This is the time of year to join clubs and associations in France

September marks the start of a new school year with la rentrée, but it is also the moment that clubs and societies start back after the summer break. 

From sports and music to crafts, languages and cultural activities, September is a good time to take up a new hobby or find a way to meet people in your local community. 

For those looking to improve their French, for example, language schools and organisations also tend to start their new programmes around this time. 

Extracurricular activities such as playing a musical instrument or playing a sport, are limited in French schools, with children instead joining external clubs. For this reason, many clubs - even those aimed at adults - follow the academic calendar.

Many villages and towns in France host the forum des associations at the start of September, for local residents to browse stalls hosted by a variety of organisations offering classes and activities. This is a great opportunity to get inspiration, ask any questions, sign up for a taster class or see demonstrations. 

Inscriptions for some activities, such as dance schools or conservatoires, may open before the summer holidays and so places can sometimes fill up before la rentrée. 

However, in most cases you can sign up for a club in the first few weeks of September in time for the first ‘official’ sessions of the new term. 

Sport clubs

If planning to join a sporting team or club, adults will likely be asked to provide a doctor’s certificate stating that you are physically fit to take part, for insurance purposes. Children no longer need a certificat médical to join a club, and instead parents must complete a questionnaire de santé.

Fees to join associations can be up to €200 for the year however figures vary substantially by sport, and by region.

For the price of your subscription, you usually have membership of the local club, but also of a national federation covering your sport, with the paperwork detailing where the money goes.

It is these federations, which are run on national, regional, and departmental levels, which grant the licences, which mean you are officially registered.

Young people aged between six and 30, meeting certain eligibility criteria, can also benefit from the PassSport - a €50 government grant that can be used to pay for or contribute towards membership costs at a gym, or any other sport club or facility in France.

Free trial classes

September is also a good time to go along to a cours d’essai gratuit (free trial class) to figure out what you do and do not enjoy. 

Some places still require you to book a slot if planning to go along to a trial class, while other clubs may allow you to turn up on the day. 

Some societies also offer free try-outs on a running basis and keep inscriptions open throughout the year, meaning you can join in any month. In this case, you may be offered discounted fees depending on how many sessions in the cycle remain.

Looking to improve your French?

The Université Populaire Européenne de Strasbourg offers an affordable option with a wide range of French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses for the 2026/27 academic year.

The courses cover levels from A1 for complete beginners through to C1 for advanced learners, with different formats, timetables and course lengths available. 

There are also more specialised options, including conversation classes, spelling and grammar courses, and preparation for French language examinations such as the DELF and TCF. Some courses are also offered online via Zoom.

For anyone unsure which level to choose, the organisation provides a free online test to help assess their French before enrolling.

Prices vary according to the course. For example, an A1.1 beginners' course running from September 2026 to January 2027 costs €230 for 40 sessions, while more intensive options are also available. All courses also require the €40 annual UPE membership fee.

Registrations for the 2026/27 academic year opened on June 23, and places are available on a number of courses, although some are already listed as full.

You can see the full programme and available courses here.

Alternatives to joining a club

There are other ways of enjoying activities in France from time to time without the commitment of signing up to a club. 

Sports such as pétanque, known traditionally for being played among older adults, has increasingly become a hit among young people, foreign tourists and Americans in France. 

In this case, most towns have free-to-use boulodromes (the terrain where the game is played) resembling long rectangular pits filled with sand or gravel. All you need is a set of boules and someone to play with. 

Ping-pong tables can also sometimes be found in parks, and other infrastructure such as running tracks and outdoor football pitches or basketball hoops, are also usually free and open to the public. 

In larger cities, you may find free activities such as soirées dansantes or urban sketching groups that do not require you to sign up. You can try searching for sessions using a location filter in the events tab on Facebook, or on other social media platforms.

Libraries are also a good place to look for monthly book clubs, weekend craft sessions and more.

Whatever you fancy trying, joining clubs is a great way of meeting French-speakers and making social connections in your local community.