Top 5 Best Events in Lyon

They never miss an opportunity to gather in the streets, to rediscover the Capital of Gaul and marvel at monuments they already know by heart. An event in Lyon is a new opportunity to wander through its narrow alleys, while basking in a cheerful and dynamic atmosphere. So much so that the party could well last longer than expected...

Yes indeed, the night doesn't stop the Lyonnais, on the contrary, it invigorates them! Darkness is often an invitation for new musical, dancing and cultural events.

Naturally, good typical cuisine is omnipresent. By participating in these emblematic moments, you'll learn to dream and celebrate like the Lyonnais.

First choose your poison: a religious highlight, a cultural breath of fresh air and dancing fever... It's up to you!

Our selection of recurring events

If you want to attend an emblematic Lyon event and the cold doesn't scare you, opt for the Festival of Lights. Getting a little bigger year after year, the Festival of Lights is a sound and light show on a city-wide scale. You'll witness unique projections on Lyon's buildings! The event also transforms the Presqu'île into a street food laboratory. You'll see, it's fantastic!

1. Les Nuits de Fourvière

Date or period: In June and July

Access: Paid € / €€

Description: The impressive ancient theater of Fourvière has hosted the Nuits de Fourvière festival since 1946. A multidisciplinary outdoor event that attracts over 130,000 spectators each year. Under the impetus of a bold programming, come discover colorful universes! From theater to circus, including dance and comedy shows... You won't know where to turn. It's precisely the high quality of the performances that gives the Nuits de Fourvière their international reach.

Good to know: The ancient theater of Fourvière is located on the heights of Lyon. For this reason, everything has been designed to make it accessible to all, particularly to people with reduced mobility. Contact the festival reception on all show days to optimize your care.

2. Festival of Lights

Date or period: From December 8th

Access: Free

Description: Lyon's emblematic highlight par excellence! Each year, from December 8th, the city displays its most beautiful colors and plunges the Lyonnais into a universe filled with History and magic. Originally, the Festival of Lights is a tribute to the Virgin Mary, who spared the city from the plague in 1643. Every year since, the Lyonnais show their gratitude by placing hundreds of candles at their windows. A route punctuated with exceptional light installations is also to be discovered throughout Lyon! Wonderful decorations that today attract travelers from around the world.

Good to know: In Lyon, you can't party without stimulating your taste buds. During the Festival of Lights, everyone is free to improvise a street-food stand. Certainly, the usual associations or restaurants, as well as cheerful groups of students, will keep stomachs warm until the end of the night.

3. Festival Lumière

Date or period: In October (9 days).

Access: Paid / €

Description: Festival Lumière is an internationally acclaimed film festival organized by the Institut Lumière since 2009. Retrospectives, screenings, meetings with cinema icons and exhibitions in several locations throughout the city, the festival program is extremely dense and varied! But why in Lyon? Well, because this is where the Lumière brothers shot the very first film in cinema history in 1895. The short film immortalizes in images the workers leaving their photographic plate factory!

4. Les Nuits Sonores

Date or period: End of May (5 days).

Access: Paid / €€

Description: In spring, vibrate in Lyon during Les Nuits Sonores! For 20 years, this electronic music festival has been the unmissable event for fans from all over France. The opportunity is too good for Lyonnais music lovers - renowned for being great funk music enthusiasts. Several months in advance, the anticipation for the programming is felt! Particularly among the impatient student youth. For a day or for the entire festival, it's up to you to choose. What's certain is that there will be electricity in the air for Les Nuits Sonores.

5. Tout l'monde dehors

Date or period: In June and July

Access: Free

Description: Everyone out to share culture! This summer gathering takes place every year in Lyon's 9th arrondissement. Culture with a capital "C" is celebrated and many performances are offered to the delighted public. Attend outdoor film screenings, dance and music in the streets or even a theater play. Tout l'monde dehors is also an opportunity to discover talented and passionate made in Lyon artists.

Good to know: Come on kids, everyone out! Beautiful stories will be told to the youngest during the event. "Young audience" shows will be given and fun activities proposed to introduce children to the vast world of culture. It's an unmissable event for families.