The traditional May Day parade, called by trade unions, will take place this Friday afternoon in Paris, between Place de la République and Place de la Nation. The police prefecture has issued an order with temporary traffic and parking restrictions along the route.
May Day: A Day of Mobilization and Demands
As every year, demonstrations and gatherings are planned across France at the call of trade union organizations to celebrate and defend Labor Day, an international workers’ holiday since the end of the 19th century. This year’s demonstrations follow a recent controversy stemming from a bill that aims to allow florists and bakers to employ their staff on this day.
“Our demonstrations this year will be an opportunity to celebrate this victory and to solemnly warn politicians and employers: we do NOT touch May 1st!” declared the CGT, which will also march for purchasing power, peace, and against the far-right.
Traffic Restrictions in Paris
In Paris, the procession will set off at 2:00 PM from Place de la République (11th arrondissement) to reach Place de la Nation, by taking Boulevard Voltaire. To ensure the smooth running of the demonstration, the police prefecture has issued an order providing for temporary traffic and parking restrictions.
“A traffic management system will be put in place around Place de la Nation and Place de la République and along the procession’s route as it progresses,” indicated the prefecture in a statement released on the social network X.
Several roads located in the 10th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements will be affected. To facilitate the smooth running of the demonstration, the Paris Police Prefecture has issued an order temporarily modifying parking in certain streets located in the 10th, 11th, and 12th arrondissements of the capital.
Motorists Advised to Anticipate Travel
Motorists are advised to anticipate their travel. “Vehicles parked along the route or its surroundings will be subject to displacement measures, as parking will be prohibited from April 30th at 10:00 PM until May 1st, 2026 at 8:00 PM,” emphasized the prefecture, which recommends that motorists widely bypass the area throughout the event.
In 2025, between 157,000 and 300,000 people marched during the May Day processions. The authorities counted 157,000 demonstrators, including 32,000 in the capital. For its part, the CGT reported approximately 300,000 demonstrators in France across some 270 processions, including about 100,000 in Paris.
Source: TF1 Info
