PARIS: France issued a red heatwave alert across more than a third of the country for Sunday as a ferocious heatwave dug in and the government banned the consumption of alcohol during the annual Fete de la Musique festivities.

The prolonged heatwave, which began earlier this week, has disrupted the country, forcing the cancellation of dozens of trains and the suspension of classes.

Authorities are also concerned about how the annual Fete de la Musique celebrations will unfold across the country on Sunday when musicians take over the streets with free performances and revellers party into the night.

“Very high temperatures are settling in for the long term across the country,” Meteo-France said as it announced the highest heatwave warning for 35 of France’s departments, or administrative regions, for Sunday. Paris is one of the regions on the red-alert list.

According to calculations, around 26 million people are to be affected by the alert. Another 45 departments will be under orange alert. “The combination of alcohol, heat and proximity to water — those are three risk factors that don’t mix well,” Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said on Friday.

On Saturday, the government said that alcohol consumption during the annual street festivals would be banned in departments under red heatwave alert. “Prefects will issue decrees banning alcohol consumption in public spaces in the departments under red alert,” the government said in a statement following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026