The best things to do in France in May 2027 pack an unusual amount into a few weeks: the 80th Cannes Film Festival, the opening of Roland-Garros in Paris, Lyon’s Nuits Sonores electronic-music weekend, the Camargue gypsy pilgrimage, and a run of public holidays that turn the calendar into a patchwork of long weekends. This guide to France events in May shows what is confirmed and what is still to be confirmed (TBC), and how the holidays affect trains, museums and hotel prices. Dates marked TBC have not yet been published by their organisers, so check with them before booking anything non-refundable. For the wider picture, see our calendar of public holidays and festivals and the season-by-season guide to visiting France.
France Events in May at a Glance
| Date | Event | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5–9 May 2027 | Nuits Sonores | Lyon | Electronic music festival | Confirmed |
| 6 May 2027 (Thursday) | Ascension Day (public holiday) | Nationwide | Public holiday | Confirmed |
| 11–22 May 2027 | Festival de Cannes (80th edition) | Cannes | Film festival | Confirmed |
| 17 May 2027 (Monday) | Whit Monday (public holiday) | Nationwide | Public holiday | Confirmed |
| 17 May–6 June 2027 | Roland-Garros (qualifying 17–21 May, main draw from 23 May) | Paris | Grand Slam tennis | Confirmed |
| Around 24–25 May | Gypsy pilgrimage (Pèlerinage des Gitans) | Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Camargue | Religious and cultural | TBC |
| Around 15–17 May | Féria de Pentecôte | Nîmes | Bullfighting and street party | TBC |
| Mid to late May | Fête de la Nature | Nationwide | Nature and outdoors | TBC |
| May | Nuit européenne des musées | Museums nationwide | Free or late-night museum openings | TBC |
| Late April to early May | Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc | Orléans | Historic festival | TBC |
| 1 and 8 May 2027 (both Saturdays) | Labour Day and Victory in Europe Day | Nationwide | Public holidays | Confirmed |
Things to Do in France in May: Which Event Fits You?
The headline events are in different cities, so decide your region first. This quick comparison shows who each one suits and how easy it is for an ordinary visitor to take part.
| Choice | Dates | Best for | Access for an ordinary visitor | Hotel pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes | 11–22 May | Film atmosphere and Riviera glamour | Most screenings are for accredited guests, but the town atmosphere is free | Very high |
| Paris | 17 May–6 June | Tennis and spring gardens | Tickets sold through the tournament’s official channels; qualifying week is easier | High |
| Lyon | 5–9 May | Music and food | Festival tickets and passes; the city itself is open as usual | High over the Ascension weekend |
| Camargue | Around 24–25 May (TBC) | Culture and traditions | Free to watch from a respectful distance; confirm the programme | Very tight in a small town |
Cannes Film Festival: 11–22 May (Confirmed)
The 80th Cannes Film Festival runs from 11 to 22 May 2027, centered on the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on boulevard de la Croisette. It is chiefly an industry event, and screenings in the competition are reserved for accredited guests, so a visitor without accreditation should not expect to buy tickets to the main screenings. What you can expect is a town rearranged around the festival: crowds on the Croisette in the evenings, photographers outside the Palais, and an atmosphere that is free to watch. The festival has traditionally also programmed some public events, so check its official site for the 2027 program, which has not yet been published.
The practical issue is accommodation, not access. Hotels and short-term rentals in Cannes fill early for the festival fortnight and rates are typically far above normal. If films are not your reason for coming, consider staying in a neighboring Riviera town and taking the regional train in for an evening. Our guide to hotels in Nice and the French Riviera covers the wider coast, and our Cannes travel guide explains the town beyond the festival. Avoid planning errands such as shopping or an unbooked restaurant dinner for the opening and closing evenings.
Roland-Garros French Open: 17 May to 6 June (Confirmed)
The Roland-Garros French Open runs from Monday 17 May to Sunday 6 June 2027 at Stade Roland-Garros, at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne in western Paris. Qualifying is scheduled for 17–21 May, the main draw begins on Sunday 23 May, and the finals are on 5 June (women’s singles) and 6 June (men’s singles). The tournament publishes any schedule changes on its official site.
For visitors the tournament splits into two experiences. The qualifying week is the budget-friendly way to see the grounds and top players practicing, while the main draw is far harder to enter and the second week concentrates the matches people travel for. Buy tickets only through the tournament’s official channels and treat resale prices with caution. Because the stadium is in western Paris, away from the Louvre and the Marais, build a half-day around the grounds rather than squeezing a match between two museum visits. Our guide to hotels near the Eiffel Tower covers the western arrondissements, the Paris hotel comparison helps you choose a base, and our Paris travel guide covers sights to place around match days.
Nuits Sonores Lyon: 5–9 May (Confirmed)
Nuits Sonores in Lyon runs from 5 to 9 May 2027, an electronic and independent music festival for adults. The 2027 line-up and venues have not yet been announced, so decide on the dates first and the artists later. The format mixes day and night events across the city, which makes it one of the few festivals you can combine with Lyon’s food and old-town sightseeing, and it overlaps the Ascension holiday on Thursday 6 May. Book trains and hotels early, and note that many restaurants run reduced hours around holidays. Our guide to hotels in Lyon by neighborhood helps you choose between the Presqu’île, the old town and quieter districts for late-night returns, and the Lyon travel guide covers the city itself. Planning further out? Our June events calendar covers what is on next, and the April calendar covers the month before.
