Paris events in March celebrate early signs of spring and longer days to the City of Lights as activities move outside again.
On sunny March days, sidewalk tables fill up outside the city's many cafes and brasseries (such as La Turenne Brasserie near Place des Vosges in the Marais, show in top photo), and you'll begin to see hints of green in the trees.
Planning a Visit to Paris in March?
If you're coming to Paris this month, book your "bucket list" tours and activities now to make sure you get your top choices.
Top Paris attractions & experiences:
- Sainte-Chapelle & Conciergerie - Guided tour of 2 superb Medieval gems
- Eiffel Tower Entry Ticket with Optional Summit Access - Most popular choice
- Louvre Museum Masterpieces Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Most popular Paris destinations this month:
- Disneyland Paris 1-Day Ticket - Favorite family-friendly activity
- Versailles Bike Tour with Palace & Queen Farm Entrance - Very fun day!
- Giverny with Monet's House & Gardens Half Day with Transportation
Major outdoor March events give you the perfect excuse to be outside. Check out Paris's half-marathon around the city, the start of cherry blossom season, a famous antiques/vintage sale, Paris Saint-Germain home games, and even a few Saint Patrick's Day events.
Please note: Daylight Savings Time begins in France and many other European countries on the night of March 30 as clocks get turned ahead by one hour.
North American countries including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico start DST three weeks earlier on March 9.
Top photo: Sidewalk tables at a cafe in the Marais in March, (c) Paris Discovery Guide
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March Concerts in Paris - 2026
Paris concerts during March 2027 include classical music by candlelight at Sainte-Chapelle and other beautiful historical churches, Carmen, Tosca, and other wonderful ballets and operas at Palais Garnier, Opera Bastille, Champs Elysees Theatre, and Jacquemart-Andre Museum, and performances by popular artists at top music halls and arenas - plus check out the Candlelight tribute concerts throughout the month!
Get your tickets now:
- Candlelight Concerts: Tribute concerts to popular artists and classical composers - Various Paris venues - Throughout the month
More Paris classical concerts, opera, & dance performances during March
More Paris rock, pop, jazz, rap, indie, & other concerts during March
Find Paris concerts for other months
Paris Exhibits - Top Shows during March
These are just a few of the top exhibitions you can see in Paris this month:
- Musee d'Orsay: Renoir and Love + Renoir Drawings - With over 90 major works, this exhibition brings together many of this famous painter's most seminal works. This is likely to be a blockbuster exhibition, so book your tickets well in advance. A smaller concurrent exhibition features Renoir's drawings.
Dates: March 17 - July 19, 2026
Musée d'Orsay Tickets: Book a reserved access ticket for skip-the-line access, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris 7; Metro: Pont de l'Alma; Invalides - Musée de Cluny: Unicorns! - Unwrap the historical, intellectual, and aesthetic meanings of this fascinating mythical creature
Dates: March 10 - July 12, 2026
Tickets: 12€. Get your Musée de Cluny at the door (there's usually a line but it moves fairly quickly) or online, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
Location: 28 rue Du Sommerard, 75005; Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne, Saint-Michel, Odéon - Musée Maillol: Philippe Geluck Presents the Chat - A joyful immersion into the world of Le Chat, an iconic French comic strip by Geluck who carried his creation into the world of stage, radio, and television while serving as an inspiration for other creators
Dates: Through May 1
Tickets: Buy online - Lines are hard to predict here, but sometimes they can be quite long and evenings often sell out
Location: 59 Rue de Grenelle, Paris 7; Metro: Rue du Bac
Find more Paris museum exhibitions for March
Paris Museum and Attractions Passes
Get free admission and skip-the-line access to 60+ museums in and near Paris when you have a Paris Museum Pass for 2, 4, or 6 days. More info
Cherry Blossoms Start to Bloom in Paris
Cherry blossoms start blooming all over the city by the beginning of the month, brightening the landscape and marking the unofficial beginning of spring. You'll also see the earliest magnolias, plus lots of daffodils and other spring bulbs.
