October has arrived with a bang and the Côte d’Azur is still buzzing! Here are our latest suggestions for things to do over the coming seven days in our little corner of paradise.
We’re heading into another lively week, full of events and activities to suit every taste. Whether you’re chasing cultural highlights or simply after a few everyday joys, you’ve come to the right place.
From activities supporting Octobre Rose and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to film festivals, Oktoberfest gatherings, and classical music recitals, you’ll find plenty here to keep your diaries filled!
So, without further ado, here’s our taster of what’s on offer this week.
SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER
October is recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global initiative to raise awareness, encourage fundraising for research and support, and promote early detection of breast cancer. There are plenty of activities taking place around the region in the coming days and weeks. Please do try and support these events where you can – if there are any planned in your area which we haven’t covered, do let us know.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat hosts a Marché Alsacien this weekend in association with the Fédération des artisans producteurs Alsaciens. Visitors can enjoy traditional Alsatian specialties on site: charcuterie, pastries including the famous pretzels, gingerbread, kouglofs and other Black Forest pastries, as well as cheeses including Munster and tartes flambées. Also on offer are crafts, great Alsace wines, beers and white spirits. Taking place at the Théâtre de la Mer from 9am to 11pm. Free entry.
The 38th Mouans-Sartoux Book Festival continues throughout the weekend. The theme of this year’s edition is Quel Monde Demain? (What will the world of tomorrow be like?) There will be some 300 authors in attendance, and up to 50,000 visitors are expected for this eco-responsible event. Admission to the festival is free, though there are some paid movie screenings. The festival runs from 10am to 7pm each day.
The Trampoline and Tumbling World Cup continues at the Azur Arena, finishing up tomorrow. A total of 35 nations are competing in a spectacle that defies the laws of gravity. Organised by Antibes Acrobatics. Individual tickets and mulitday passes may be purchased online.
Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur is hosting a conference this afternoon entitled (Re)découvrez l’architecture innovante de Charles Garnier ((Re)discover the architecture of Charles Garnier). Organized by the Cercle Richard Wagner Rive Droite, the event is a portrait of a visionary architect whose name resonates with the history of French opera. The conference takes place at 3pm in the Montserrat Caballé Foyer at the Opera House. Admission is free and there is no reservation required (subject to availability)
Our friends in Masséna Around the World are hosting an evening with award-winning children’s author Kate Peridot between 4pm and 6pm this evening as their first ever guest bookseller! The evnt is suited to all curious, creative and daring 3-13 year olds (and their parents, caregivers and teachers!) Kate will be sharing her top picks for kids and teens and answering all your questions about being an author. She will also be signing her own books if you’re looking for an extra special gift! Pop in any time between 4pm and 6pm, no need to reserve, come one come all! It’s going to be a fun afternoon!
The hugely popular Une Journée à l’Opéra is back in Nice for a further five dates. Having welcomed more than 25,000 visitors over the summer period, this 45 minute immersive experience transforms the Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur into something the likes of which have never been seen before! Tickets cost €22 for adults with different packages available for families and groups and may be reserved online. Reduced rates also available.
Fête de la Science, a national event organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research is underway, running until 13th October. There are events organised in a variety of locations throughout the Côte d’Azur and the PACA region, so do check them out!
The Festival de Nice Cinéroman comes to an end today. This hugely popular event occupies a particular niche within France’s cultural landscape, focusing specifically on adaptation rather than broader cinema programming. Further information about the programme and ticketing is available on the festival website.
Wheelchair tennis is back on the Côte d’Azur with the French Riviera Open at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. Tickets on sale online for the semi-finals today and the final tomorrow.
The 25th edition of Un Festival C’est Trop Court takes place in Nice, running until Saturday next, 10th October. This renowned short film festival is a meeting place for both audience and the film industry, offering many opportunities for exchanges between professionals and film enthusiasts. The theme for this edition is VOYAGE DANS LA MER / SEANEMA which aims to combine sustainable development, science and cinema with exhibitions, workshops, meetings and screenings. Festival passes and individual tickets may be purchased online.
