Paris Now · October 2026
Paris enters its most crowded cultural month with fashion, contemporary art, cars, gaming, elite sport and chocolate competing for the same calendar. This verified guide gives you the dates, doors, prices, transport warnings and booking links in one place.
Read this first: the three disruptions most likely to affect your trip
- Sunday 11 October: Metro Line 6 is scheduled to be closed for the entire day, the same day as the 20 km de Paris. Build in extra time and use alternative lines or walk from a different station.
- Paris Games Week: the organiser says the T2 tram stop at Porte de Versailles is closed. Use Metro 12, Metro 8 to Balard, T3a or bus 80 instead.
- NFL Paris Game: Stade de France is not offering event parking. Public transport is the practical option; check live RER and Metro service before departure.
October is not a shoulder-season footnote in Paris. In 2026, the city’s calendar compresses the closing days of Fashion Week, a world-famous horse race, Montmartre’s harvest festival, Europe’s automotive industry, Paris Games Week, Art Basel, France’s first regular-season NFL game and the Salon du Chocolat into four weeks.
The useful question is not simply what is on? It is which dates are worth protecting, what must be booked, and what will change the way you move around Paris? The planner below is designed to answer all three. Times, access rules and advertised prices were checked against official sources on 30 September 2026; live availability can still change.
October 2026 at a glance
| Dates | Event | Venue / district | What to know now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep–6 Oct | Paris Fashion Week SS27 | Across Paris | Book or stream now |
| 3–4 Oct | Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe | ParisLongchamp | Tickets from €15 |
| 3 Oct | Paris Pride March | Place d’Italie → Bastille | Free; road restrictions |
| 7–11 Oct | Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre | 18th arrondissement | Mostly free |
| 8–11 Oct | Salon de la Photo | Grande Halle de la Villette | 10:00–19:00 |
| 11 Oct | Harmonie Mutuelle 20 km de Paris | Pont d’Iéna / Eiffel Tower | Start 09:00; sold out |
| 13–18 Oct | Paris Motor Show 2026 | Paris Expo Porte de Versailles | Public from 13 Oct |
| 17–18, 24–25, 31 Oct–1 Nov | Centre Pompidou Francilien: Prélude! | Massy | Free; reservation required |
| 22–25 Oct | Paris Games Week | Paris Expo Porte de Versailles | 09:30–19:00 |
| 23–25 Oct | Art Basel Paris | Grand Palais | Day ticket €47 |
| 25 Oct | NFL Paris Game: Steelers vs Saints | Stade de France | Kick-off 14:30 CEST |
| 28 Oct–1 Nov | Salon du Chocolat | Paris Expo, Pavilion 5 | 10:00–19:00 |
1. Paris Fashion Week SS27
The month opens with the final, most visible stretch of the Spring/Summer 2027 womenswear season.
The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode confirms the womenswear season from 28 September to 6 October. Most runway shows are invitation-only, but the official calendar identifies livestreams, while show arrivals, brand activations and public fashion programming animate central Paris. Hotel and car demand is strongest around the 1st, 8th and 16th arrondissements.
Plan it: Use our complete Paris Fashion Week SS27 guide and our guide for visitors without an invitation.
2. Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
One of world racing’s decisive weekends turns western Paris into an international sporting destination.
Saturday’s nine-race card begins at 12:53; Sunday’s nine-race programme begins at 13:10 and includes the Arc. France Galop lists Village tickets from €15 and general admission from €20, with premium categories above that level. The racecourse is at 2 Route des Tribunes, 75016 Paris. Around 35,000 spectators are expected across the weekend, so arrive well before the first race.
Plan it: Book through the official ticket office. If driving, the organiser lists parking at €5 online versus €10 on site; public transport avoids exit congestion.
3. Paris Pride March
The rescheduled march crosses the Left Bank before finishing at Bastille.
Speeches are scheduled from 13:30 and the procession from 14:00. The published route runs from Place d’Italie via Avenue des Gobelins, Rue Monge, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Pont de Sully and Boulevard Henri IV to Place de la Bastille. Travellers should expect rolling road closures and slower buses along and around the route.
Plan it: Walk or use Metro stations outside the immediate procession. Do not rely on a taxi crossing the route during the afternoon.
4. Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre
Montmartre’s 93rd harvest festival is the month’s most atmospheric neighbourhood event.
The 2026 theme is “The 18th Sets the Rhythm”. The programme spreads around the Butte and includes the Ban des Vendanges, Grand Défilé, Parcours du Goût, concerts, choirs, dance and a closing ball. Most street activity is free, although individual activities may require a reservation. The closest useful Metro stations are Anvers on Line 2 and Abbesses on Line 12.
Plan it: Choose one headline moment, then allow time to walk: streets around Sacré-Cœur are steep and crowded. Keep valuables secured in dense processions.
Official information and tickets.
5. Salon de la Photo
A four-day meeting point for photographers, filmmakers, creators and equipment buyers.
The show runs daily from 10:00 to 19:00 at Grande Halle de la Villette, 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris. The organiser announces more than 110 exhibitors. Metro Line 5 to Porte de Pantin is the simplest approach.
Plan it: A strong fit for working photographers and content creators. Check the official programme before choosing your day; demonstrations and talks vary.
6. Harmonie Mutuelle 20 km de Paris
The race is sold out, but its route matters to every visitor moving through western and central Paris.
The start is at 09:00 on Pont d’Iéna and the finish is by the Eiffel Tower. The route takes in Trocadéro, the Arc de Triomphe, Bois de Boulogne, Roland-Garros, Maison de la Radio, the Grand Palais, Tuileries and the Seine. Expect barriers, diversions and crowded crossings. Metro Line 6 is scheduled to be closed all day.
Plan it: If you are not attending, avoid road transfers across the route in the morning. If spectating, walk from a station served by a line other than Line 6 and allow extra time.
7. Paris Motor Show 2026
The Mondial de l’Auto returns as a week-long snapshot of the battle over electric, connected and affordable mobility.
Monday 12 October is reserved for press; the public dates are 13–18 October. Hours are 09:30–20:00 Tuesday to Thursday, 09:30–22:00 Friday, 09:00–22:00 Saturday and 09:00–18:30 Sunday. Last admission is one hour before closing on Friday and Saturday, and 17:30 on Sunday.
Plan it: Read our in-depth Paris Motor Show 2026 guide. Porte de Versailles is served by Metro 12 and Tram T3a; late Friday or early weekday hours usually give more breathing room.
Official information and tickets.
8. Centre Pompidou Francilien: Prélude!
A free first look at the Pompidou’s future Greater Paris presence during three programmed weekends.
The official schedule lists 17 October from 14:00 to 19:00, then 18, 24, 25 and 31 October plus 1 November from 10:00 to 19:00. Admission is free but reservation is required, with bookings scheduled to open on 5 October.
Plan it: Treat this as a half-day Greater Paris excursion and reserve as soon as slots open.
9. Paris Games Week
The 15th-anniversary Playground Edition adds evening shows at Dôme de Paris to the exhibition floor.
Public hours are 09:30–19:00 daily. The venue is Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in the 15th arrondissement. The organiser specifically warns that the T2 tram station Porte de Versailles is closed; use Metro 12, Metro 8 to Balard, Tram T3a to Balard or bus 80.
Plan it: Buy through the official site and screenshot or download your ticket before travel. Evening Dôme programming is separate from normal daytime planning.
10. Art Basel Paris
The Grand Palais becomes the centre of the global contemporary-art market for three public days.
Public hours are 11:00–19:00 from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October. The official dossier lists 211 exhibitors from 41 countries. Advertised ticket levels include €47 day admission, €30 reduced admission, €40 Friday-evening admission from 17:00 to 19:00, €120 Vernissage, €130 Permanent and €220 Permanent+. The Vernissage is Thursday 22 October from 14:00 to 20:00 with the relevant ticket or invitation.
Plan it: Book the first public morning for the calmest viewing, or Friday evening for a shorter lower-priced entry. The Grand Palais is at Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris.
Official information and tickets.
11. NFL Paris Game: Steelers vs Saints
France hosts its first regular-season NFL game, with Burna Boy announced for the halftime show.
The Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints at 14:30 CEST. Tickets are digital: the NFL says the downloadable ticket should appear in the purchaser’s Ticketmaster account no later than one week before the game; an order confirmation is not an admission ticket. Stade de France is not offering parking for this event.
Plan it: Use RER B to La Plaine–Stade de France, RER D to Stade de France–Saint-Denis or Metro 13 to Saint-Denis–Porte de Paris, then follow event-day signage. Recheck live service before leaving.
12. Salon du Chocolat
Chocolate, pastry, fashion and live demonstrations close the month at Porte de Versailles.
The public show runs daily from 10:00 to 19:00, with an opening night on 27 October from 19:00 to 22:00. The organiser advertises 250 stands, more than 100 hours of programming and an expected 96,000 participants. The venue is Pavilion 5, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Plan it: Security rules matter: suitcases and bags are not allowed. The €2 cloakroom accepts coats, jackets and helmets only. Arrive without luggage, especially if coming directly from a hotel or station.
If you can attend only three
- For Paris atmosphere: Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, especially the Grand Défilé weekend.
- For a true international headline: Art Basel Paris or the first NFL regular-season game in France.
- For families and broad appeal: the Paris Motor Show or Salon du Chocolat, depending on interests.
Where to stay and how to group the month
- West/centre cluster: Fashion Week, ParisLongchamp, Art Basel and several 20 km route landmarks favour the 1st, 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements, but prices will be high.
- Porte de Versailles cluster: the Motor Show, Paris Games Week and Salon du Chocolat share the same exhibition complex. The 15th arrondissement and southern Line 12 corridor reduce transfers.
- North/east cluster: Montmartre and La Villette suit stays near Lines 2, 5 or 12. Stade de France is outside central Paris; choose by rail access, not by road distance.
- Do not overbook: one exhibition plus one neighbourhood or evening experience per day is realistic. Art fairs and major trade shows can consume four to six hours before travel.
Watch: inside Art Basel at the Grand Palais
This official Art Basel film from the Grand Palais shows the scale and atmosphere of the venue. It is a visual primer, not the 2026 programme; use the verified dates and ticket details above for this year’s visit.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest Paris events in October 2026?
Paris Fashion Week, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Montmartre harvest festival, Paris Motor Show, Paris Games Week, Art Basel Paris, the NFL Paris Game and Salon du Chocolat are the month’s major international draws.
Which October Paris events are free?
Paris Pride and most street programming at the Montmartre harvest festival are free. Centre Pompidou Francilien’s Prélude! is free with a required reservation. Fashion Week livestreams are also free when provided on the official calendar.
Which event will cause the biggest transport disruption?
The 20 km de Paris on 11 October has the broadest central and western route impact, compounded by the scheduled all-day closure of Metro Line 6. Paris Pride also brings rolling road restrictions on 3 October.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes for Art Basel, the Motor Show, Paris Games Week, the NFL game and Salon du Chocolat. Reserve Pompidou’s Prélude! as soon as booking opens. The 20 km race itself is sold out, although spectators do not need a ticket.
What is the best single weekend?
23–25 October is the densest international weekend: Art Basel Paris, Paris Games Week and the NFL Paris Game overlap. It is also one of the hardest weekends for last-minute hotels and transport.
Which October event would take you to Paris?
Tell us in the comments, and share this guide with the person planning your Paris dates. We will update material timetable changes against official notices.
Need a private Paris itinerary around these dates?
Explore OUISTARS travel services for a tailored programme, transfers or private assistance. This service box is separate from our editorial selection and official-source verification.
Official sources and verification
Information checked on 30 September 2026 against organisers and official sources. Hours, availability and transport conditions can change; recheck the links before departure.
- Paris Fashion Week — official FHCM dates and calendar
- Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe — official tickets and timings
- Paris Pride — Paris je t’aime event notice and route
- Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre — official 93rd edition
- Salon de la Photo — official visitor FAQ
- 20 km de Paris — official event and practical information
- Mondial de l’Auto — official practical information
- Centre Pompidou Francilien — official Prélude! programme
- Paris Games Week — official visitor site
- Art Basel Paris — official 2026 press dossier
- NFL Paris Game — official Stade de France listing
- Salon du Chocolat — official dates, access and visitor rules
