Algerian culture in Paris and its region

Yennayer

Since 2020, Yennayer, the Amazigh new year celebrated each January, has been in France's national inventory of intangible cultural heritage. Each January since 2024, a carnival parade for Yennayer has crossed the 19th and 20th arrondissements. On 10 January 2026, the third parade went from the town hall of the 19th to the place de la Réunion, in the 20th.

On 13 January 2024, Amazigh associations held a shared celebration in the 11th arrondissement for Yennayer 2974, the Amazigh new year.

Writers and artists

The Kabyle writer Mouloud Mammeri was born on 28 December 1917 at Taourirt Mimoun, in Kabylie. As a young man, he studied at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, at 123 rue Saint-Jacques, in the 5th arrondissement, hoping to enter the École normale supérieure. In 1939, he was called up for military service.

Massinissa Selmani, an artist born in Algiers in 1980, shows his work at the Galerie Anne-Sarah Benichou, on the rue Chapon, in the 3rd arrondissement. The gallery gave him solo exhibitions in 2017 and 2021.

On 23 November 2024, the Maison de la Poésie, on the rue Saint-Martin, held an evening on Algerian literature. The guests were Maya Ouabadi, founder of the Algiers publisher Éditions Motifs, and the film maker Lamine Ammar-Khodja.

The Galerie Claude Lemand, at 70 avenue Jean Moulin, in the 14th arrondissement, held many solo exhibitions of the Algerian painter Abdallah Benanteur from 1990 to 2021. Born in Mostaganem on 3 March 1931, the painter died at Ivry-sur-Seine on 31 December 2017.

On 17 May 2024, the Bobino theatre, at 20 rue de la Gaîté, hosted "France-Algérie", an evening of Franco-Algerian comedy.

The Musée national de l'histoire de l'immigration is at the Palais de la Porte Dorée, 293 avenue Daumesnil, in the 12th arrondissement. From 9 October 2012 to 19 May 2013, its exhibition "Vies d'exil" showed the daily life of Algerians in France from 1954 to 1962.

Concert halls

For decades, Barbès and the Goutte d'Or, in the 18th arrondissement, were a centre of music from the Maghreb, including Algerian music.

The Olympia concert hall, on the boulevard des Capucines, in the 9th arrondissement, often hosts Algerian artists. The Kabyle singer Idir played there on 4 and 5 February 2013, and the Algerian rapper Soolking on 18 October 2022.

On 20 April 2025, the hall held "One Night in Algeria", an evening of chaabi, raï and Kabyle song. The singers included Cheba Zahouania and Kamel El Harrachi.

At the Accor Arena, 8 boulevard de Bercy, the Algerian singer and rapper Soolking gave a concert on 25 May 2024. On 10 May 2025, DJ Snake, who is of Algerian origin, played at a late party there after his show at the Stade de France.

On the boulevard Victor, in the 15th arrondissement, the Dôme de Paris concert hall regularly hosts Algerian artists. The raï singer Cheb Mami performed there on 19 September 2025, and the Kabyle singer Ali Amran on 18 October 2025.

The Algerian rapper Soolking gave a concert at the Zénith Paris La Villette, on the avenue Jean-Jaurès, on 15 March 2023.

Music also links the 20th arrondissement to Algeria. The Studio de l'Ermitage, at 8 rue de l'Ermitage, hosted the Algerian singer and guitarist Sidi Bémol almost every season from 2021 to 2026.

Streets, shops and associations

Rue de Laghouat, in the Goutte d'Or, is named after the Algerian oasis town of Laghouat. Barbès is known as the place in Paris to find Algerian foods. Its shops sell frik for chorba soup, karantika, zlabia from Blida and Boufarik, makrout, pastries from Constantine and kesra bread.

The Communauté des Talents Algériens, an association of Algerian professionals, students and graduates, has its seat on the rue des Tournelles. It brings them together for mutual help and networking.

The Amazigh, or Berber, association Taferka was created in 2004. In 2026, it is registered in Montreuil, on the avenue de la Résistance.

The Adda'wa mosque stands on the rue de Tanger, near Stalingrad. For many years its rector was Larbi Kechat, who was born in Algeria.