04/10/2026
Bread. The French have laws about it. Merveilleux!
Every May, the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral fills up with bakers, bread, and the smell of fresh dough.
This year's edition runs from May 8 to May 17, 2026, and it is a big one: the Fête du Pain, France's annual bread festival, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
For ten days, a pop-up bakery covering more than 5,000 square feet takes over the parvis Notre-Dame, which is the large open square right in front of the cathedral.
About a hundred Parisian bakers, apprentices and retired professionals set up a working bakery and invite the public to watch every step of the process, from mixing the dough to pulling loaves from the oven. Entry is free, and so are the tastings.
The last three days of the event, May 15, 16 and 17, are set aside for something more unusual. Bakers who hold the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France, the highest craftsman award in the country, will create elaborate bread sculptures live on stage. The competition for France's best traditional baguette also takes place during the festival.
If you are visiting Paris in May, this is worth planning around.
