In 2025, Nice was the scene of several events with notable economic, social, and symbolic impacts. International summits, social mobilizations, sports performances, major incidents, and hosting large cultural gatherings punctuated the year. These sequences placed the city at the center of global dynamics while revealing strong local tensions.
The UNOC, an international showcase and temporary economic engine
From June 2 to 13, 2025, Nice became the global center for maritime governance. The city hosted the third United Nations Conference on the Ocean, co-organized by France and Costa Rica. The event brought together more than sixty heads of state, delegations, scientists, NGOs, businesses, and citizens.
This fortnight mobilized a significant portion of local infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants, transportation, and services operated at full capacity. The Exhibition Palace, the port, and several cultural sites were utilized. The opening to the public of the “La Baleine” space attracted many visitors, with sixteen pavilions and nearly 1,000 scheduled events.
UNOC-3 also generated indirect economic activity. Technical service providers, security, logistics, and cultural mediation were engaged. The “Ocean Wonders” parade, conferences, and the drone show enhanced the city’s tourist attractiveness during this period.
The summit was marked by political announcements. Emmanuel Macron declared: “if the earth warms, the ocean, in turn, is boiling.” The President of the Republic also announced the adoption of a treaty on the high seas. UNOC-3 concluded with an international roadmap entitled “The Nice Commitments for the Ocean”, structured around five axes, including maritime governance.
“Block Everything”: a social protest with visible impacts
The year 2025 was also marked by a strong social mobilization. On September 18, more than 10,000 people marched in Nice from Avenue Thiers to Place Masséna, at the call of seven unions. The demonstration was part of the “Block Everything” movement launched on September 10.
Employees, students, retirees, and healthcare professionals expressed their opposition to the 2026 budget, deemed austere. The march disrupted traffic and commercial activity in the city center for several hours. The healthcare and education sectors were particularly mobilized, with 17% of teachers nationwide reported as strikers.
Pharmacists, physiotherapists, and dentists also protested on the same day. Their demands focused on margins, pharmacy closures, and regulations. Raphaël Gigliotti, co-president of the pharmacists’ union of Alpes-Maritimes, stated: “during the summer, former Prime Minister François Bayrou issued a ministerial order that shifted 10% of pharmacists’ margins to the pharmaceutical industry.”
These days of mobilization illustrated a tense social climate, with direct economic consequences for downtown businesses and services.
Noam Yaron: a personal challenge for biodiversity
It didn’t happen in Nice, but the performance deserves to be highlighted! In August 2025, Monaco was linked to a sport challenge with a strong environmental impact. Swiss swimmer Noam Yaron attempted the Calvi-Monaco crossing by swimming, without stopping. He left Corsica on August 11 and emerged from the water on August 15, after nearly five days and four nights. Although he had to end his challenge for medical reasons, the achievement remains a massive success.
This performance drew attention to the protection of the Mediterranean. Scientific data were collected in collaboration with the Scientific Council of the Lérins Islands and the STARESO station in Calvi. The planned arrival in Monaco, near Nice, attracted significant media coverage, enhancing the image of the region as committed to marine issues.
Noam Yaron summarized the experience as follows: “the challenge was largely accomplished, even though I didn’t set foot in Monaco.”
A near miss in aviation
On September 21, 2025, a serious incident occurred at Nice Côte d’Azur airport. Two Airbus A320s nearly collided on the same runway. A Nouvelair plane narrowly missed an EasyJet plane ready to take off for Nantes, by just three meters.
The EasyJet flight was canceled. Passengers were rescheduled. This event immediately raised concerns about air safety, a key sector of the local economy. An initial report by BEA, published on October 23, cited a runway error in a context of deteriorating weather conditions. 346 passengers were affected on the two planes.
EVO France, a new economic asset for the city
From October 10 to 12, 2025, Nice hosted the EVO France 2025 at the Exhibition Palace. This international fighting game tournament brought together 5,000 competitors from 93 countries. More than 1,900 French players were registered.
The event generated significant economic benefits. Hotels, restaurants, and businesses benefited from the influx of visitors. The venue reached its maximum capacity within the first few hours. Queues formed outside.
The broadcast on YouTube and Twitch offered international visibility to the city. Bertrand Amar explained: “that’s how we managed to achieve the triptych: Las Vegas, Tokyo, Nice.”
