2026 celebrates the 21st anniversary of Macaron Day in Paris! This annual charity event founded by Pierre Hermé, and traditionally organised by Relais Desserts to welcome Spring, has a different vibe to it this year.
Find out how to support the event in Paris and wherever you are in the world with my own macaron anniversary celebrations for you below.
This post was first published on 10th March 2016.
Ever since, I have updated annual editions for this charitable event (not sponsored).
Guide to Macaron Day Paris 2026 with Pierre Hermé
In 2025, Pierre Hermé marks the 21st anniversary of le Jour du Macaron in Paris with a series of special events from Friday March 20th to Sunday 22nd. This year's celebration features:
- Charitable Contributions: Proceeds of macarons sales will be donated to the Association Princesse Margot to help children and adolescents with cancer.
- Charity Run: A unique event organized in collaboration with the Food Runners Club on Sunday March 22. Fitness is mixed with gourmet experiences as participants enjoy stops at various Pierre Hermé boutiques throughout Paris.
So, if you're in Paris, pop by one of his boutiques to support the cause.
For the macaron choice, anyone who has tasted them is bound to have their favourites! Hermé has two collections: Signature and Infiniment®.
- Signature collection highlights: Ispahan (rose, raspberry, lychee), Mogador (milk chocolate-passion fruit).
Also try: Vénus (quince and rose), Chado (Matcha green tea and yuzu), Solento (mango and lime), and Fleur d'agrumes (jasmine and grapefruit). I have a particular soft spot for the Corsican flavour, as my husband is Corsican (and Hermé's wife is too!). Try the Ambrosia (honey, mandarine orange and immortelle flower), which evokes the Corsican herbs or maquis. - Infinement collection highlights: Infinement caramel, pignon de cèdre (cedar cone), and Madagascan Vanilla.
Hermé's Paris Macaron Store Guide by Arrondissement
4 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris (Friday/Saturday 11am-7.30pm; Sunday closed)
39 avenue de l'Opéra, 75002 Paris (Friday-Sunday 10am-8pm)
4 rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris (Friday & Saturday: 10am-8pm; Sunday 10am-7pm)
18 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
72 rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
126 blvd Saint Germain, 75006 Paris (10am-8pm)
53-57 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
Publicis Drugstore, 133 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris (Friday-Sunday: 11.30am-8.30pm)
89 boulevard Malesherbes, 75008 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
Lafayette Gourmet, 35 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris (Friday 10am-8pm; closed Sat; Sunday 11am-8pm)
185 rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
58 avenue Paul Doumer, 75016 Paris (as rue de Bretagne)
For more details, see the Pierre Hermé official website.
What About Other Parisian Pâtisseries?
Every Spring Day on 20th March signified la fête des macarons or Macaron Day in Paris. The aim was to buy as many macarons from the participating patisseries from Relais Desserts around Paris to raise money for charity (Ladurée has never participated).
Since Relais Desserts hasn't been involved for the last four years, most of the other top Paris pastry chefs aren't running Macaron Day promotions. You'll find them in my top 20 guide to the best macarons in Paris.
Make Your Own: Macaron Recipes
Can't make it to Paris? Celebrate Macaron Day this Spring by whipping up your own batch. See my step-by-step recipes for both salted caramel macarons and raspberry macarons.
I'm beyond excited because my first e-book is out!
Master Crème Caramel: Secrets to 5 French Classic Desserts from Paris.
It uses up egg yolks so you can save the egg whites for macarons!
Jean
I should be ashamed to admit this but I have never tasted a Macaron. Not that I don’t want to just never have. I must remedy that!
Jill Colonna
Never be ashamed and so glad you mentioned this, Jean. I do hope you try one of the best for your first, though, so that you don't get one of these overly sweet ones or dry - they give macarons a bad name. Here's to your first soon. Who knows, maybe even homemade!
Thomasina
These photos are amazing Jill. I absolutely love macarons - all flavours - and one day I hope to make it to Paris for Macaron Day.