The Oktoberfest celebrations taking place at Marché de la Condamine in Monaco, conclude tonight. Starting at 7pm, there will be musical entertainment with the Orchestre Tyrolfest and traditional dishes to be savoured! Reservations must be made through the merchants at la Halle.
Not to be outdone by its Monegasque counterparts, Le Rouret is hosting its own Festi’Bière today, running from 10am to 10pm at Place de la Libération. There will be plenty of entertainment and sustenance on site throughout the day, with a rock concert taking place at 8:30pm, featuring the group Dumb Way to Die. Free admission to the overall event but you will need to pay for your food and drink!
More OktoBEERfest celebrations, music and good cheer at the Eco’Parc de Mougins today, from 11am to midnight. Come and enjoy the best local craft beers at the giant bar hosted by BIAM and delight your taste buds with offerings from the gourmet food trucks on site. A great atmosphere is guaranteed with non-stop live music featuring rock, soul, and blues, and a pine forest transformed into a veritable lounge space for sharing convivial moments with friends or family.
The 20th edition of the Festival International d’Orgue de Monaco gets underway this evening with a concert featuring organist Olivier Vernet playing the music of Bach. The concert takes place in the Cathédrale de Monaco at 8:30pm. Free admission subject to availability.
The Nice Urban Music & Art (NUMA) festival gets underway today, running throughout the weekend. There is an amazing programme of events planned including music, dance, street art, urban sports (BMX, skateboarding and the like) and a Festival Village featuring a variety of stands, food trucks, tattoo artists and a whole lot more! Taking place at Le 109 in Nice, admission is free but you do need to pre-register. The NUMA party taking place at Frigo 16 is a paid event. Tickets are available online, where you can also pre-register.
Hoshi and her band perform an unplugged concert at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco this evening at 8pm. This project reflects her desire to get to the heart of the matter, to rediscover a certain intimacy, and to offer her audience a sincere musical experience imbued with emotion. Tickets may be purchased online though are selling fast – act now!
SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER
Today sees Monaco marking its Journées Éuropéennes du Patrimoine with a huge number of activities taking place around the Principality. Check the official website for further details. Our friends at the Musée Océanogaphique will also open their doors to the public with unique guided tours revealing the architectural secrets of this century-old edifice and free guided tours upon registration. There will be reduced rate admission in place for the day.
The Marché Alsacien continues in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat with plenty of traditional Alsatian specialties on offer, along with crafts, great Alsace wines, beers and white spirits. Taking place at the Théâtre de la Mer from 9am to 6pm. Free entry.
The French Riviera Open at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. comes to a conclusion today with the final of the week-long tournament. Tickets may be purchased online.
The Trampoline and Tumbling World Cup taking place at the Azur Arena in Antibes comes to an end today. A total of 35 nations have been competing in a spectacle that defies the laws of gravity. Tickets may be purchased online.
The 38th Mouans-Sartoux Book Festival also concludes today. The theme of this year’s edition is Quel Monde Demain? (What will the world of tomorrow be like?) Admission to the festival is free, though there are some paid movie screenings. The final day of the festival runs from 10am to 7pm.
The NUMA festival continues at Le 109 in Nice. With an amazing programme of events including music, dance, street art, urban sports and a Festival Village featuring a variety of stands, food trucks, tattoo artists and a whole lot more, what better way to spend your Sunday?
Satyagraha, Philip Glass’s account of Mahatma Gandhi’s early years in South Africa, opens the Nice Opera 2025/26 season. Tonight is the second performace of three in total and tickets may be reserved online.
MONDAY 6th OCTOBER
Starting today in Cannes and running until the 19th October, the Conseil Local en Santé Mentale (CLSM) is organising Mental Health Awareness Weeks – SISM 2025, under the banner « Pour notre santé mentale, réparons le lien social » (For our mental health, let’s repair social ties). The event will bring together numerous stakeholders to inform, listen, share, and fight the stigma of mental health disorders. There will be plenty of activities, meetings, conferences, and opportunities for discussion: to take care of yourself and others. Check out the complete programme on the Ville de Cannes website.
