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Metz anchors its year around three big fixtures: a free summer digital-arts festival, an August celebration of the local mirabelle plum, and one of eastern France’s largest Christmas markets. Most events are free and concentrated in the historic centre, so you can often stumble into them. This calendar lists the main events with dates and locations, and it sits within our Metz city guide.
Metz Events in Summer
Constellations de Metz (25 June to 5 September 2026)
The flagship summer festival, now in its 10th edition, projects video mapping and light installations onto the cathedral and other monuments every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from about 21:00 to 00:15. The cathedral mapping starts 30 minutes after the sites open at nightfall. All 11 works on the night route are free, running from the Temple Neuf to the cathedral via the Jardin Fabert and the Musée de la Cour d’Or. The opening nights of 25 and 26 June add concerts and audiovisual performances. No booking is needed, and evenings are mild enough per the Metz weather by month averages.
Fêtes de la Mirabelle (21 to 30 August 2026)
Metz celebrates its signature mirabelle plum over two weekends. From 21 to 23 August the Esplanade hosts a market of 80-plus stands, live music and the crowning of the Mirabelle Queen on Friday 21 August at the Arsenal. The second weekend, 29 and 30 August, moves to the plan d’eau (lake) with concerts, food trucks and a fireworks display on the evening of 29 August. Everything is free to attend.
Montgolfiades (3 to 6 September)
Hot-air balloons launch over the city during the first weekend of September, weather permitting, with flights typically in the early morning and evening when the air is calm. Spectators watch free from the launch field, and tethered rides are sometimes sold on site. Confirm the launch schedule the day before, since wind cancels flights at short notice. Balloon flights need calm, settled skies, so check the best time to visit Metz windows for the most reliable September weather.
Metz Events in Winter
Metz Christmas Market (late November to late December)
One of the largest Christmas markets in eastern France, the Metz market sets up more than 100 wooden chalets across Place Saint-Louis, Place d’Armes and Place de la République from around 21 November to 30 December. Expect mulled wine, mirabelle liqueur, wooden toys and regional food, plus a Ferris wheel and an ice rink in some years. The market is free to enter and opens daily, typically 11:00 to 20:00, staying open later on weekends. Dress for near-freezing evenings and check the Metz travel tips page for what to pack.
Metz Events Through the Year
The Arsenal concert hall and the Opéra-Théâtre run classical, jazz and opera seasons from September to June, with the Metz Opera among the oldest in France. In spring the city marks the Saint-Nicolas tradition and Easter markets, and the Arènes de Metz sports complex hosts indoor events through the colder months. The Metz neighborhoods guide points you to the venues across the Quartier Impérial and the centre. Check the official tourisme-metz.com agenda for exact dates, as they shift year to year.
Fill the days around events with the things to do in Metz list, and pick a hotel from the where to stay in Metz guide.
