What’s On May 2025
May is a great month to visit the French Riviera! There’s a LOT going on. Pay attention to the dates of the two main events: the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. Hotel space is at a premium, public transport is crowded getting to and from the events and road traffic is intense. It is exciting though! Read on.
Nice
May Festival
Jardins de Cimiez May 1- to 25
The month of May in Nice is synonymous with tradition, music, dance and conviviality thanks to the Fête de Mai, an emblematic event which takes place in the gardens of the Arènes de Cimiez every weekend of the month.
May 1
The festivities begin at 11am with a folk dancing performance followed by bands and more dancing. The May Queen will be elected at 2:30pm followed by more dancing. There will also be games, stalls of traditional Nice products and plenty of food stalls.
Note that May I is a national holiday in France which means that there’s no public transportation whatsoever.
Every Sunday throughout May , entertainment takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on two stages: the main stage of the Olive Grove and a small stage dedicated to children’s shows. In the gardens, workshops, traditional wooden games, face painting and culinary stands will punctuate the days.
Highlights include:
Folk dances with La Ciamada Nissarda, Nice la Belle and Lou Caireu Niçart.
Musette balls hosted by local orchestras such as the Thierry Noll Trio Orchestra, Les Mômes de la Baie or Guinguette Chic.
Popular balètis for dancing to the sounds of traditional music.
Children’s shows : puppets, ventriloquists, stories and theater.
Varied concerts ranging from folk to Nice repertoire.
Around the festival: evening events and special events
Alongside the festivities at the Arena, several “ Lu Mai de Nuèch ” evenings will liven up the districts of Nice from May 2 to 24 : Place Saint-François, Lentulo, Saint-Roch, Gare du Sud, Francis Laï, Gairaut, and Jardin Vérola will host balls, folk music and refreshment bars to extend the party under the stars.
Children are not forgotten with the Pichouns May Festival on May 20 and 27 , where more than 1,000 Nice students will dance around the traditional greasy pole.
New in 2025: gourmet stroll and cultural discoveries
This year, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Cuisine Nissarde label , a free gourmet event based around pan bagnat will be offered on May 4th, starting from the Arènes de Cimiez.
The Matisse Museum is also joining in the Festival by opening its doors free of charge to residents of Nice and the Metropolitan area on Sundays 11, 18 and 25 May , with fun activities on the forecourt.
A pillar of Nice culture, the folklore troupe La Ciamada Nissarda is celebrating its centenary this year. Numerous events will mark 2025, including a regional folklore day on May 24 at the Arènes , a major anniversary show in October, conferences and an exhibition at the Masséna Museum.
Matisse Méditerranée
Matisse Museum May 7 -September 25
The UN Conference on the Oceans will be held in Nice June 9 -13. It’s a prestigious event and Nice will be honoring our marine heritage throughout the summer. The Mediterranean held a constant fascination for Matisse, from his first visit to Corsica in 1898 to his continued visits to Nice between 1917 and 1954. This special Matisse Méditerranée exhibition seeks to reconsider Matisse’s work through the prism of the Mediterranean and the emblematic places associated with it. Through a variety of works, including several paintings never before exhibited in Nice, it traces the connections, rituals, and idioms associated with this area of ??civilization and the relationship that Matisse maintained with it. The exhibition will bring together works from exceptional loans, rarely shown in France (MOMA – United States, St Louis Museum of Arts – United States and Musée National d’Art Moderne – Paris). See more about the Matisse Museum.
A good time to visit would be on
European Museum Nights
National Museums throughout the Region May 17
On this day and into the evening, admission to many national museums is free. (The Matisse Museum is a national museum but the Chagall Museum is not.) There’s also a program of special events in the museums. Check out the program here.
Fete de Voeu
Place de Saint François/Eglise de Voeu May 25
The Fete de Voeu is a procession and ceremony to honor the “vow of Nice”. In 1832 as a cholera epidemic threatened to engulf the city (again), the administration vowed that if the city was spared, they would build a church to honor the Madonna and hold a procession each year. The church they built was the Notre Dame des Graces (or Eglise Saint Jean Baptiste-Le Voeu), commonly known as the Eglise de Voeu. In a bow to tradition this annual festival is regularly hosted by Mayor Christian Estrosi. Here’s the schedule this year:
- 9 a.m.: Public reception at Place Saint-François
- 9:10 a.m.: Music of the Municipal Guard
- 9:45 a.m.: Renewal of the Vow by Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, on Place Saint-François
- 10:15 a.m.: Procession to the Voeu church
- 10:30 a.m.: Mass in the Voeu church, presided over by Monsignor Jean-Philippe Nault, Bishop of Nice
- 11:45 a.m.: Friendship drink and folk entertainment by La Ciamada Nissarda
See more on the fete de voeu and other Nice festivals.
