Aussie life in Paris: footy, Anzac Day and mates

Paris doesn't have an Aussie pub on every corner, and that's half the charm. The community is smaller and closer, and it's tied to France by more history than most people realise.

The short version

Australians and France go back a long way. Diplomatic and consular links date to 1842, and the two countries fought side by side in both World Wars [1].
Anzac Day in France centres on the dawn service at the Australian National Memorial near Villers-Bretonneux, a couple of hours' drive north of Paris. Tickets have been required [2].
The Sir John Monash Centre, right behind the memorial, is free to enter [3].
Australian rules football is alive in France. France shared the honours with Ireland at the 2026 AFL Europe Euro Cup, and the 2026 Champions League was held in Lyon [4].
The Australian Embassy is in the 15th arrondissement, near the Eiffel Tower [5].

How big is the community?

Smaller than London's, and harder to count. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade doesn't publish a figure for Australians living in France. What it does show is how much traffic runs between the two countries: in 2024 there were 147,940 returns by Australian residents coming home from France [1]. That's trips, not residents, but it tells you how many of us pass through.

The people who stay tend to be here for a reason: a French partner, a job in fashion, finance, tech or hospitality, study, or a working holiday that turned into something longer. You'll find them everywhere from the 11th's bars to the suburbs west of the city where many international schools and companies sit.

Because there's no single "Aussie neighbourhood", finding your people takes a bit more effort. That's where clubs, commemorations and our group come in.

Anzac Day in France

For many Australians in Paris, Anzac Day is the moment the community comes together. And unlike most cities, the ground here carries the history directly.

The dawn service at Villers-Bretonneux

The main Australian dawn service in France is held at the Australian National Memorial near Villers-Bretonneux, in the Somme. In 2024, the Australian Embassy listed a pre-ceremony program from 4am and the official service at 5:30am [2]. Tickets were mandatory, booked online in advance, with airport-style security on site [2]. The site has no permanent seating or shelter and the embassy warned it would likely be very cold and possibly wet [2].

Check the embassy and Department of Veterans' Affairs announcements each year, as arrangements change.

The rest of the day

The 2024 program also included a French town ceremony in Villers-Bretonneux at 9am and an Australian ceremony at the Digger Memorial in Bullecourt at 4pm [2]. No transport was provided, so most people drive, join an organised tour, or share a hire car with friends [2].

Anzac Day in France (2024 format)	Time	Tickets
Dawn service, Australian National Memorial	Official service 5:30am	Required [2]
Town ceremony, Villers-Bretonneux	9am	Not required [2]
Wreath-laying, Bullecourt	3pm	Not required [2]
Australian ceremony, Digger Memorial, Bullecourt	4pm	Not required [2]

The Sir John Monash Centre

Behind the memorial sits the Sir John Monash Centre, which tells the story of Australians on the Western Front. Entry is free [3]. It opens daily from 9:30am to 6pm between March and October, and 10am to 5pm from November to February, with closures over Christmas, in February for maintenance and on 1 May [3]. It's a moving day trip any time of year, and far quieter than in April.

Footy, cricket and the weekend

Australian rules football

Yes, there's footy in France. AFL Europe runs competitions across the continent, including the Champions League, the Euro Cup and the Anzac Cup [4]. The 2026 Champions League was held in Lyon, and France and Ireland claimed glory at the 2026 Euro Cup in Newcastle, in the UK [4]. Expect to practise your French at training as well as your kicking.

To find a club near Paris, start with AFL Europe's "find your local club" listing, which links to the French federation [4].

Cricket

Cricket is a minority sport in France, but it is played, and clubs tend to draw a mix of nationalities from cricket-loving countries. Expect enthusiastic amateurs, fewer grounds than at home and teas that won't match a country club in Bowral. Ask around in the community for current club contacts.

Grand final at breakfast

The AFL grand final is played on a Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, which lands early Saturday morning in Paris. Some Australians gather to watch together with coffee and croissants instead of meat pies. The NRL grand final follows a little later in the season, kicking off on a Sunday evening in Sydney, which means a Sunday morning or lunchtime start in Paris. Watch for screenings posted in our group.

Food from home

Paris is one of the great food cities, so you won't starve. But sometimes you want a sausage roll.

Coffee: Australian-style specialty cafés have spread across Paris over the past decade, and plenty of them serve a proper flat white.
Brunch: the Aussie brunch has firmly arrived, smashed avo and all.
Pantry staples: Vegemite, Tim Tams and Milo turn up in international and British grocery shops, at import prices. Many people restock from home.
Barbecue: shared courtyards and tiny balconies make the classic backyard barbie tricky. Picnics in the park are the Paris answer. Check the rules before you light anything.

Staying connected to home

The embassy

The Australian Embassy in France is at 4 Rue Jean Rey in the 15th, and the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre number is +61 2 6261 3305 [5]. The embassy handles passports, notarial services and support for Australians in trouble, and it runs commemorations.

Practical ties

Voting. You can stay on the roll while abroad. See our voting from overseas guide.
Kids. Babies born in France can become Australian citizens by descent. See babies born overseas.
Time zones. Paris is eight to ten hours behind the east coast, depending on daylight saving at each end. Morning calls home work best for Paris evenings.

Beating homesickness in a grey Paris winter

Paris winters are short on daylight and long on drizzle. A few things help:

Commit to something weekly. A footy training, a language exchange, a running club. Turning up regularly is how acquaintances become mates.
Learn French properly. The city opens up once you can joke with the baker.
Get out of town. Trains reach the coast, the Alps and other countries quickly.
Plan a trip to the Somme. Many Australians find the visit gives Paris a deeper meaning.
Say yes to French friends. The Aussie network is great, but don't let it be your only one.

The easiest first step is online. Join Cooee France, our Facebook group for Australians in France, for grand final screenings, Anzac Day car-pools, footy and cricket contacts, and people who understand why you're excited about finding Shapes.

Aussie life in Paris: footy, a Somme dawn service and your people