Things to do in Paris in October: weather, events and outings

Paris weather in October: cool air, rain and fading light

According to Météo-France's 1991-2020 normals for the Paris-Montsouris station, October has an average high of 16.5°C and an average low of 9.9°C, for a monthly average of 13.2°C. The drop is sharp compared with September (average high of 21.5°C), and November falls further still, to 11.1°C.

The first half of the month often still brings mild afternoons; the second half is greyer and damper. Save museums for rainy late afternoons.

Clocks go back on Sunday 25 October

In 2026, the switch to winter time takes place overnight from Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October: at 3am, it will become 2am. Evening light retreats all at once: the sun sets at about 7.30pm on 1 October, about 6.45pm on the 24th, then about 5.45pm from the 25th. For a sunset viewpoint, bring your plans forward by an hour from that Sunday.

Crowds, prices and the Toussaint holidays

October remains a busy month. In 2026, three periods push up accommodation prices:

• Until Tuesday 6 October: women's Fashion Week spring-summer 2027, which began on 28 September, fills hotels in the central and western neighbourhoods.
• 13 to 18 October: the Mondial de l'Auto (Paris Motor Show) at Porte de Versailles, which weighs on the 15th arrondissement and neighbouring towns.
• 21 to 25 October: Art Basel Paris week, with an international clientele that books well in advance around the Grand Palais and the Marais.

The Toussaint (All Saints') school holidays begin on Saturday 17 October 2026 after classes and end on the morning of Monday 2 November, on the same dates for zones A, B and C. Paris (zone C) then welcomes French families, with longer queues at child-friendly sites. Our ideas for activities during this period are gathered in our guide to the Toussaint holidays in Paris with the family. To choose accommodation to suit your budget and neighbourhood, see our guide to Paris hotels by budget.

Public holidays and closures

There are no public holidays in October 2026. All Saints' Day, 1 November, falls on a Sunday this year and so does not create a long weekend. Museums and shops keep their usual hours (closed on Mondays at Orsay, on Tuesdays at the Louvre).

Sunday 4 October is the first Sunday of the month: the Musée d'Orsay is free that day, with a booked time slot. The Centre Pompidou, closed for renovation since September 2025, presents its exhibitions at other venues, including the Grand Palais.

Events in October 2026

Marche des Fiertés: Saturday 3 October

Originally scheduled for 27 June 2026, the Paris LGBTQIA+ Marche des Fiertés (Pride March) was postponed because of the heatwave. It takes place on Saturday 3 October, setting off at 1.30pm from place d'Italie. The procession follows avenue des Gobelins, rue Monge, boulevard Saint-Germain, pont de Sully and boulevard Henri-IV to place de la Bastille, where the day continues into the evening. Expect temporary closures of metro stations along the route. Practical tips in our article on the Pride March in Paris.

Nuit Blanche: no longer in October

Long held on the first Saturday of October, Nuit Blanche (the all-night arts festival) now takes place in early June: the 2026 edition was held on 6 June, so there is none in October. See our Nuit Blanche guide.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: 3 and 4 October

The most prestigious horse race in the French calendar is run on Sunday 4 October 2026 at 4.05pm at the ParisLongchamp racecourse, in the bois de Boulogne, at the end of a weekend of racing that begins on Saturday 3. Tickets are sold by France Galop from €15, and entry is free for under-12s. Free shuttles leave from Porte Maillot (line 1) and Porte d'Auteuil (line 10) from 10.30am on Sunday, every 15 minutes.

Fête des vendanges de Montmartre: 7 to 11 October

The 93rd Fête des vendanges de Montmartre (Montmartre grape harvest festival) runs from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 October 2026, on the theme « Le 18e donne le rythme » (the 18th sets the rhythm), devoted to music. It celebrates the harvest of the Clos Montmartre, the vineyard on rue des Saules, with concerts, street performances, regional produce stalls and tastings. Entry is free; at the weekend, come early, as the streets around the Sacré-Cœur are packed in the afternoon. To discover the rest of the hill, follow our complete guide to Montmartre.

