It’s that time of year again when New Yorkers swap their Knicks hats for berets. New York’s largest public Bastille Day celebration is returning to NYC this Sunday, July 12, shutting down four blocks of Madison Avenue for a massive free street fair celebrating French culture, food, music, and more.
From exclusive film screenings and dance workshops to arts & crafts activities, live performances, and the very best in French cuisine, the event will transform Madison Avenue into an all-day outdoor celebration of joie de vivre.
🇫🇷 What to expect at NYC’s Bastille Day 2026
Every year on July 14, France celebrates Bastille Day, commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789—an event that ignited the French Revolution and helped shape modern France. oday, it’s celebrated as France’s national holiday, officially known as Fête Nationale Française.
Over two decades ago, L’Alliance New York began hosting public Bastille Day celebrations in NYC to promote French language, culture, and Franco-American friendship. The festival has since grown into the largest Bastille Day celebration outside of France, attracting over 50,000 visitors annually.
Bastille Day New York 2026 schedule
- 12 pm: Festival begins as Madison Avenue transforms into a French street fair with 60+ market booths, live entertainment, shopping, and family activities
- 12:30 pm: NEW! Carnaval des Animaux pet parade kicks off
- 1 pm: Montmartre to Manhattan Tasting Party begins (ticketed)
- 1 pm: Annual Citroën Car Rally rolls into Madison Avenue
- 1:30–2:15 pm: Pet costume competition
- 1:30 pm: Screening of Mon oncle (ticketed)
- 5 pm: Outdoor festival ends
- 5:30 pm: Evening screening of Leave One Day (ticketed)
And that’s just the beginning.
Throughout the day, you can browse 60+ French market booths serving authentic French cuisine, pastries, artisan goods, and lifestyle products, shop premium brands in The French Garden—including Printemps New York, Angelina Paris, Mille-Feuille Bakery, Président, and more—and enjoy live music, dance performances, arts and crafts, and hands-on workshops celebrating 250 years of French-American creativity.
Find the full schedule on L’Alliance New York’s website.
💡 Pro tips for visiting
Head over around 12 pm to beat the biggest crowds and give yourself enough time to browse all 60+ French market booths before catching the pet parade, Citroën car rally, or one of the afternoon performances.
Plus, don’t forget to enter the Bastille Day raffle while you’re there—you could win two Air France Premium Economy round-trip tickets to Paris.
📅 Event Details at a Glance
- What: NYC Bastille Day 2026
- When: Sunday, July 12 | 12 pm – 5 pm
- Where: Madison Avenue (59th to 63rd Street) and 60th Street (between Fifth and Park Avenues)
- Cost: Free and open to the public (with some ticketed events)
Want a sneak peak? Watch highlights from last year’s Bastille Day festivities below:
