Red alert issued in France and alcohol banned from festivals amid heatwave

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World

Author: AFP,
Publish Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2026, 3:44pm

Swimmers sunbathe on the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin, as France experiences a heatwave in Paris. Photo / Arnaud Finistre, AFP

France has issued a red alert for a heatwave across more than a third of the country, also banning the consumption of alcohol during the annual Fete de la Musique festivities that day.

The ferocious heatwave, which began earlier this week, has disrupted the country, forcing the cancellation of dozens of trains and the suspension of classes.

Authorities are concerned about how the annual Fete de la Musique celebrations will unfold across the country today, when musicians take over the streets with free performances and revellers party into the night.

As it announced the highest heatwave warning for 35 of France’s administrative regions - the most ever - Meteo-France said: “Very high temperatures are settling in for the long term across the country”.

The service is predicting that temperatures could reach 41C in some places, and that the average reading across the whole country could reach its highest ever. It also said the duration of the heatwave was “uncertain”.

Paris is one of the regions on the alert list, which covers a wide area running south-west from the capital.

More than three-quarters of the mainland’s population will suffer from the heat today, with another 45 regions under orange alert.

On Saturday, the Government said that alcohol consumption during the annual street festivals would be banned in regions under the heatwave red alert.

The Government has called for limits on alcohol consumption “to preserve emergency and healthcare services and allow medical staff to focus on caring for the most vulnerable”.

To help Parisians and tourists cope with the heat, authorities are keeping parks and gardens in the French capital open through the night.

- AFP