Looking for things to do in France in August? Plan around the deepest holiday month of the French year. Most of the country is on vacation, small towns fill with street-theater, Celtic-music and feria crowds, and the coast and mountains are at their busiest and priciest. Below, the France events in August 2027 are marked Confirmed or TBC, so you can see what is settled and what to double-check with the organizers. For the wider seasonal picture, see the best time to visit France, and for fixed holidays all year, the France public holidays and festival calendar.
Most things to do in France in August fall into two kinds of trip: the national summer-holiday rush, when everyone heads to the coast, and a handful of big events in Brittany, the south-west, Auvergne and near Paris. Decide which one you want before you book.
France Events in August at a Glance
Confirmed means the date comes from an official calendar or a consistent listing. TBC means the organizer has not published the 2027 date yet, so the entry shows the usual pattern and nothing more. Check with the organizers before you book anything non-refundable.
| Date | Event | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jul – 8 Aug 2027 | Festival Interceltique de Lorient (56th edition) | Lorient, Brittany | Celtic music and culture | Dates confirmed in listings, programme TBC |
| 30 Jul – 8 Aug 2027 | Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift | Starts in Britain, French stages TBC | Cycling | Start confirmed, French route TBC |
| Sunday 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption (Assomption) | Nationwide | Public holiday | Confirmed |
| Mid-August, usually about five days | Fêtes de Dax | Dax, Landes | Feria, bullfights, street party | TBC, check with organizers |
| Second half of August, usually four days | Aurillac International Street Theatre Festival | Aurillac, Cantal | Street theater | TBC, check with organizers |
| Late August | Rock en Seine | Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, near Paris | Rock and pop festival | TBC, check with organizers |
| Late July into early August | Jazz in Marciac | Marciac, Gers | Jazz | TBC, check with organizers |
| Late August | Festival Berlioz | La Côte-Saint-André, Isère | Classical music | TBC, check with organizers |
| 3 Jul – 2 Sep 2027 | School summer holidays | Nationwide | Holiday period | Confirmed |
Things to Do in France in August by Region
- Brittany: the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, plus cooler sea air. Compare it with Normandy in this coastal regions guide.
- South-west: the Dax feria and Jazz in Marciac, with small towns, campsites and farm stays.
- Paris: quieter than usual, with Rock en Seine at the end of the month. See the Paris travel guide.
- Auvergne and the mountains: Aurillac street theater, plus hiking and cooler evenings.
- Riviera: the most expensive and crowded coast; read a five-day Riviera plan before booking.
Festival Interceltique de Lorient
When: 30 July to 8 August 2027, the 56th edition (dates in several listings; the programme is TBC). Where: Lorient, southern Brittany. Type: Celtic music, dance and culture festival.
The Festival Interceltique de Lorient is one of the best things to do in France in August: Lorient becomes a capital of Celtic culture for ten days, with musicians and dancers from Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Galicia and beyond. Part of the festival falls in the first days of August, so a short trip can overlap with the end of July departures. Accommodation in and around Lorient fills up long before the festival; if the city is full, stay along the Morbihan coast and take the train or bus in for the evening. Book early and allow for the festival-week price premium. Ticket sales and the programme come from the organizers, so check them before you commit.
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: Dates and Route
When: the race starts on Friday 30 July 2027 and is expected to finish on Sunday 8 August 2027. Where: the Grand Départ is in Britain, from Leeds to Manchester on 30 July, then Manchester to Sheffield on 31 July, with a team time trial in London on 1 August. French stages: TBC.
For anyone planning around the Tour de France Femmes, the French section of the route has not been announced, so we cannot yet say which French towns will see the peloton in the first week of August. Once the stage list is published, check whether the race passes near your itinerary. Roadside viewing is free, but roads close hours before the riders, so be in place early and watch local traffic notices. The men’s Tour de France is a July event, so it does not affect August travel.
Assumption Day: Sunday 15 August 2027
Status: Confirmed. 15 August is a fixed public holiday, and in 2027 it falls on a Sunday, so there is no extra day off. In practice, Sunday is already quiet in many French towns, and with the Assumption on top, expect many bakeries, small shops and some restaurants to be closed. Buy groceries on Saturday 14 August and check opening hours. Religious processions and pilgrimages take place in places such as Lourdes, and many villages hold local festivals around the date. The weekday changes every year, so a plan that worked in 2026 does not carry over.
Fêtes de Dax (Fetes de Dax) and Other Feria Towns
When: traditionally around mid-August, usually about five days; 2027 dates TBC, check with the organizers. Where: Dax, Landes, south-west France. Type: feria with bullfights, brass bands (bandas), bodegas and street parties.
For many travelers the draw is the atmosphere, not the bullfights: crowds in white and red, brass bands in the streets and open-air bars. Bullfighting is a contested tradition and entirely optional; you can enjoy the street life without attending. Bayonne’s famous fêtes fall in July, before the month covered here.
