Arty Annual Events in Paris

Summertime in Paris has gained a reputation for being a bit of an alternative reality, with its huge slowdown in business as usual and heady outdoor culture. One major part of that culture, of course, are summer festivals-- and in Paris there are a constant stream of these. From rock festivals and semi-improvised street music performances to...

Summertime in Paris has gained a reputation for being a bit of an alternative reality, with its huge slowdown in business as usual and heady outdoor culture. One major part of that culture, of course, are summer festivals-- and in Paris there are a constant stream of these. From rock festivals and semi-improvised street music performances to...

La Fête de la Musique is a lively street music festival held every June in Paris, and one of the year's most popular events in the city of light. Hundreds of musicians gather in the streets, bars, and cafes of Paris, giving free performances of everything from jazz and rock to hip-hop and electronic music. To get a taste of authentic Paris...

A guide to Paris Museum Night, an annual event that sees most of the city's major museums open their doors late to visitors and host eclectic performances or happenings.

A guide to Nuit Blanche (White Night) events in Paris, France, an annual arts and culture event in which museums, galleries, and other cultural hotspots stay open all night and offer free admission to visitors from around the world.

Pictures of happenings at Nuit Blanche 2007 in Paris. Nuit Blanche literally means "White Night" (sleepless night) and is a popular annual arts and culture event.

Every year, dozens of historical and administrative sites in Paris that are generally closed or offer only limited access to the public are accessible free of charge in celebration of European Patrimony Days (Journées du Patrimoine). This is a chance to see sites like Paris City Hall from an insider perspective. And it's free!

A photo gallery showing highlights from the Spring-Summer haute couture collections at Paris Fashion Week 2010, including shots from the Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, John Galliano and Chanel runway shows.

A gallery showing a few images from the 2009 International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) in Paris, France. Each year, the FIAC showcases the world's upcoming and most exciting living artists in two main forums: the Grand Palais and the Louvre.

Looking for free summer concerts in Paris? In tandem with Paris Plage, the ephemeral beach that takes over the banks of the Seine and other bodies of water in Paris each summer, a series of free evening concerts brings live music to the festive event. Consult the program of free concerts at Paris Plage in 2011, which includes headlining acts...

A guide to Rock en Seine 2011, a three-day rock festival held every year on the outskirts of Paris, France. Find the full Rock en Seine 2010 lineup here, in addition to practical information on how to get Rock en Seine tickets, location and more.

A complete guide to FIAC (International Contemporary Art Fair) held in Paris each year and bringing hundreds of artists, galleries and other arts professionals under the same roof to expose the pulse of global contemporary arts trends.

A guide to the annual Paris Gay, Lesbian Trans and + Film Festival, one of the city's most-anticipated queer-themed events of the year and celebrating gay, lesbian and trans imagery and issues in film.

Held every summer, the Paris Cinema International Film Festival brings the magic of celluloid to the city with a vibrant program of international films, a focus on contemporary French cinema, debates and special events. Cinephiles should not miss Paris Cinema.

The Salon du Livre/Paris Book Fair brings dozens of renowned authors and thousands of visitors under one roof every year in early spring to celebrate literature. The Salon du Livre generally has a specific theme each year, focusing on the literature of a region or country and allowing visitors to get familiar with important literary movements...

A guide to the annual St-Germain-des-Prés jazz festival in Paris, France, held in May every year and featuring dozens of jazz performances from artists around the globe. The St-Germain-des-Prés jazz festival outside Paris draws crowds every year in the streets of the historic district to enjoy fresh and established jazz talents.

A guide to the annual Paris jazz festival known as Banlieues Bleues, held in early spring every year and featuring dozens of jazz performances in the near suburbs of Paris. The Banlieues Bleues jazz festival outside Paris attracts thousands of jazz fans to see both established and up-and-coming jazz performers work their magic.

A guide to the Nuit des Musees (Paris Museum Night), an annual event in which several Paris museums and galleries stay open late and offer free entry to visitors, as well as a special arts and culture program. Find all the information you'll need on Paris Museum night here.

Known as the Portes Ouvertes d'Ateliers d'Artistes de Belleville, this annual event in Paris sees some 250 artists living and working in the edgy, urbanite Belleville neighborhood open their doors to show off their work and spaces. The Belleville Artists' Ateliers Ouverts provides an exceptional opportunity to get to know some of Paris'...

A guide to the annual Paris Jazz Festival at the Parc Floral, a series of concerts held at the lovely floral gardens at the Bois de Vincennes in Paris every summer. The Paris Jazz Festival at the Parc Floral is quasi-free and features talented jazz performers from around the world.

Missed Nuit Blanche (White Night) events in Paris in 2011? About.com Paris Travel Contributor Jacob Kleinman shares his experiences and pictures from Nuit Blanche 2011 in Paris, which included dozens of open-air installations, performances, videos and various other happenings.