Published on 6/21/2026
France is facing a severe heat wave that has prompted the authorities to mobilize emergency services and military forces in anticipation of forest fires, to restrict alcohol consumption in public places, and to cancel some outdoor sporting events, at a time when the heat wave is spreading to other parts of Europe.
On Sunday, about a third of France was subject to a red alert issued by the Meteorological Authority, the highest warning level for heat waves.
The red alert for heat waves includes 35 provinces. The authority stated that the number of red heat wave warnings was “record,” as the previous record was 20 provinces on July 24 and 25, 2019.
The authority confirmed that extremely high temperatures will continue for a long time throughout the country, and also placed 45 other provinces on orange alert.
According to statistics by Agence France-Presse, based on population estimates in the provinces mentioned in the latest bulletin of the Meteorological Authority, the red alert will affect more than 26 million people.
The temperature is expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius in some areas on Sunday, in a country where the use of air conditioning is not widespread, and expectations indicate that Monday will be hotter.
The Eiffel Tower and other sites in Paris set up mist spraying stations to cool the crowds, as part of a series of measures announced by national and local authorities to reduce health risks associated with the heat.
Music festival under restrictions
In light of the high temperatures, the annual Music Festival in France, which is scheduled to be held on Sunday, is a source of concern for the authorities, as this celebration witnesses thousands of concerts in village squares and clubs in Paris, brings together local residents and attracts an increasing number of foreign visitors.
The government ordered organizers of Music Day events to limit alcohol consumption, with the aim of maintaining emergency services and enabling medical teams to focus on caring for the most vulnerable groups.
On Saturday, the government announced enhanced preparedness to confront forest fires, and also ordered tighter monitoring of water supplies to the many French nuclear reactors.
The government said that closing schools would only be a last option, but it made clear that the end-of-year exams scheduled for the afternoon may be postponed until the next morning or their dates may be rearranged.
Government meeting
On Saturday, Prime Minister Sebastian Lecorno held a government meeting to manage the heat crisis, and decided to hold another meeting on Sunday.
Lecorno asked the ministers to develop better plans to adapt France to future heat waves, including “air conditioning if necessary.”
In this context, France recalls the memory of a heat wave in 2003, which caused the death of about 15,000 elderly people, and constituted a major review point in the country’s dealings with heat waves.
European extension
The heat wave extends beyond France to other European countries. In Germany, warnings were issued covering most parts of the country as temperatures approached 38 degrees Celsius.
The German Meteorological Service warned that the combination of heat and humidity could lead to strong thunderstorms.
In Italy, expectations of temperatures reaching between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius have changed the details of daily life and tourist activity in a number of towns.
As for Spain, the Spanish Football Federation decided to close the fan zone it had set up in Plaza de Colón in Madrid and provided it with giant screens.
Experts say climate change is making heat waves more frequent and intense in different regions of Europe, increasing the risk of health emergencies and economic turmoil during the summer months.
According to estimates by the French Public Health Agency, heat waves caused the death of about 5,700 people in France in 2025, compared to about 3,700 the previous year, and three-quarters of the deaths were recorded among those over the age of 75 years.
The World Health Organization’s European office said this June that more than 200,000 people had died on the continent from heat-related causes during the past four years, noting that most of these deaths could have been avoided.
The organization’s office called on countries and institutions to implement plans to deal with heat waves, such as opening cooling centers and introducing rest periods or flexible work shifts that allow workers to avoid the midday sun.
