Heatwave: Paris firefighters cancel the July 13 and 14 balls

Paris – 11.07.2026: The Paris prefecture has cancelled the firefighters’ balls scheduled for 13 and 14 July in the capital. This decision follows alerts concerning exceptionally high temperatures, as well as a request from the police prefecture to reduce the number of events in order to ease the burden on emergency teams. It affects several traditional venues in the districts, where firefighters usually organise neighbourhood celebrations with dancing, music and donation collections.

In their communications, the authorities stressed the preventive nature of this measure. The persistent heatwave increases the risk of fainting and other medical emergencies among participants and visitors. At the same time, firefighters and emergency services are already heavily mobilised by additional callouts. The Paris Fire Brigade has reported an increase in heat-related interventions in recent days, ranging from assisting weakened people to fires in green spaces and dried-out courtyards.

The balls organised for the national holiday are considered an essential part of Paris’s summer calendar in many places. City Hall expressed its understanding of the disappointment caused, while recalling that health protection takes priority and that the stability of the emergency response chain must be maintained. Organisers are invited to consider alternatives, such as smaller indoor formats with a limited number of people, or postponements if weather conditions permit. At the same time, the City of Paris emphasises that it provides targeted support to vulnerable people, particularly older people, homeless people and people with pre-existing conditions, and makes cool places, drinking water points and extended opening hours available for air-conditioned facilities.

From a legal perspective, this is a precautionary administrative measure taken by the prefecture within its powers regarding public safety and risk prevention during exceptional environmental conditions. It is closely linked to the current weather situation and aims to reduce the burden on services that must remain available during the heatwave for emergencies, fire protection and major events. Further adjustments concerning outdoor events remain possible and will depend on Météo-France forecasts as well as the operational situation.

The cancellation is part of a set of recommendations applied nationwide during heat episodes: information campaigns on hydration breaks, cool spaces provided by municipalities, visiting services for people living alone, as well as calls to strictly observe hydration and rest periods during events. According to the City and organisers, people who purchased tickets or planned donations for the firefighters’ balls should receive direct information about refunds, postponements or the allocation of donations. For the period around the national holiday, authorities are asking the public to avoid direct sun exposure, reduce physical exertion and use emergency lines only in cases of genuine emergency, so that capacity is available where it is most needed.