This is a spectacular March event in Paris you won't want to miss!
Find the best 27 locations to see gorgeous cherry blossoms in Paris
St. Patrick's Day Events in Paris
Saint Patrick's Day is not, of course, a big event in Paris because it is an Irish, not a French, holiday.
But if you feel like wearing some green and celebrating Irish National Day in style as March 17th draws closer, head over to the Irish Cultural Center (5 Rue des Irlandais, 5th arrondissement) and join their St Patrick Day Family Day Festival on March 15, 1pm - 5pm in the courtyard.
The features lots of traditional Irish music with fiddles and bagpipes, shows, food trucks, Gaelic games, face painting kids, and plenty of craic for the whole family. Wear green!
A small admission fee is charged and advance tickets are required due to space limitations. Find out more and reserve your spot on their website.
Throughout the year, the Irish Cultural Center hosts a variety of exhibitions, art shows, concerts, and other cultural events - one of Paris's many hidden treasures.
Cooking Classes during in March
Looking for the perfect way to immerse yourself in French culture for a couple of hours on a March morning or afternoon?
Join one of the cooking classes offered by Parisian chefs and boulangers (bakers) - perhaps a pastry workshop in the Latin Quarter where you'll learn the secrets of making a perfect buttery, flaky croissant, or maybe a macaron baking workshop in the Montmartre neighborhood.
Next on my own "to do" list: a cheesemaking workshop at Paris's Living Cheese Museum, which inclues discussion about French cheese and wine culture plus samples to savor, taught at Paris's only cheese school.
As a bonus, all of these classes involve tastings.
Find more Paris food tours and classes
Paris Visitor's Tip: Daylight Savings Time in France 2026
Daylight Savings Time in France - Just a reminder: Paris, France, and most other European countries switch to Daylight Savings Time (DST) on the last Sunday of the month - March 29 this year, so at 2am, move your clocks ahead by one hour. You lose an hour of sleep - but the extra hour of daylight at the end of the day makes your visit to Paris last even longer!
Car-Free Sundays in Paris
Can you imagine Paris without cars or any of their accompanying pollution and noise?
You can enjoy this unique experience on Sunday, March 2 - as well as the first Sunday of every month throughout many central Paris neighborhoods. Some extend the car-free periods to include every Sunday plus public holidays - and a few areas go car-free on Saturdays as well.
So get ready to walk or ride your bike down the middle of the busiest Paris streets and avenues, and see the city in a new way! We highly recommend Champs-Elysees as a starting point because the oppportunity to stroll down the middle of this famous avenue is a truly amazing experience.
Initially, these closures took place primarily in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements closest to the city's center, but now almost every district has at least one area with street closures. You can find a growing list of these areas on the City of Paris's website.
Although most vehicles (including electric) are banned, you'll see a few exceptions: emergency and police vehicles operate as usual, and taxis, city buses, and regular tourist buses (Open Tour and Big Bus lines) also run, but at a slower-than-normal speed.
Paris has measured a significant drop in pollution and noise on car-free days. So grab your skate board, bike, or favorite walking shoes, and spend the day outdoors enjoying fresh air and tranquility.
Paris Half Marathon - (Semi Marathon de Paris) - 2026
As a warm up of sorts for the Paris Marathon in April, Paris also hosts an annual half-marathon known as Semi de Paris each year in March.
This year, the Paris Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, March 8, with about 40,000 runners expected to participate in the 21.1km race.
The Half Marathon course begins on the Left Bank of the Seine River on Boulevard Saint-Germain near the Cluny metro station and proceeds along the left bank of the Seine to Pont de Tolbiac where it crosses the bridge and continues through Parc de Bercy.
At Rue de Charenton, runners turn right and make a large loop through Bois de Vincennes, the giant forest and parkland on the east side of the city, and then emerge onto Avenue Daumesnil.
