You can always trust
Paris to start the new year with a bang! The French capital had quite the year this past 2024, especially with the Paris 2024 Olympics, so naturally, everyone's excited about what 2025 has in store. And of course, Paris already has a lot in store for January 2025 alone! Take advantage of the winter sales, for example, which will begin on January 8th. This is one of your best chances to get the chicest designer pieces at lower prices! Saint-Jacques Scallop Festival in Montmartre is another highly anticipated event. Indulge in the freshest and most delicious seafood in the most famous food capital in the world.
New Year's Day (January 1)
Paris is arguably the best place to spend New Year's Eve
and New Year's Day. For the former, it's no secret that the French capital puts on the most exciting parties to welcome the new year. You've likely seen it on TV too! As for the latter, the city stays vibrant even after such a loud and lively night. People are putting their best clothes on, going out to eat, visiting famous landmarks, and more to spend the first day of the year right. What's also great is that there are many places that still offer holiday deals and discounts.
Galette des Rios (January 6)
On Epiphany Day every January 6, the French eat
Galette des Rios (King's Cake), which is a holiday in and of itself. This traditional crumbly cake is served as a game wherein a small bauble is baked into the cake. The whole family gathers around the table and is each given a slice. Whoever ends up with the slice with the bauble gets to be 'king' for a day and everyone else has to listen to them. Sounds fun, doesn't it? And tasty too since Galette des Rios is truly delicious!
Winter Designer Sales (Begins on January 8)
If you think the holiday sales end with the holidays, think again! While the rest of the world ends their sales after New Year's Eve, Paris puts on new ones for the season. January 8, 2025, marks the beginning of the city's winter designer sales. All the leftover pieces from the brands' autumn-winter collections are sold at discounted prices, much lower to the point that you might just be able to afford them. Hence, once this day comes, go straight to the nearest shops or the most famous
department stores in Paris!
District 13 International Art Fair (January 10 to 12)
It's Paris so you know that there's going to be an art festival somewhere! This time around, in January 2025, it's the District 13 International Art Fair. From January 10 to 12, 2025, various international art galleries will exhibit works at the prestigious Hotel Drouot in the
9th arrondissement. The event will feature pieces by the likes of Olivia Ferrand, Brusk, Invader, Maye, and more. It's a great place to look at new artworks crafted by some of the biggest names in the industry today. You should also look out for works by up-and-coming artists.
Coquille Saint-Jacques Festival (January 25 to 26)
Craving some scallops? Then go to Coquille Saint-Jacques Festival in
Montmartre from January 25 to 26, 2025. This pop-up festival at Place des Abbesses will feature free tastings of the Brittany fresh scallops, oysters, and other seafood. The region is known for its seafood, many of which are served in some of the most famous and exclusive restaurants in Paris. Hence, this is one of your only chances to get a taste of what the elites eat for free! The festival will also serve crepes, charcuterie boards, and more so this is a foodie event for the ages!
Paris Haute Couture Week (January 27 to 30)
Another January another
Paris Fashion Week. For the most fashionable Parisians, the month of January is all about Haute Couture Week! This bi-annual event has the grandest and most popular French fashion houses putting on their latest haute couture shows for the upcoming spring & summer season. These collections are the pinnacle of exclusive fashion, featuring designs that only the rich and famous could afford. Chanel, Christian Dior, Valentino, and more will present clothes that are red-carpet-worthy and will likely end up on the backs of Hollywood A-listers. What's not to love?
Chinese New Year (January 29)
One of the best parts about spending January 2025 in Paris will be welcoming the new year twice. There's already the global New Year's Day at the beginning of the year, but there will also be the Chinese New Year on January 29th. Since the city has a massive Asian community, this holiday tends to be as big as the former, and arguably even more colorful. Head over to
Quartier Asiatique and get lost in all the festivities, including the dragon dances, the exchange of money-filled red packets (
hongba in Mandarin/
ang pow in Hokkien), and more.
You can expect a lot of fun and exciting events in Paris to start the year right! From food festivals and seasonal designer sales to two types of New Year's celebrations, the French capital is the place to be this January 2025.
