2026 will be a dense year in the Alpes-Maritimes. Democratic life, sporting competitions, tourism, culture, and major public events will structure the calendar. From Nice to Menton, from the coastline to the hinterlands, several highlights will mark the territory, with local challenges and national and international visibility.
Municipal Elections in Nice
The first highlight of 2026 will concern local democratic life. The municipal elections will be held on March 15 and 22, 2026, throughout France. In Nice, the campaign will engage all neighborhoods. Nine lists will contest in the electoral battle.
Christian Estrosi, the outgoing mayor and member of Horizons, will seek a new mandate. The candidacy of Alpes-Maritimes deputy Éric Ciotti, representing the UDR, will shape the opposition. The local political landscape will appear fragmented, especially on the left and center.
Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux will lead the Unis pour Nice list. Mireille Damiano will carry the Nice Front Populaire banner. Hélène Granouillac will lead Vivre Nice. Jean-Marc Governatori will represent L’écologie au centre. Jean-Claude Spach will run under the Alternative Eco.Citoyenne label. Nathalie Dloussky will head the citizen list Ensemble pour la grandeur de la France. Cédric Vella will be a candidate for Reconquête. The campaign promises to be intense.
The Arrival of the Women’s Tour de France
Nice will host the finale of the 2026 Women’s Tour de France. After a male arrival in 2024 on the Promenade des Anglais, the women’s race will conclude on the French Riviera. The city will also host the finish of the eighth and penultimate stage, starting from Sisteron.
This 175-kilometer stage will take the Napoleon route. The course will feature 1,420 meters of positive elevation gain. The riders will spend two days in Nice to wrap up this fifth edition.
The last day will offer a 99-kilometer circuit starting from Place Masséna. The course will include a quadruple ascent of the Col d’Èze. The last loop will pass through the Chemin du Vinaigrier, with slopes at 16%. The total positive elevation will reach 2,175 meters.
The public will gather along the route. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will defend her yellow jersey during this final arrival.
Nice Boating Tomorrow 2026
Nice Boating Tomorrow 2026 will span four days dedicated to the boating of tomorrow. Exhibitors will be present on land and at sea. Tests and demonstrations on the water will be offered to the public and professionals.
Roundtables, conferences, and product presentations will punctuate the event. Personalities from the maritime and environmental sectors will participate in the discussions. The goal will be the transition to responsible boating.
The event will highlight the environmental challenges of the sector. The transition will concern the design, construction, use, and deconstruction of leisure boats. Ports will be included in this global reflection.
Boating will represent an economic pillar for coastal regions. The sector will count 150,000 direct and indirect jobs, more than 5,000 companies, and an export rate exceeding 70% of national production.
Rendez-Vous en France 2026 Trade Show
Nice will host the Rendez-Vous en France 2026 Trade Show, organized by Atout France. The event will bring together nearly 1,000 international tour operators and journalists. The azure destination will be highlighted through workshops and presentations.
The city will take over after Toulouse and Lyon. This edition will continue the previous organizations in Nice and Marseille. International tourism will be at the heart of exchanges.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur CRT and the Metropolitan Nice Côte d’Azur Tourism Office will carry a collective project. Corporate social responsibility will be integrated into the organization. The aim will be sustainable tourism spread throughout the year.
The Classics
Traditional events will also structure the year. The Nice Carnival will take place from February 11 to March 1, 2026. The announced theme will be “Long Live the Queen!”. This edition will pay tribute to female figures from history and fiction. Ticket sales will remain open before the event.
In Menton, the Lemon Festival will be held from February 14 to March 1, 2026. The theme “Wonders of Life” will guide the programming. Biovès Gardens, Promenade du Soleil, and the city center will host citrus sculptures, corsos, markets, and entertainment. The Corsos of the Golden Fruits will be scheduled on February 15 and 22, and March 1. Night parades will be held on February 19 and 26.
Paris-Nice 2026 will conclude at the Riviera stadium. The course will include a team time trial and several challenging stages around Nice.
The Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 12 to 23, 2026. Registrations for the Official Selection will remain open until the announced dates. The summer will be marked by concerts by The Weeknd, Pitbull, and Damso, as well as the Nice Jazz Fest from July 23 to 26.
The Ironman 70.3 World Championship will take place on the Promenade des Anglais on September 12 and 13, 2026. EVO France will return to Nice in the fall, confirming the anchoring of esports on the Côte d’Azur.
