What’s happening in France this week

Monday

Cars – The 91st Paris Motor Show, which runs to October 18th, opens. Due to appear at this one is the new version of the iconic Citroen 2CV.

Tuesday

Budget – MPs in France’s National Assembly start debating the government’s proposed budget for 2027. Expect extremely bitter debates, lots of attempts at deal-making and – at the end of it all in a couple of months – possibly the fall of another government. 

Protests – French unions have called for a second day of strikes and protests, to support the high school (lycée) students who have been protesting over a lack of resources. The lycée students have dubbed Tuesday ‘act V’, so expect more blockades at lycées and perhaps demos in the big cities, while some teachers and other public sector workers may also strike.

Football – Lens host Sporting Clube de Portugal in the second round of the Champions League pool phase.

Wednesday 

Football – Back-to-back Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Thursday

Taxes – This is the last day for Americans abroad who requested additional time to file their 2025 federal tax return. For anyone who also needs to file an FBAR, it’s due on the same date.

READ ALSO What Americans abroad need to know about the October 15th tax deadline

Friday 

Break-up – The Toussaint holidays for millions of pupils in French schools begin. Unlike the staggered holiday periods of February and Easter, at Toussaint all schools have the same holiday dates. Children will return to school on the morning of Monday, November 2nd.

Politics – The two-day second-round voting in the primary for a centre-left candidate in next year’s Presidential elections is scheduled to open if needed. The candidates in the first round were: Philippe Brun, Olivier Faure, Raphaël Glucksmann, Jérôme Guedj, Emmanuel Maurel, and Ségolène Royal. 

Sport – The opening weekend of rugby’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions kick off. Friday night’s matches see Champions Cup holders Bordeaux travel to Gloucester, while Dragons host Perpignan and Edinburgh host Toulon in the Challenge Cup.

Saturday

Exhibition – The nine-carat ‘Pink Diamond’, a historic piece of jewellery, will go on display to the public for the first time in more than a century at the Musée Condé at the Château de Chantilly. The exhibition will run to January 3rd, 2027.

Strike – French pilots and cabin crew have called a five-day nationwide strike, over planned changes to France’s rules on combining employment and retirement pensions. Expect travel disruption.

Gilets Jaunes – Calls are circulating in France for the ‘yellow vests’ to take to the streets and roundabouts, in a protest against the rising cost of living on October 17th. Local groups have called for protests in dozens of towns and cities including Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Toulouse, Montpellier and Grenoble.

Some unions have also joined the call, while some political parties like the hard left La France Insoumise are also backing calls to protest.