This year, the National Day celebrations are split into two parts. A change in the schedule: the fireworks display, traditionally held on July 14, has been moved up to Monday, July 13, as a tribute to the tenth anniversary of the Nice attack. As a result, the night of July 13 alone will featurea firefighters’ ball, a fireworks display, and electronic music parties, while Tuesday, July 14, will keep the party going. It’s enough to turn this impromptu long weekend into a festive one for Parisians looking for some bass.
If you had to pick just one date, it would be this one. On Monday, July 13— the day before the holiday—the Domaine National du Palais-Royal welcomes Peggy Gou for an outdoor DJ set presented by Nacre and Large Productions. The queen of international house music—best known for her track “(It Goes Like) Nanana”—will take over the royal gardens from 4 p.m. to midnight, with Allen Hulsey and Philou opening the show. More info on tickets here.
Chronologic x Virage
At Virage, the open-air club set up under the ring road in the 17th arrondissement, the Chronologic party kicks off on Monday, July 13, at 11:30 p.m. with a clever concept: a chronological musical journey, decade by decade, where Elvis Presley crosses paths with Michael Jackson and the Beatles rub shoulders with Beyoncé. The party kicks off at sunset and wraps up at dawn—a total of seven and a half hours of celebration. More info on tickets here.
Noizey Kids at Point Éphémère: a free and explosive night on July 13
To kick off the July 14 festivities the night before (since it’s a holiday), head to Point Éphémère: on July 13, Noizey Kids takes over for a free night that promises to be explosive. Starting at 11 p.m., the collective brings together a new generation of DJs, including +33Virgile b2b Vitesse, 0noema b2b Gouzou, Crazy Jeff, K-jackpot b2b Haal, and Sanpadre for a musical marathon where reggaeton, latincore, bass music, and techno blend seamlessly. A night of raw energy, perfect for celebrating the start of the long National Day weekend along the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin. More info and tickets here.
Dykes and Fags Contest: Firefighters’ Ball Edition
What if you swapped the traditional firefighters’ ball for a queer and wild version? On July 13, Point Éphémère hosts the “Dykes and Fags Contest: Bal des Pompier•e•s Edition, ” a festive counter-event that reinvents this classic National Day eve tradition. On the program: a contest featuring solo or duo performances, flamboyant outfits inspired by the world of firefighters or the “burn the fire” theme, and a colorful celebration of LGBTQIA+ identities. Once the spotlight on the contest fades, it’s time for an after-party with DJ sets until 3 a.m. More info and tickets here.
La Clairière, the open-air festival in the Bois de Boulogne
Rare enough to be worth noting: La Clairière, the pop-up club nestled in the heart of the Domaine de Longchamp, is breaking from its usual Friday-Saturday schedule to open especially on Monday, July 13. On the lineup for this exceptional evening, surrounded by the trees of the Bois de Boulogne: Disco Lines, Alastair Lane, and Vadanella, for a house and dance vibe that’ll last until the wee hours of the morning.
Chaos at Kilomètre25
That same evening, head to Kilomètre25, the open-air venue set up under the ring road between Paris and Pantin, for Khaos, featuring Stephanie Sykes, Takaaki Itoh, Eastel, and Max Durante. A cutting-edge lineup, designed for fans of hypnotic techno, at this hybrid venue that has become a staple of Parisian nightlife.
Sauti at Badaboum
On July 13, the eve of the holiday, Sauti takes the Badaboum by storm for a night to remember. For this edition, the club in the 11th arrondissement welcomes QUE DJ, a key figure in the South African electronic scene, for his very first show in Paris and a masterclass in Gqom as only he knows how. Joining him to kick off this musical journey: Clumsy B, Tattie Maggie, Heezy, and Tribal Evans.
FVTVR, Transgenik XXL
Beneath the Cité de la Mode et du Design, the FVTVR is hosting its Transgenik XXL party on Monday, July 13, starting at 10 p.m., featuring a mix oftrance, acid, and fast techno, in the inclusive spirit characteristic of this Berlin-inspired club.
The Garden Party at the ParisLongchamp Racetrack
On Tuesday, July 14—a national holiday—head to the Bois de Boulogne racetrack for La Garden Party, organized in conjunction with the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris. From 3:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., the horse races will gradually give way to a series of DJ sets led by Dutch artist Bakermat, joined by Paloma, Sam Karlson, and TIGARAH. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Bastille Day in style, between the lawn, the paddock, and the open-air dance floor.
Basses Fréquences at Hasard Ludique
On the Petite Ceinture in the 18th arrondissement, Le Hasard Ludique is hosting an open-air event organized by Basses Fréquences on Tuesday, July 14, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., headlined by Blasha & Allatt, with a DJ set by Flore Benguigui and a back-to-back set by 42L & Bøskow.
Cité Fertile: Fluid Nationale
On Tuesday, July 14, starting at 2 p.m., the Cité Fertile in Pantin kicks off Fluid Nationale, featuring techno, trance, and hard trance, for a day that starts in the middle of the afternoon and continues into the evening.
88 Ménilmontant at La Bellevilloise
For a decidedly family-friendly option, La Bellevilloise’s 88 Ménilmontant is hosting a free event on Tuesday, July 14, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring creative workshops, games, and live music (Da Iguana, Dittimusic), followed bya closingDJ set by Kristofo and Frederika.
Firefighters’ balls and fireworks
It’s impossible to talk about July 14 in Paris without mentioning its must-see free events. On Monday, July 13, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., more than thirty Parisian fire stations open their doors for the traditional firefighters’ balls, from the Sévigné station in the Marais to the one in Montmartre. Admission is free, the atmosphere is friendly, and there’s a donation barrel at the entrance. That same evening, fireworks will light up the sky from the Eiffel Tower over the Champ-de-Mars starting at 11 p.m., preceded by a free symphonic concert by the Orchestre National de France, the Radio France Choir, and the Radio France Children’s Choir.