Villeneuve-Loubet celebrates La Semaine Bleue, starting today and running until this Friday, 10th October. The event celebrates our elders and intergenerational bonds through a variety of events, meetings, friendly gatherings, and activities. You are invited to come share, exchange, and celebrate the richness of the generations together! Full details of the event and the week’s detailed programme are available on the Villeneuve-Loubet website.
TUESDAY 7th OCTOBER
The final performance of Satyagraha, Philip Glass’s account of Mahatma Gandhi’s early years in South Africa, takes place at Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur tonight. Tickets may be reserved online.
WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER
The Citadelle in Villefranche-sur-Mer will host M.U.S.I.C. – Magical Urban Sounds in Connection, an exceptional European co-production selected by the European Commission from among nearly 1,000 projects from 39 countries. Ten exceptional musicians, brought together in an international co-production, will present a tour spanning six countries – Italy, Austria, France, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania – with concerts in prestigious venues, cathedrals, public squares, castles, and unusual spaces. The programme will feature vibrant reinterpretations of legendary standards such as “Route 66,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and “My Funny Valentine,” as well as original compositions created especially for this project. Tickets cost €40 and may be purchased online. The concert starts at 7pm.
THURSDAY 9th OCTOBER
If you are in Monaco, why not take some time and check out the Petit Marché du Larvotto, which takes place every Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm. Located on the Esplanade Joséphine Baker, near the Lartigue Fountain. A weekly event to complement the municipal markets, delighting foodies and fresh produce lovers.
Once again this year, the retailers of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are mobilising and offering great promotions on a selection of their collections: ready-to-wear, beauty accessories, nautical equipment and accessories, interior decoration … starting today and running until Monday, 13th October. Go on, grab yourself a bargain!
FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER
The 18th edition of Cinéalma L’âme de la Méditerranée gets underway today, running until Sunday, 19th October at the Salle Juliette Gréco in Carros. The festival offers an intimate portrait of the Mediterranean basin through the diversity of its cinema. From France to the Maghreb, from Spain to Lebanon, from Tunisia to Egypt, Cinéalma takes us on a journey of discovery through this tremendous abundance of creativity with some fifteen countries represented. Further information and programme available on the festival website.
For those interested in the world of Artificial Intelligence, this is for you. This IADATES Conference entitled ‘Generative AI: Myths & Reality’ and organized by the Europe IA Foundation and the Département des Alpes-Maritimes, will feature two expert speakers – Luc Julia, Chief Scientific Officer of Renault and Marco Landi, Chairman of the Smart Deal Expert Committee. Taking place at 6:30pm in the Salle Leonardo Da Vinci in Mandelieu-La Napoule. Free admission, but registration is required.
The Monegasque cultural association “Les Amis des Arts… au fil des saisons” (Friends of the Arts… throughout the seasons) presents a classical violin and piano recital, featuring Sibylle Duchesne (violin) and Héloïse Hervouët (piano). The concert takes place in the Théâtre des Funambules in Cap d’Ail at 7pm. Tickets cost €20 and may be reserved by emailing info@amisduprintemps.com or calling 06 80 86 23 57. Tickets may also be purchased on site up to one hour before the concert begins.
American organist Cameron Carpenter is the special guest of the Monaco International Organ Festival for the 20th edition of this event. He will be making his Monaco début with his performance of the works of Bach, Handel, Franck and Mussorgsky. The recital takes place at 8:30pm at the Cathérale de Monaco.
OTHER EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS
There is plenty going on in the world of theatre around the region. The Anthéa in Antibes has an amazing programme of shows and performances lined up for the 2025/’26 season. The Théâtre National de Nice also has an impressive line-up for its new season as does the Théâtre de la Cité in Nice who have a very busy programme for the upcoming season.
There are also plenty of excellent exhibitions going on throughout the region.
Be sure to check out our roundups of the must-see exhibitions in Nice | Monaco | Cannes
Have a great week, wherever you find yourself!
Lead image © RIVIERA BUZZ; all other images/photos as credited
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