Aurillac Street Theatre Festival
When: usually four days in the second half of August; 2027 dates TBC, check with the organizers. Where: Aurillac, Cantal, in the Auvergne. Type: international street-theater festival.
It is widely described as the world’s largest street-theater event, with hundreds of companies and over 100,000 spectators. Performances take place in streets and squares, many of them free, with a ticketed programme alongside. Aurillac is small and rural, so rooms are scarce; many visitors stay in nearby towns or book a year ahead. Trains are slow, so check the regional TER timetable.
Music Festivals: Rock en Seine, Jazz in Marciac and Festival Berlioz
Rock en Seine festival is traditionally held in late August at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, just outside Paris, and is the easiest big festival to add to a Paris stay because it is reachable by public transport; see how to use the Paris metro and RER. Dates and lineup for 2027 are TBC, and tickets are sold by the organizers.
Jazz in Marciac in the Gers usually runs for about two and a half weeks from late July into early August, so it may overlap with the first days of August. Festival Berlioz in La Côte-Saint-André, Isère, is a classical-music festival held in late August. Dates for both in 2027 are TBC.
August in France: Public Holidays, School Holidays and Practical Details
- Public holiday: 15 August (Assumption) is the only national public holiday in August. In 2027 it is a Sunday.
- School holidays: the summer break runs from Saturday 3 July to Thursday 2 September 2027 for all zones. All of August is peak family season.
- The August closing: many independent restaurants, bakeries, doctors and small businesses close for two or three weeks. In cities, especially Paris, check opening hours or book.
- Strikes: there is no reliable way to know about strikes in advance. Summer is usually calmer for national transport, but check the SNCF and airport updates before you travel.
- Booking: trains on weekends such as 31 July to 1 August and 13 to 15 August are among the busiest of the summer; book early.
Things to Do in France in August Without the Crowds
- Travel in the first days of August or the last week, when pressure on coasts eases.
- Choose inland and mountain destinations, and cities such as Lyon or Bordeaux, where locals have also left.
- Book trains, rooms and festival tickets as early as possible, and keep cancellation terms flexible.
- Plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and indoor visits for the afternoon heat.
What Is August Like for Travelers
Weather: August is hot in the south and mostly warm elsewhere. Heatwaves have affected France in recent summers, so check Météo-France forecasts for your dates. Thunderstorms are common, especially in the mountains. Crowds: the coasts (the Riviera, the Atlantic coast, Brittany) are at their most crowded, especially from around 1 to 20 August. Paris is quieter because many locals leave, which can make museums more manageable, though some small venues close. Prices: accommodation on the coast and in festival towns peaks in August. Looking ahead, see the September events calendar, and for the month before, July events.
Where to Stay for Things to Do in France in August
Think by cluster rather than by single event. Brittany and the Morbihan coast (Lorient): book as early as possible, and consider nearby coastal towns if central Lorient is full. South-west (Dax, Landes, Marciac): small towns with limited stock, so consider farm stays and campsites, or hotels in larger nearby towns. Paris and Rock en Seine: pick a well-connected area; the best hotels in Paris by Right Bank, Left Bank and Marais helps you choose. The Riviera: August is the most expensive month; see where to stay in Nice and the French Riviera. City breaks: see hotels in Lyon and hotels in Bordeaux. Choose air conditioning if you can, since many older buildings get hot in a heatwave.
Top Things to Do in France in August
- Lorient Festival Interceltique (30 July to 8 August): the best-confirmed major event, with a distinctive regional character.
- A coastal or countryside base, booked early: August demand dominates every other factor.
- Aurillac, if you like street theater: a strong draw, but wait for the official dates.
- Dax feria, for atmosphere: pick it for the street party; the bullfighting is optional.
- Rock en Seine: the easiest to add to a Paris trip if the lineup suits you.
- Tour de France Femmes: only if the French stages pass near you; roadside viewing is free.
France Events in August: FAQ
What are the best things to do in France in August?
Go to a festival such as the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, a street-theater or feria weekend in Aurillac or Dax, or Rock en Seine near Paris. Otherwise head to the coast, mountains or cooler regions, and book early.
Is August a good time to visit France?
Yes for festivals, beaches and mountains, but it is the busiest and most expensive month on the coast, and many small businesses close. Paris is quieter than usual.
Is 15 August a public holiday in France?
Yes. Assumption is a fixed public holiday on 15 August every year. In 2027 it is a Sunday, so expect many shops and restaurants to be closed.
When is the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2027?
Listings give 30 July to 8 August 2027 for the 56th edition. The programme and tickets come from the organizers, so check with them.
Does the Tour de France Femmes visit France in 2027?
The Grand Départ is in Britain from 30 July 2027, and the French stages have not been announced, so check the stage list when it is published.
Are the dates for Dax, Aurillac and Rock en Seine confirmed?
Not yet. The article lists the usual pattern for each, marked TBC, so check with the organizers before you book.
