Fête de la Musique
21 June
A nationwide event taking place in Marseille – as elsewhere – on 21 June each year, the Fête de la Musique sees a number of free concerts take place across the city. Timed to coincide with the summer solstice, it’s a great chance to enjoy open-air music.
Festival de Marseille
June-July
Throwing a spotlight onto the city’s cross-cultural roots, this festival gives a platform to various art forms, most notably dance and cinema. As well as a full roster of live performances, the event also incorporates workshops and meetings with the artists.
FIDMarseille
July
Marseille’s international film festival has been running for close to a quarter of a century, showcasing quality cinematic works from home and overseas. It takes place in various screening locations, all of them clustered around the city’s historic core.
Mondial la Marseillaise
July
The none-more-French sport of pétanque (otherwise known as boules) finds a focal point in Marseille each summer, when some 13,000 participants converge on the city for a mass international tournament. It’s free to watch and gathers large crowds.
Fiesta des Suds
October
A celebration of art and live music taking place each October, Fiesta des Suds draws on a mixture of local and international artists and performers. Genres range from reggae to electronica, and there’s also a separate programme with entertainment for children.