At Place Felix Eboué, the runners will turn left onto Boulevard de Bercy, continue to the Seine, and again turn left onto Quai de Bercy, continuing along the Seine to Hôtel de Ville before right up to Rue de Rivoli, then making another right to continue onto Place de la Bastille, and then onto the finish line at Rue de Lyon.
Want to find a good viewing location? My recommendations include finding a spot along the Seine or in Bois de Vincennes, which has other interesting attractions incuding lakes, a wonderful zoo, and even a medieval castle. You'll find the course map here, along with start times for the various divisions.
You should expect road closures along the route, although they will start being removed along the first part of the course soon after the last group of racers depart.
Biggest Paris Sports Events during March
Top Paris sports events taking place include two games played with Paris Saint-Germain, the city's champion pro football (similar to American soccer) club, and Saut Hermès, the elite international equestrian show and jumping competition:
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco - Parc des Princes, 16th arrondissement - March 7
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Nantes - Parc des Princes, 16th arr - March 14
- Paris Saint-Germain vs AS Monaco - European Cup - Parc des Princes, 16th arr - March 25
- Saut Hermès- The fashion brand's famous equestrian show at the Grand Palais, 8th arr, multiple sessions: March 21, 11am - March 21, 7pm - March 22, 11am - March 22, 7pm
If none of these dates work for you (or even if they do), consider a behind-the-scenes tour of Stade de France, Paris's largest stadium and home to many of France's top championship games such as Fifa World Cup.
Foire de Chatou (Antiques & Collectibles Fair at Chatou) 2026
If you love searching for treasures at flea markets and antique shops, you won't want to miss France's biggest and oldest antiques fair held this month (and in September) a few miles outside of Paris but easy to get to on the RER.
What will you find? Basically, everything that might fall under the label of "antiques" and "collectibles" - fine art, furniture, decor, jewelry, tableware, chandeliers and other light fixtures, mirrors, books and maps, and so much more, from the 17th century through the 20th.
All of the 300+ dealers at the fair are vetted professionals, and experts are on hand to certify authenticity, if needed. Shippers are also available, in case you spot, for example, an 18th century marble mantle you can't resist acquiring for your fireplace back home.
Around 30,000 visitors attend this event as well as the one in September as it's considered unmissable by lovers of art, vintage, and antiques.
Dates: March 13-22, 10am - 7pm
Admission: 10€ - save time by getting your ticket in advance on their website
Location: Ile des Impressionnistes (Isle of the Impressionists), Chatou, France
Directions: Take the RER A toward Saint-Germain-en-Laye from Paris (only 4 stations from the Charles de Gaulle/Etoile station at the Arc de Triomphe). Get off at the Rueil-Malmaison station and take the free shuttle to the fair (you can also walk - it's about half a mile), or go one stop farther and get off at the Chatou Croissy station (try to exit at the end of the train) and walk across the footbridge over the Seine River to the fair.
Paris Foire du Trone - Throne Carnival 2026
Visit Paris's huge Foire du Trone, and you'll become part of a tradition and cultural event stretching back to 957 when 15-year old King Lothair established the first Fun Fair. In the 19th century, the fair became known as a festive market featuring gingerbread, acrobats, and gambling to attract the crowds.
With lots of fun for all ages, a relaxed family-friendly vibe, and reasonable prices for rides, food, and beverages, it's the perfect outing if you're visiting Paris with kids or teens.
Today, roughly 350 attractions including carnival rides, stuffed animals, fries, and beer rule as the fair attracts an estimated 5 million visitors for the shared goal of having fun during its 2-month spring season.
Especially if you're staying in the Marais, getting to the carnival takes less than 10 minutes on the Metro's Line 8.
When: March 27 - May 31, 12 noon to 11pm (1pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and nights before public holidays)
Where: Bois de Vincennes on the Reuilly Lawn (Pelouse de Reuilly), 12th arrondissement (Look for the fair on your right soon after you pass through the entrance near the Porte Dorée metro station, or just follow the crowds)
Metro: Porte Dorée
Admission: Free - plus reasonable prices for food, drinks, rides, etc
More information: Foire du Trone website
French Open Tickets Sale Dates
The Grand Open takes place this year from May 19 - June 8 in the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris's 16th arrondissement. General public ticket sales for the French Open Tennis Tournament typically go on sale in March.
