A$AP Rocky and Doechii will perform at the Parc de Saint Cloud.
READ MORE: 15 things to do in Paris this summer
Thursday
Festival in Sète – Near Montpellier, in the Hérault département, the seaside town of Sète hosts a yearly festival called the Fêtes de la Saint-Louis. It’s been going on since the port was inaugurated in 1666, and it involves water jousting, swimming, entertainment, and shows. It will run from Thursday, August 21st, until Tuesday, August 26th.
Friday
Heavy traffic weekend – As the penultimate weekend of the summer holidays, many motorists will begin returning home this weekend. Heavy traffic is expected for returns across the country on Friday, but traffic is set to be very slow on Saturday. French traffic watchdog Bison Futé placed most of France on ‘red’ for very difficult travel conditions, with the south-east on ‘black’ for extremely difficult travel conditions. Conditions ought to improve on Sunday.
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Saturday
Women’s Rugby World Cup – The French women’s rugby squad are on the other side of the Channel for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Their first match is against Italy on Saturday, August 23rd at Sandy Park stadium in Exeter at 8.15pm local time (9.15pm French time).