Teaching assistants and rail workers are set to strike, a big weekend for students applying to university and a whole lot of sport are on the agenda this week.
Monday
Football – France’s senior men’s squad play Northern Ireland – for the first time since 1999 – in Lille in their final warm-up game before the Fifa World Cup. The match kicks off at 9.10pm, and will be broadcast on TF1.
Tuesday
Court – In Paris, a former Rwandan doctor appeals against his conviction for complicity in genocide.
Crime – Seven Georgian nationals accused of stealing Pushkin’s manuscripts go on trial in Paris.
Strike – A national strike day for teaching assistants for students with disabilities (AESH) has been called in protest at working conditions and job insecurity.
Wednesday
Rail – The four main rail worker unions (CGT Cheminots, UNSA Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail, CFDT Cheminots) have filed a joint notice for a one-day strike in protest at internal reorganisations, working conditions and pay.
READ ALSO French rail unions announce June train strike
Motorsport – the celebrated 24 Hours of Le Mans race meeting gets under way.
Thursday
University – The Parcoursup portal reopens for students who have not received any offers to attend a French university from September to make new applications before the bac exams begin.
World Cup – The men’s football World Cup kicks off. Over the next month football will be on M6 a lot, and will break confinement into news broadcasts and advertising across TV channels. French interest won’t really kick in until June 16th, when Le Bleus’ campaign kicks off against Senegal.
READ ALSO How to watch the 2026 men’s football World Cup in France
Festival de Nîmes – The Festival de Nîmes, which starts on June 11th and runs to July 26th, brings modern music to the town’s famous Roman Arena. This year’s line-up includes Neil Young, the Black Eyed Peas, Lenny Kravitz, Katy Perry and The Cure. Find out more here.
Friday
AI – President Emmanuel Macron will be in Lille to open the IA avec Nous summit, intended to promote artificial intelligence in business.
Saturday
Rugby I: The first of the weekend’s two post-season ‘barrage round’ TOP 14 matches, with the prize of a place in next weekend’s semi-finals in Marseille up for grabs.
Sunday
Rugby II: The promotion-relegation match between the losing side in last Saturday’s ProD2 final and the team that finishes 13th in the Top 14 for the right to play in top flight of French senior men’s pro rugby next season. The big weekend of post-season rugby ends with the second of the weekend’s two post-season ‘barrage round’ matches.
