France Bans Alcohol at Music Festival Amid Red‑Alert Heatwave

Sun Jun 21 2026 15:01:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

France bans alcohol at the annual Fête de la Musique amid a red‑alert heatwave to protect crowds and free up emergency services.

France has outlawed alcohol consumption at the Fête de la Musique, a nationwide music festival held on the summer solstice, amid a severe heatwave that has triggered a red‑alert warning across much of the country. The move follows guidance that state‑organized events should not serve alcohol to limit crowd disorder and preserve medical resources during extreme temperatures. The government notes that temperatures of 39‑40 °C are expected for much of France, with some areas possibly reaching 41 °C, and warns that conditions could reach historic highs. It calls on authorities to keep parks and gardens open the night to aid residents and tourists coping with the heat. The ban reflects broader measures to mitigate the impact of the heatwave, which has already disrupted transport and academic schedules.

France has banned alcohol at the Fête de la Musique amid a red‑alert heatwave.

On Sunday, the government ordered that no alcohol be sold or served at state‑organised music events, citing the need to keep emergency services focused on the most vulnerable as temperatures spike.

The Fête de la Musique, a free‑to‑attend celebration that draws millions each summer solstice, has been celebrated for more than 40 years, attracting an estimated two million visitors in Paris alone last year.

With a third of the country under the most serious heat warning, the French Ministry of the Interior warned that summer temperatures could reach 41 °C. Météo‑France anticipates peak heat on Monday, and forecasts historic highs that could set new temperature records.

Authorities are keeping parks and gardens open late into the night to help residents and visitors stay cool, and have suspended classes and trains that would be affected by the extreme heat.

"The ban is part of a broader effort to protect public health during the extreme heatwave," said the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

Revellers dance in the street during Fete De La Musique 2025

For further details on weather conditions, refer to the BBC Weather page on heat warnings or explore related articles on “Why temperature records are being smashed” and “How to keep cool at your summer festivals.”