The Fête de la Musique, France’s annual music festival held on the summer solstice, is playing out under a heatwave that has pushed temperatures to 39‑40 °C across the Paris region and into Burgundy. In response, the government has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol at certain state‑organised events to safeguard public health and emergency services.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office issued a notice to all agencies organising the celebrations: “For all events organised by the state and its agencies, instructions have been given not to offer alcohol.” The ban follows a red‑alert heatwave warning covering roughly one‑third of the country.
Forecasts predict a peak of 41 °C in some areas on Sunday, with temperatures expected to top out on Monday, potentially matching historic highs. The heatwave has already forced the cancellation of trains, the suspension of classes and the halting of many outdoor activities across France.
Authorities emphasise that limiting alcohol consumption is a measure to enable medical staff to concentrate on the most vulnerable residents and visitors. In realising this, parks and gardens in Paris remain open nightly to provide cooler respite for crowds.
The Fête de la Musique, celebrated for over 40 years, traditionally draws around two million participants in the city each year. Last year, the festival saw about 2 million people gathering on the streets for free performances and late‑night celebrations.