Choir Concert at Valrose
University of Nice at Valrose May 23 8pm
The Chateau and Park of Valrose is a historic monument that’s rarely open to the public. Built between 1867 and 1870 by a wealthy advisor to Tsar Alexander II the Gothic castle was a center for the artistic life of Cimiez in the latter half of the 19th century. The free choir concert may or may not be memorable but it’s worth attending for a glimpse inside the Chateau, now occupied by the University of Nice.
VE Day
Monuments aux Morts May 8 8:45am
The Allied victory over the Axis powers is a national holiday which is commemorated with ceremonies throughout the region. In Nice the military ceremony is held at the Monument aux Morts on the quai des Etats-Unis. This solemn event will be attended by Mayor Christian Estrosi and other luminaries.
Vineyard Visits
Chateau Cremat May 16, 17
This is a fun day out for the whole family. Chateau Cremat is one of Nice’s most celebrated vineyards and on this weekend there will be guided visits of the Chateau and cellars plus music, local products, food trucks and of course wine tastings.
Rainbow Festival
May 10-17
Celebrating the LGBT community, the festival kicks off in the Jardin Albert Ier with the installation of a Rainbow Village featuring stands, fun and family activities, workshops, a “drag picnic” , round tables and more. The festival comes to a close with a march for inclusivity and tolerance. Full schedule here.
Carmen
Nice Opera May 28 8pm
Bizet’s mega-popular classic will be presented with the Romanian mezzo-soprano Ramona Zaharia in the title role. Should be a hit. Reservations here. Remember that at the Nice Opera, half-price tickets (if there are any) go on sale at the box office an hour before the show.
Chamber Music
Marc Chagall National Museum May 12, 7:00 PM
Experience an enchanting evening of chamber music in the mysterious ambiance of the Chagall Museum at night. This concert features works by Chaminade, Ravel, Xenakis and Fauré. Tickets for the one-hour concert are €12 Reserve here.
Nass El Ghiwane
Casino Palais de la Méditerranée May 24 8pm
The legendary Moroccan band from the 70s, often compared to the Rolling Stones of Africa, returns to the stage for an unprecedented European tour. This concert in Nice is a rare opportunity to experience their music live, with committed and poetic lyrics that resonate across generations. Their powerful and nostalgic rhythms captivate a diverse and passionate audience. Reservations here
Villefranche-sur-Mer
May Festival
Place Félix Poullan May 24 6pm
Songs will be sung and local dances will be danced and then everyone feasts on a free Pan Bagnat, France’s best sandwich (in my opinion). Entrance is free but for the sandwich you must reserve before May 17 at 06 22 61 03 30.
Monaco
Shostakovich Concert
Auditorium Rainier III May 4 8pm
Classical fans won’t want to miss this concert of works by the Russian composer featuring star pianist Martha Argerich and trumpetist Sergei Nakariakov. Reserve here
Formula I Grand Prix of Monaco
Monte Carlo May 22-25
Racing fans need no introduction to the premier racing event of the year. Tickets are pricey but did you know that on the Thursday before the event there are the trials and you can get a seat for a mere €30? More info here. Click here to reserve for the main event.
Monaco Historic Grand Prix
Monte Carlo May 16-18
The Historic Grand Prix race uses the same circuit as the Formula I but with classic vintage race cars. Friday is free! More info here.
Cannes
Cannes Film Festival
May 13-24
The legendary festival totally dominates the streets of Cannes for 10 days. Remember that it’s an industry festival with extremely tight security. For almost all screenings a badge is necessary. It’s even necessary to access the main hotels! But there are ancillary events that are open to the public and with some luck and fashion sense it may be possible to get in to see a screening. The atmosphere throughout the town is electric and stars do mount the red carpet in full view of spectators. More info on the Cannes Film Festival including tips for getting in on the fun.