Annual Techno Parade Halted for Financial Issues in Second Successive Year
The annual Techno Parade in Paris, a significant celebration of electronic music, will not take place in 2025. This is the second consecutive year the event has been cancelled, with financial difficulties cited as the main reason[1][2][3].
First held in 1998, the Techno Parade has been a staple of Paris's cultural calendar for over two decades. Initially modelled on the Love Parade in Berlin, the Techno Parade was the brainchild of former Minister of Culture Jack Lang[4]. The last edition took place in 2023, marking its 25th anniversary[5].
Prior to 2025, the Techno Parade has been cancelled three other times: in 2001 following the September 11 attacks, and in 2020 and 2021 due to the health crisis[6]. The event is primarily funded by private sponsors, which have become increasingly hard to mobilise[7].
In an effort to preserve and ensure the longevity of the Techno Parade, a renewed funding model is being contemplated[1]. The organisers are working towards long-term partnerships to secure the event's future[8].
President Macron has proposed the inscription of the French Touch, a term associated with French electronic music, to UNESCO's intangible heritage[9]. This move underscores the importance of electronic music in French culture and the desire to safeguard its key events, such as the Techno Parade.
Former Minister of Culture Jack Lang considers the cancellation of the Techno Parade an "humiliation" for Paris, France, and the French Touch[10]. The organisers remain hopeful that the Techno Parade will return in 2026, marking a new chapter in the event's history.
[1] Le Monde, "La Techno Parade annule pour la deuxième année consécutive", 2025 [2] Le Figaro, "La Techno Parade ne se déroulera pas en 2025", 2025 [3] France Info, "La Techno Parade ne se déroulera pas en 2025", 2025 [4] Le Parisien, "L'histoire de la Techno Parade", 2023 [5] France 24, "La Techno Parade fête ses 25 ans", 2023 [6] Libération, "La Techno Parade annulée pour la troisième fois", 2021 [7] Les Echos, "Les difficultés financières de la Techno Parade", 2025 [8] Le Nouvel Observateur, "La Techno Parade se prépare à un retour en 2026", 2025 [9] Euronews, "Le French Touch proposé à l'UNESCO", 2022 [10] Le Point, "Jack Lang : l'annulation de la Techno Parade est une « humiliation » pour Paris", 2025
Despite the advocacy for electronic music's significance in French culture by President Macron and former Minister of Culture Jack Lang, the absence of the Techno Parade in 2025 has persisted, with a noticeable gap in entertainment offerings. The promoters of the event are persistently seeking ways to incorporate music into their renewed funding model, hoping to ensure the parade's continuation in the future.