Mondial de l'Auto: 13 to 18 October

The motor show returns to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (1 place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris), in halls 4, 5, 6 and 7. After a press day on the 12th, the public is admitted from Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 October, from 9.30am, with late openings until 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Online tickets: €20 on weekdays, €22 at the weekend, €13 for ages 7-17 and students. Metro Porte de Versailles (line 12), trams T2 and T3b.

Art Basel Paris: 23 to 25 October

The modern and contemporary art fair takes over the nave of the Grand Palais with 211 galleries from 41 countries. After two days reserved for professionals, it opens to the public from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, 11am to 7pm. A day ticket costs €47, €30 reduced (students, under-26s), free for accompanied children up to 12. Satellite fairs and the public programme are in our guide to Art Basel Paris.

Salon du chocolat: 28 October to 1 November

The Salon du chocolat et de la pâtisserie (chocolate and pastry show) sets up in hall 5 of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, 10am to 7pm. Full adult price: €16 on weekdays and €20 at the weekend, €8 and €10 for children, free for under-6s; online advance tickets are cheaper. The weekend falls in the middle of the Toussaint holidays: choose a weekday if you can. Programme and practical tips in our guide to the Salon du chocolat.

Halloween: Saturday 31 October

Halloween falls on a Saturday, in the middle of the holidays. In Paris itself, the celebration remains low-key; the region's theme parks, on the other hand, make it a highlight: Disneyland Paris's Disney Halloween Festival runs from 26 September to 1 November, and Peur sur le Parc, at Parc Astérix, from 3 October to 8 November, with late openings until 1am on some evenings, including 31 October. Details and tips in our guide to Halloween in Paris.

Autumn colours in the parks

The leaves turn yellow from mid-October and generally stay colourful until early November, depending on the weather and the first gusts of wind. For a dry day:

• The jardin du Luxembourg (6th): horse chestnuts, plane trees and the Medici Fountain.
• Parc Monceau (8th): an English-style garden, follies and tall trees around the naumachia pool.
• The parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19th): wooded slopes and the view from the belvedere.
• The bois de Vincennes (12th): a circuit of the lac Daumesnil, for a longer walk.

Parks close earlier as the month goes on, according to sunset time: check the hours posted at the entrance.

Exhibitions to see in October 2026

Most of the major autumn exhibitions open in October. Book a time slot online, especially during the school holidays.

• Cezanne et nous (Cezanne and Us), at the Grand Palais, from 23 September 2026 to 17 January 2027: Cézanne and the artists who claimed him as an influence. Late opening on Fridays until 10pm; ticket €20.50.
• Mary Cassatt, l'indépendante (Mary Cassatt, the Independent), at the Musée d'Orsay, from 6 October 2026 to 31 January 2027: nearly 80 works by the American Impressionist painter. Ticket €16, free for under-18s.
• Zurbarán (1598-1664), at the Louvre, Hall Napoléon, from 7 October 2026 to 25 January 2027: the first major retrospective of the Spanish painter since 1988.
• Gustave Fayet, collectionneur-créateur (Gustave Fayet, Collector and Creator), at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, from 9 October 2026 to 8 March 2027: the collection of this early admirer of Gauguin, Van Gogh and Redon.

For other museums and shorter exhibitions, see our selection of current exhibitions in Paris, updated as announcements come in.

What to pack for October

• A waterproof jacket or trench coat: expect around ten days of rain, often as showers.
• A jumper or light jacket for layering: the gap between mild afternoons and 10°C evenings is marked.
• Comfortable, closed shoes that can cope with wet cobblestones and slippery leaves.
• A compact umbrella, easy to stow for the security checks at museum entrances.
• A light scarf for the evenings, which are cooler after 25 October.

October 2026 in Paris at a glance

Prices checked in September 2026. Dates shown are those published by the organisers at that time.

Further reading

To compare October with the other seasons, read our guide to the best time to visit Paris. On rainy days, of which there are plenty at the end of the month, find indoor ideas in Paris on a rainy day. And to spot the events of the months ahead, see our Paris festival calendar.