Jill Colonna
Thanks Thomasina - I do hope so too, as it's a wonderful initiative munching on macarons for a good cause.
Michele Moreno
My 3 favorite Macarons are Lemon, Raspberry or Pistachios. Absolutely delicious. But to be honest, it's hard to decide because all of them are so good. Thank you Jill for all these fabulous recipes.
Betty
What a fantastic blog post, Jill and you know I am eating up every word. I don't know when or if we will ever be able to do this, but, in the meantime, we are quite seasoned armchair travelers and are so appreciative of reading like this to help us to imagine we are there with you.
Jill Colonna
It's a great pleasure to share this, Betty. I think we're all the more sensitive now to armchair travel after the last couple of years. Have a lovely weekend and happy birthday to your Victor.
Christina Conte
Oh to be in Paris in the spring on Macaron Day! Maybe next year? Lucky for those who can enjoy it this year! Hope this is over soon!
Jill Colonna
Well, it has been quite dramatic since I posted this, since our First Minister announced a 3rd lockdown starting 20 March to 18 April! It has been quite a marathon to pin down the powers at be to find out if it IS going ahead and even during the best of times, it's difficult to get any news about the event each year.
Luckily, as patisseries will still be open during confinement around Paris, the good news is that Macaron Day is going ahead.
June S
Can't believe I'm going to be in Paris that weekend. Can't wait for the tour Jill.
Jill Colonna
Jings - I never answered you! How times have changed - would do anything for you to be able to come over this year. I'll buy a few macarons in Paris Saturday and zoom with you x
Betty
Oh Jill! What fun to read about Macaron Day, even after the fact! So many fun flavors to try and for such a good cause! I do so hope to be in Paris for this special day some year.
Thank you for the great macaron-hunting inspiration!
Betty
David
Oh, I wish I were there to participate! (Is there any way to make a donation from afar?) What a wonderful way to raise funds! And so pleased to see so many wonderful shops participating.
Jill Colonna
David - have a look at the Relais Desserts website and they have a list of your nearest participating boutique for Macaron Day.
Jamie
*swooooon* How I wish I was in Paris! This is most definitely the complete list! And sadly I can't even be in Nantes for Vincent Guerlais' macarons. I must either make my own or try those of the local Chinon pastry chef. Perfect list! And I LOVE Carol's drawings!
Jill Colonna
Thanks for popping in Jamie. Yes, there's still more happening for Macaron Day outside of Paris - even in our Banlieue we have Grandin participating too from Saint Germain-en-Laye. Hope you manage to find the time from your busy hotel schedule to take part in Relais Desserts in Chinon.
Thomasina
I love Carol Gillot's maps. I love macarons - absolutely all the flavours I can get. I love Paris too and I wish I could be there for macaron weekend. Thank you Jill for all the macaron information.
Jill Colonna
Glad to be of help - and even if you can't make it for Macaron Day, hope you come soon to taste them for yourself in Paris and become Mad About Macarons 😉
Liz
What a terrific cause---and excuse to buy lots and lots of macarons (well, donate and get free macarons :)). If you happen to see Mardi, give her a hug from me---and a big one for you, too!!! xo
Jill Colonna
Thanks Liz. It's a lovely thought to enjoy macarons and give to a good cause at the same time. Hugs back to your side of the pond!
Monique
I wholeheartedly agree that Carol should paint the 2017 map!
Love her art.
Jill Colonna
Glad we agree, Monique. Hoping it happens for 2017!
Parisbreakfast
What a fabulous rundown on all the best stops for JOUR DU MACARON day marathon.
You're pictures are lush.
And THANKS for showing the map Jill!!
You're a carlin' girl!!
Jill Colonna
Love so much your map, Carol, but dear to the heart is the one you did in Teatime in Paris, bien sûr. Talented girl!
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
My plans for the 19th and 20th are sorted!!
Jill Colonna
Glad to be of service, Mardi - enjoy yourself next weekend!