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Pilgrimage: Around 24–25 May (TBC)
The gypsy pilgrimage in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on the Camargue coast is traditionally held around 24 and 25 May, with the 24th honoring Sara and the 25th the commemoration of Marie Jacobé. Treat the exact 2027 program, including whether it runs a day longer, as TBC and check with the town’s tourist office. It is a religious event first and a spectacle second: Romani and other traveling communities from across Europe gather at the church, and the procession, with riders on horseback entering the sea, is the part visitors tend to photograph. Be a respectful observer, do not crowd the families, and ask before photographing individuals. Camargue accommodation and parking become extremely tight, and the Nîmes or Arles areas are a realistic fallback base. For lodging, see our guide to Provence countryside hotels and the Provence travel guide.
Féria de Pentecôte, Nîmes: Dates TBC
The Féria de Pentecôte in Nîmes is tied to the Pentecost weekend, which in 2027 falls on 15–17 May (Whit Monday is 17 May). The organiser has not yet published the 2027 program, so the exact start and end days are TBC. Expect bullfighting and a street festival around the Roman arena. Bullfighting is a real part of the program, and visitors who are uncomfortable with it can still enjoy the music and street scene but should know the central events before they go. Hotels in Nîmes fill for this weekend, so book early.
Other France Events in May Worth Checking
- Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc, Orléans (TBC): a historic festival traditionally held from late April into early May. Orléans is an easy rail trip from Paris, and our guide to chateau hotels in the Loire Valley covers the surrounding region.
- Fête de la Nature (TBC): a nationwide weekend of guided walks and open-air activities in the second half of May. Sources disagree on the 2027 start, so check the official national program before planning around it.
- Nuit européenne des musées (TBC): an annual evening of free or late-night museum openings in May. The 2027 date has not been confirmed, and it shifts from year to year.
Public Holidays, School Breaks and Strikes in May
With Easter on 28 March 2027, the movable holidays are Ascension on Thursday 6 May and Whit Monday on 17 May. The fixed holidays of 1 May (Labour Day) and 8 May (Victory in Europe Day) both fall on Saturdays in 2027, so they do not create extra weekdays off. Friday 7 May is not a statutory holiday, but many people take it as a bridge day, which makes the Ascension weekend busy on trains and roads.
Many small businesses close on public holidays, and 1 May is when closures are most widespread, while museums and major monuments keep their own schedules, so check each site before you go. Long weekends bring heavier rail traffic, so reserve seats on high-speed trains and airport transfers ahead. Strike notices in France are announced in advance, so check carrier news a few days before travel. School holiday zones differ, and no zone is on holiday for most of May, but the Ascension bridge can still raise demand.
What Is France Like in May?
May is generally regarded as one of the better months to visit mainland France: gardens and countryside are green, terraces are open, and the long days make sightseeing easy. Weather is changeable, so pack layers and a light rain jacket for Paris and the north, while the Mediterranean coast is warmer. Crowds depend on the holiday pattern more than on the month: the Ascension weekend, the Whit Monday weekend, and the Cannes and Roland-Garros fortnights concentrate visitors in a few cities while much of the country stays calm. Hotel prices follow the same logic, so arriving on a Sunday after a holiday weekend can cut both crowds and cost.
Where to Stay for May Events
Group your stay by the event you are chasing, and choose by district rather than a single name.
- Cannes and the Riviera: book the Croisette area only if you want to be inside the festival atmosphere; otherwise Nice or a smaller coastal town is quieter and often better value, as our Nice and French Riviera travel guide explains.
- Paris for Roland-Garros: choose the western arrondissements for a short commute, or a central base with direct metro access.
- Lyon for Nuits Sonores: a central base on the Presqu’île or near the Rhône makes late returns easier.
- Bordeaux and the southwest: for a calmer long weekend away from the festival crowds, see Bordeaux hotels by neighborhood.
- Provence and the Camargue: for the pilgrimage and Nîmes, consider a countryside stay and drive in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in France in May?
The Cannes Film Festival (11–22 May), Roland-Garros in Paris (from 17 May), Nuits Sonores in Lyon (5–9 May) and the gypsy pilgrimage in the Camargue (around 24–25 May) are the headline events, with spring gardens and terraces everywhere else.
When are the public holidays in France in May?
Ascension is on Thursday 6 May and Whit Monday on 17 May. Labour Day (1 May) and Victory in Europe Day (8 May) both fall on Saturdays in 2027.
When does Roland-Garros start?
Qualifying starts on 17 May, the main draw begins on Sunday 23 May, and the men’s final is on Sunday 6 June.
Are the dates for the Féria de Pentecôte and the pilgrimage confirmed?
Not yet. Both follow traditional patterns around Pentecost and 24–25 May, but their 2027 programs are TBC, so check with the organisers.
Is it worth visiting Cannes during the festival without accreditation?
It can be, if you come for the atmosphere rather than the screenings. You will not be able to count on tickets to the main screenings, but the Croisette, the crowds and the sense of occasion are free to enjoy. Book accommodation very early, or stay in a neighboring Riviera town and come in for the evening.
Bottom Line
May rewards travelers who commit to one region and book early: Cannes from 11 to 22 May, Roland-Garros from 17 May to 6 June and Nuits Sonores from 5 to 9 May are firm anchors, while the pilgrimage, the Féria and museum night are TBC with their organisers. Use the holiday pattern, with Ascension on 6 May and Whit Monday on 17 May, to plan transport, and leave breathing room in your itinerary.
Pingback: Things to Do in France in April: Events and Festivals