Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival 2026 (Fête des vendanges de Montmartre)

Last Updated on 24th June 2026 by Sophie Nadeau

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For a few select days each Autumn, visitors to the 18th arrondissement of Paris will be delighted to discover that you can actually visit the city’s most exclusive vineyard during the annual Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival. A truly unique way to experience the district, not to mention learn all about how French vin is made. Here’s your ultimate guide to everything you should know about the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre!

In 2026, the Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival will take place from the 7th of October to the 11th of October (this will be the 93rd year of the festival!)

Is the vineyard open all year?

Unfortunately, the Montmartre vineyard remains closed for much of the year, allowing for the vines to thrive and the grapes to grow. With this being said, the nature of the wire railings surrounding the picturesque spot means that the secret spot is still pretty visible, especially from the location right beside the entrance gate to the ‘clos’ (which itself features an ever-so-adorable miniature handle shaped like a wine bottle).

However, access to the vineyard itself is only possible during the festival, making it all the more special come October!

A history of the Fête des vendanges de Montmartre

The secret Parisian vineyard is hidden behind the Musée de Montmartre and close to the oh-so-famous Lapin Agile 19th-century Cabaret House.

Once upon a time, Montmartre was a village outside of the city limits of Paris and was only actually absorbed into the fabric of the French capital itself until the mid-19th-century. Prior to this time, the ‘French village’ was populated by many a windmill (just a few of which survive to this day) and plenty of farmland.

Thanks to its rural nature, vines have been attested to have been grown on the Butte Montmartre since at least 944, and perhaps even earlier (though some records suggest that the first vines weren’t planted until the ecclesiastical women of the Abbey of Montmartre in the 12th-century).

Whatever the date, the rich history of the Clos Montmartre has undoubtedly contributed to the ‘village vibe’ the 18th arrondissement enjoys now. The vineyard you see today was actually created by the City of Paris in 1933 as a way of stopping real estate developers from purchasing the land.

Before the creation of Clos Montmartre, the 0.15 hectares of land had been used as both a children’s playground and a dumping ground, among other things. Once created, the new green space was more than welcomed in a city which was quickly developing.

The very first ‘Harvest Festival’ of Montmartre was held just one year later in 1934. With this being said, the newly planted vines had not yet produced any grapes! Nevertheless, the tradition has carried on for many a decade and regularly draws in crowds from Paris and beyond.

What happens at the grape harvest festival?

One of the biggest questions that many people wonder about before visiting the Montmartre festival is ‘What events are happening in Montmartre during the grape festival?’ The first thing to note is that, by the time of the festival, the grapes have already been harvested!

The first thing that occurs during the entire event is a pop-up market of little white open-front tents which are similar to those found in brocantes. These sell everything from speciality food (including a red wine sorbet) to wines produced across France. There are also a number of small parades and concerts, alongside plenty of wine stalls!

Perhaps the main event is the possibility of visiting the vineyard itself. These visits last for about an hour, are organised by the town hall of the 18th arrondissement, and are only in French – but completely free to go to during the festival!

An alternative way to visit the vineyard (and test the wine at the same time) is by buying a specific ticket to visit the Musée de Montmartre, which also includes a wine tasting and guided tour of the vineyard. Find more details here.

The streets that the market takes place on are Rue Saint-Éleuthère, Rue du Mont-Cenis, Rue Azaïs, the Parvis du Sacré-Coeur, and Rue du Cardinal Guibert. Thou this area is cordoned off and you’ll have to pass through security checks to visit (namely a bag check), it remains free to visit and is by far the busiest area.

After all, it’s in this area that not only the market takes place, but also live performers sing various songs, particularly during the evenings. The rest of the district of Montmartre (including the area around the vineyard) remains open to visit and is significantly less busy than the grape harvest Montmartre market.

How to visit the Montmartre Grape Harvest festival

Known in French as the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre and organised by the Mairie du 18ᵉ arrondissement, the festival is now in its 93rd edition and is well worth a visit if you’re in town when it takes place.

The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, as well as during the daytime on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s completely free to visit, making it one of the best things to do in Paris in October (though some specific performances and visits are paid extras).

During this time, parades take place and local people from all walks of life (schools, wine vendors, viticulturists, artists, and others) are invited to take part.

Typically, the weekend consists of plenty of different types of celebrations; during the course of three days, there are talks, dances, concerts, market stalls, and guided walks.

Highlights include the colourful Grand Parade, live music and cultural performances, the quirky ‘Not Getting Married’ Ceremony (usually held on Sunday morning), and a lively closing ball on Sunday afternoon. Recent editions have not featured the fireworks display that was once a regular part of the festival.

Visit the Grape Harvest of Montmartre today and you’ll be frequenting one of the most visited events in Paris, third only to the Paris-Plage and the Nuit Blanche. All in all, some 400,000 people enjoy the Fête des vendanges de Montmartre each year.

When the event closes, the area of the market stalls is evacuated in a rather prompt manner, so be sure to head to the harvest festival earlier rather than later to avoid disappointment.

During this festival, it’s also worth noting that there is an auction of the wine produced. Around 1,000 bottles are produced in the vineyard, and the bottles are auctioned off, with the proceeds going to local charity projects.

The wine is often noted to not be of the best quality but instead purchased to support local projects and for the chance to sample wine that has been created within intra-muros Paris itself!

Watch the Montmartre travel guide

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