From emerging photography at the CENTQUATRE to the thousand-year-old Foire du Trône, plus the Bread Festival outside Notre-Dame and Nigerian cinema in Saint-Germain: four Paris outings to slot into the long weekend.
The 8 May 2026 long weekend lines up nicely in Paris. Friday is a public holiday. Why stay in town? The capital activates 4 very different events at the same time.
Contemporary photography, African cinema, popular gastronomy in front of Notre-Dame, a huge funfair in the Bois de Vincennes. Plenty for 3 full days without repeating. Here is a tour, from north-east Paris to the Latin Quarter.
Circulation(s) — emerging European photography at the CENTQUATRE
The Circulation(s) festival is in its final month. And it stays free. Launched in 2011 by the Fetart collective, it is Europe's first event dedicated to emerging photography.
The 2026 edition runs until 17 May at the CENTQUATRE-PARIS, in the 19th arrondissement. This year, 26 artists from 15 countries display their series across 2,000 square metres. Ireland is the guest country. The artistic direction has been partly renewed.
What's the angle? No imposed theme: Circulation(s) plays the diversity of viewpoints. The format works for a solo visit or a family outing, with workshops and guided tours on selected days. See the festival page.
Foire du Trône — a thousand years of fairground rides on the Pelouse de Reuilly
Head to the Bois de Vincennes for a Paris classic that even Parisians often forget: the Foire du Trône. It is the oldest travelling funfair in France. It descends from the Foire aux Pains d'Épices founded in 957.
It sets up every spring on the Pelouse de Reuilly, in the 12th arrondissement. The 2026 edition runs until 25 May. More than 250 rides and stands cover several hectares. Ferris wheel, thrill rides, family attractions, fairground games, candy floss and toffee apple stalls follow one another.
What time to go? Daily opening from noon. Late nights until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Free site access. Rides priced individually.
Who is it for? Kids, teens and anyone who enjoys popular crowd atmospheres. See the festival page.
Nollywood Week Film Festival — 5 days of Nigerian cinema in Saint-Germain
The Nollywood Week Film Festival falls right across the long weekend. From 6 to 10 May 2026, the Cinéma l'Arlequin, in the 6th arrondissement, hosts Europe's leading showcase of Nigerian cinema.
Founded in 2013 by Nadira Shakur and Serge Noukoué, the festival lines up features, shorts, series and animation. All come from Nollywood, the world's 2nd-largest film industry by volume, ahead of Hollywood.
Beyond the screenings, the programme includes masterclasses, Q&A sessions with the directors and several cultural events. A great way into a cinema rarely shown in ordinary Paris venues. Useful indoor option if the weather turns cool.
How much does it cost? Standard cinema prices. Festival pass also available. See the festival page.
Fête du Pain — the pop-up bakery at Notre-Dame's parvis
The Fête du Pain kicks off exactly on 8 May. Its most iconic stage sits on the parvis of Notre-Dame Cathedral, in the 4th arrondissement. Created in 1996, this national event celebrates the craft of French bakers and pastry chefs.
For 10 days, the Paris edition installs a 500-square-metre pop-up bakery at the foot of the cathedral.
What to see? Live kneading and baking demonstrations. Hands-on workshops for kids. Free tastings. Presentations of flours by the millers of Île-de-France. Artistic creations in bread dough by apprentices.
Perfect for pairing a stroll through the historic centre with a quick snack. See the festival page.
The mood of the long weekend
3 days, 4 very different picks: an emerging-art exhibition, an international film festival, a huge funfair and a food showcase in front of a national monument.
What to take away? Mixing indoor venues (CENTQUATRE, l'Arlequin) and outdoor settings (Reuilly, Notre-Dame parvis) lets you adjust the plan at the last minute. Handy if the early-May Paris weather plays tricks.
For more Île-de-France events, take a look at all the festivals in Paris.
