SeasonMapWhat's on in Nantes, France through the year
Nantes, France has 5 curated events through the year — 4 festivals and 1 season. The ones to plan around: La Folle Journee (January) and Le Voyage a Nantes (July). November to December are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Nantes events and crowds by month
January in Nantes
Nantes weather in January →Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, Le Voyage en hiver
- Festival
La Folle Journee
25 Jan – 2 Feb · usuallyMajor festivalBook earlyFive days of short classical concerts stacked from morning to midnight in the Cite des Congres, cheap and deliberately unstuffy. It is the one reason to be here in January and the halls sell out. Source ↗
Still on: Le Voyage en hiver (28 Nov – 3 Jan (usually))
February in Nantes
Nantes weather in February →Busy — Winter (February) holidays in France, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: La Folle Journee (25 Jan – 2 Feb (usually))
March in Nantes
Nantes weather in March →Busy — Winter (February) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in March.
April in Nantes
Nantes weather in April →Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in April.
May in Nantes
Nantes weather in May →Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in May.
June in Nantes
Nantes weather in June →Busy — Hellfest weekend, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it
- Festival
Hellfest weekend
17–22 Jun · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyThe metal festival is at Clisson, forty minutes south, but the rooms it fills are in Nantes and the trains out are standing room. Book anywhere in the city early for the third weekend of June. Source ↗
July in Nantes
Nantes weather in July →Busy — Summer holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it
- Festival
Le Voyage a Nantes
4 Jul – 6 SepSummer season opensA green line painted on the pavement links a couple of dozen commissioned works across the city for the summer, most of them free and outdoors. The art changes every year; the line does not. Source ↗
August in Nantes
Nantes weather in August →Busy — Summer holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Le Voyage a Nantes (4 Jul – 6 Sep)
September in Nantes
Nantes weather in September →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
- Season
Muscadet harvest
1 Sep – 10 Oct · usuallyThe vineyards start where the tram ends, and picking runs through September in the villages around Clisson and Vallet. Growers pour in the cellar rather than the tasting room while it lasts.
Still on: Le Voyage a Nantes (4 Jul – 6 Sep)
October in Nantes
Nantes weather in October →Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in October.
Still on: Muscadet harvest (1 Sep – 10 Oct (usually))
November in Nantes
Nantes weather in November →Peak crowds — Le Voyage en hiver, All Saints (autumn) holidays in France
- Festival
Le Voyage en hiver
28 Nov – 3 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedThe summer art trail gets a winter version: light works through the centre, a market on the Place Royale and the machines on the island running in the dark. The wet cold here is the real one. Source ↗
December in Nantes
Nantes weather in December →Peak crowds — Le Voyage en hiver, Christmas holidays in France
Nothing new starts in December.
Still on: Le Voyage en hiver (28 Nov – 3 Jan (usually))