s temperatures in Paris approach record highs, locals and tourists flocked to parks on Monday (June 22) for an overnight opening authorised by city authorities.

Usually closed at 8 p.m., Buttes-Chaumont Park kept its gates open all night for visitors seeking relief from the heat in buildings without air conditioning.

As evening set in, some brought laptops and other devices to watch the World Cup match between France and Iraq away from crowded venues.

“We brought the tablecloth and a couple of other things, the computer, because there was a game on. And we’re enjoying ourselves,” said Julie Morin, a guide for educational workshops at a farm.

She came to Buttes-Chaumont Park with her partner, Frederic Sfeir, and their dog, Sherlock.

With this week's temperatures in Paris forecast to reach record highs for the month of June, according to national weather service Meteo France, many people said staying indoors was unbearable.

“At our place, we use time-honoured techniques like the famous wet towel in front of a fan, which actually works really well,” joked Adrien Corderot, a marketing specialist.

Many praised the initiative to keep parks open overnight.

“The park offers some privacy for sleeping, and I think it’s quieter. So I think it should stay open like this all year round, for homeless people as well,” said Saskia, a student who came to celebrate her birthday at the park with her group of friends.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (JUNE 22, 2026) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL)

1.⁠ ⁠MOON

2.⁠ ⁠VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING ON THE GRASS AT BUTTES-CHAUMONT PARK

3.⁠ ⁠STREET LAMP

4.⁠ ⁠⁠VARIOUS OF STREET LAMP REFLECTION ON WATER

5. PEOPLE PLAYING WITH BALL ON GRASS

6.⁠ ⁠⁠VARIOUS OF GUIDE FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON A FARM, JULIE MORIN, HER PARTNER AND PHYSICAL THERAPY STUDENT, FREDERIC SFEIR, AND THEIR DOG, SHERLOCK, WATCHING FRANCE-IRAQ WORLD CUP MATCH ON GRASS LAWN

7.⁠ ⁠(SOUNDBITE) (French) GUIDE FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON A FARM, JULIE MORIN, SAYING :

“It's really hot. We don't have air-conditioning, we have a measly fan. So we waited until 9 p.m. for it to cool down a bit. I'd prepared enough food to last us the next three days. We just had the meal we'd planned for tonight. We brought the tablecloth and a couple of other things, the computer, because there was a game on. And we’re enjoying ourselves. We might not spend the night there, but at least we’ll spend a few hours cooling off.”

8. MORIN, SFEIR AND THEIR DOG WATCHING FRANCE-IRAQ WORLD CUP MATCH ON GRASS

9. DOG

10. (SOUNDBITE) (French) GUIDE FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON A FARM, JULIE MORIN, SAYING :

“Unfortunately, this is going to happen more and more often. We’re going to have to adapt. Rebuilding housing is going to take a long time. But just opening the parks like this gives us a possibility to get out and to live a little better. Still, it’s hot for everyone. But it’s true that yesterday, when I saw that the park was still open at 1:30 or 2 a.m, I thought to myself that it would be a great idea for tonight. It really does make the situation more bearable, being able to go out to the parks, after all.”

11. PEOPLE SITTING ON GRASS⁠

12. MARKETING SPECIALIST, ADRIEN CORDEROT, AND THEATRE ACTRESS, CLAIRE SCHMITT, SITTING ON GRASS

13. SCHMITT DRINKING WATER

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARKETING SPECIALIST, ADRIEN CORDEROT, AND THEATRE ACTRESS, CLAIRE SCHMITT, SAYING:

CORDEROT: “And at our place, we use time-honoured techniques like the famous wet towel in front of a fan, which actually works really well.”

SCHMITT: “Yes, it’s really hot, really hot. We prefer to be outside in the evening. Yes, yes, absolutely. It just doesn’t cool down.”

15 PERSON WALKING IN PARK

16. SCHMITT AND CORDEROT SITTING ON GRASS

17. (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARKETING SPECIALIST, ADRIEN CORDEROT, SAYING :

“I think that today, we’re simply experiencing what we’ve been warned about for years regarding global warming. And today, I think it’s a reality we can no longer deny even on an individual level, like when we come to a park at 11 p.m. to find a bit of cool air. The fact is global warming is very much here.”

18. VARIOUS OF STUDENT SASKIA AND FRIENDS SITTING ON GRASS

19. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SASKIA, A STUDENT, SAYING :

“The park also offers some privacy for sleeping, and I think it’s quieter. So I think it should stay open like this all year round, for homeless people as well.”

20.⁠ ⁠PERSON RUNNING IN PARK

21.⁠ ⁠⁠PEOPLE WALKING BY BENCH

22.⁠ ⁠⁠SIGN READING (French): “BUTTES-CHAUMONT PARK”

23.⁠ ⁠⁠PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF BUTTES-CHAUMONT PARK