You'll find the French Open schedule, ticket information, and everything else you need to know about this famous sports event on the Roland-Garros website.
If you want to attend one of the most popular matches, you need to move fast once sales open as those tickets always sell out quickly. For other matches, tickets are usually available at reasonable prices until almost the last minute.
Roland Garros is a short walk from the Porte d'Auteuil metro station, but for the greatest convenience, consider staying across the street at the 5-star Molitor Hotel & Spa, best known for its magnificent swimming pool.
One Thousand and One Orchids Show at Jardin des Plantes - NOT in 2026
Welcome spring at the Botanical Garden's annual display of 1,001 rare and fabulous orchids (just a tiny fraction of the Garden's collection of 92,000 specimums) arranged in natural settings throughout the garden's enormous greenhouses.
Dates: It's not clear why this isn't happening in 2026 - the next dates appear to be February 6, 2027 - March 10, 2027. I will post updates if I hear anything more. The Greenhouses are open daily except Tuesdays
More information: website
Tickets: Buy online or at the greenhouse entrance (admission to the Botanical Garden is free). Please note: It's best to buy online in advance because dates fill up quickly as this show is extremely popular.
More Fun Things to Do & See in Paris in March
Need to Book a Paris Hotel or Apartment for Your March Visit?
Planning a trip to Paris during early spring? Use this hotel map to find hotels and apartments near your favorite March events and Paris attractions:
Mardi Gras (Carnaval) in Paris: La Promenade du Boeuf Gras - 2026
Please note:
The sponsor of the Carnaval de Paris, Association Droit a la Culture, has announced that the parade will not take place this year due to "a lack of personnel and funding, the inability to ensure the safety of participants, and a shortage of volunteers."
In the hope that this decision might somehow still be reversed, I am leaving the following information in place to give you an idea of what normally happens during this fun festival:
Paris celebrates Mardi Gras with a huge parade based on ancient cultural traditions called La Promenade du Boeuf Gras (literally, March of the Fat Beef Cow) featuring masks and processions.
Led by Pimprenelle, a lovely French Limousin beef cow wearing a gorgeous red dress, and her escort Pat the Clown, about 5,000 flamboyantly costumed paraders fill the streets of Paris with music and dancing, attracting massive crowds of spectators.
The Paris Mardi Gras parade takes place in the 20th arrondissement, almost always on the Sunday before the Tuesday when Mardi Gras occurs. The event is free, free-form, and definitely one of the most fun things to do in Paris in March.
Want to march? Just join in. Want to watch? That's fine too. What should you wear? Whatever you want - but the more fanciful and flamboyant, the better!
Carnaval de Paris (Mardi Gras) Parade Route: Starts at Place Gambetta in the 20th, and goes down Avenue Gambetta past Père Lachaise Cemetery, turns right at Boulevard Ménilmontant and continues along Boulevard de Belleville, turns left on to Rue du Faubourg du Temple and ends at Place de la République.
Like every parade in Paris, unanticipated route, date, or time changes can occur - so check the Mardi Gras Carnival website for any last-minute updates.
Parade date: ?
Starts: 2pm
Ends: The parade ends around 6pm, followed by two hours of dancing and partying around Place de la Republique, with the whole event ending at 8pm - so you can enjoy 6 full hours of fun and celebration
Nearest metro station to starting location: Gambetta
Future parade dates: TBD
Just a reminder - The parade takes place two days before Mardi Gras, which is on February 17 in 2026, February 9 in 2027, and February 29 in 2028). Like Easter, the date changes every year because it is based on the Gregorian calendar which calculates dates based on phases of the sun and moon. Mardi Gras always takes place 47 days before Easter.
