Clothes don’t make the man. May may be written small, but it’s lived large. So, what’s on in Lyon in May? As the saying goes, May should be enjoyed as it pleases us. And that’s just as well, because with all our ideas for good things to do, you’ll be spoilt for choice. May is on!
Make the most of the last few days of the sporting vacations organized by the Metropole de Lyon
A not-to-be-missed event for all budding Antoine Duponts. During the Easter vacations, the Metropole de Lyon is organizing a series of free activities to introduce youngsters aged 3 to 18 to the practice of sport. BMX, archery, volleyball and rugby are just some of the activities on offer. Every year since 2021, the program has enabled thousands of young people in the Lyon conurbation to discover disciplines other than soccer or swimming. It’s an initiative for all the great champions of future generations! Participation is free, but reservations are strongly recommended.
📍 Several venues in Lyon Bron, Dardilly, Décines-Charpieu, Meyzieu and Villeurbanne
📅 Date: until May 2, 2025
🎟️ All info here
Discover the secrets of science with your family
Part amusement park, part science museum, Science Expériences is a fun, enriching hybrid activity that takes an entertaining approach to science. Using cutting-edge technology such as virtual reality, video mapping and interactive activities, this tour takes you on a kaleidoscopic journey to the heart of science. From the farthest reaches of the universe to the depths of the abyss, via the center of the Earth, you’re invited to learn while having fun.
Location: Science Expériences, 32 Rue Thomassin, Lyon, 69002
Date: multiple dates
🎟️ From €22
Participate in the 16th edition of the “Courir pour Elles” race
Calling all sports enthusiasts with a big heart! The 16th edition of the “Courir pour Elles” walk/run awaits you on Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18 at Paric Miribel Jonage. The program includes several races, but all with the same goal: to support women affected by cancer by offering them adapted physical activity programs, and to raise awareness among as many people as possible of the benefits of physical activity.
Location: Grand Parc Miribel Jonage
Date: May 17 and 18
🎟️ All info on the race website.
Revisiting the Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure
With LUMINISCENCE, the immersive show that illuminates France’s most beautiful monuments, the Basilica of Saint-Bonaventure shines with a thousand lights! Sublimated by high-precision digital projections, this mythical site takes on a new dimension, combining spectacle and history thanks to 360-degree video mapping and 3D spatialized sound. The perfect opportunity to (re)discover this jewel of Lyonnais architecture!
Location: Saint-Bonaventure Basilica
Date: multiple dates
🎟️ From €23
Get your hiking boots out of the closet!
May is the real comeback month for hiking. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll or an ultra trail, alone or with the family, walking in the fresh air is always a pleasure. And Lyon is one of the best places in France to get away from it all in no time. Do you prefer the cobbled streets of old villages to the footpaths of the promenades? Lyon also has a great selection of villages to visit. Whatever the case, in 2025, I walk, you walk, we walk!
European Museum Night at the Musée Urbain Tony Garnier
On Saturday May 17, the Musée Urbain Tony Garnier will be opening its doors for the first time at night, giving all visitors the chance to enjoy this cultural space for free. Conceived and built by the architect between the wars, the Cité Tony Garnier features 25 large-scale urban paintings, an apartment from the 1930s and a whole program on the integration of art into the urban environment.
📍 Location: Musée Urbain Tony Garnier, 4 rue des Serpollières, Lyon 8
📅 Date: Saturday May 17, 6 pm to 10 pm.
🎟️ Free admission, but capacity is limited for these tours. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Enjoy a drink with friends on the terrace
It may sound trivial, but this little pleasure can radically change the face of your day. Whether it’s a cup of coffee on a shady terrace or a good beer on the corner of a counter, the simple pleasure of sharing should be prescribed!
A series of 5-star concerts
This year’s crop of concerts in Lyon promises to be particularly good. In May, we’re offering you (among others) Zaho de Sagazan, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dua Lipa. Are you unavailable in May, or do you just fancy a packed house? Come and enjoy the Candlelight magic, with more intimate candlelit concerts in magical venues.
Go to the “Trop Forts!” exhibition at the Musée des Confluences
But how do they do it? We never think about it, but some animals evolve in extreme conditions that humans couldn’t endure for even an hour. For example, the penguin endures temperatures reaching -60°C, the camel can go without food and water for several days, or the llama can go without oxygen? This fascinating exhibition also invites us to reflect on climate change and the importance of our own adaptation. Discover it with your family!
📍 Location: 86 Quai Perrache, Lyon 2
📅 Date: Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11am to 10pm. Friday and Saturday from 11am to 11pm.
🎟️ Price: €12 full price
Discover the magic of Candlelight concerts
Candlelight magic is back in full force for spring. All the enchantment of candlelight concerts unites with the gaiety of fine weather to bring you a moment of great intensity. Enjoy the greatest musical tunes at Bonaventure Basilica and Notre Dame de Fourvière… Coming soon: tribute concerts to Coldplay, Hans Zimmer, Edit Piaf and Céline Dion. Take a look at Lyon’s Candlelight program over the coming months.
Dive into the world of Van Gogh
This is undoubtedly the most eagerly awaited cultural event of the year. After conquering more than 5 million visitors worldwide, the exhibition is coming to Lyon for our greatest pleasure. 360º panoramic projections bring you right up close to the painter’s work. Already had the chance to go? Don’t miss this year’s other exhibitions in Lyon.
📍 Studio 24 – 24 Rue Emile Decorps, Villeurbanne
📅 Date: from February 21
🎟️ Admission here
Getting to Les Nuits Sonores (May 28 to June 1)
Les Nuits Sonores is to electronic music what the Fête des Lumières is to visual spectacle: a Lyon pride with an international reputation. And once again this year, the festival hits hard. Nearly a hundred artists are expected to perform on a theme as bold as it is committed: TECHNO-POLITICS. A major new feature is the addition of two new stage spaces to enhance the daytime program, while three stages will light up the nights at La Sucrière. The 22nd edition promises to be intense, festive and, above all, unmissable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJBD_2GPYSE
📍 Théâtre des Célestins, La Sucrière, Les Grandes Locos, Lyon
📅 May 28 to June 1, 2025
🎟️ Admission from €17.50 for night tickets
🎤 Anetha, Massive Attack, Jeff Mills, Peggy GOu, Ellen Allien… and so many more!
👉 Find out more on the official website (remember to clear your caches if the site doesn’t display properly)
Admire the many frescoes in Lyon this May
The sunny days of spring are undoubtedly the most beautiful of the year. Lyon offers a light, especially in spring, that’s hard to beat. Let’s take this opportunity to rediscover the city’s treasures, and in particular its many frescoes. From the best-known to the newest and most secret, it’s always worth a look!