Wild swimming in the Seine now carries a €68 fine as of Sunday 2 August
Since 17 June 2026, swimming in the Seine and in the Canal Saint-Martin has been officially permitted in several designated areas across Paris. Yet some swimmers continue to dive in outside these supervised spots, at the risk of paying a steep price. Since Sunday 2 August 2026, the fine for unsupervised wild swimming has risen sharply.
A heatwave pushing Parisians into the water
Since May, France has been hit by an unprecedented succession of heatwaves. The capital is no exception, and the urge to take a dip in the river grows stronger with every degree the thermometer climbs.
In response to this pressure, the City of Paris opened the Canal Saint-Martin to swimmers as early as 17 June, well ahead of schedule. The Seine’s official swimming zones followed on 4 July, offering several authorised spots to cool off safely.
Despite these openings, however, many swimmers continued to jump in outside the designated and supervised areas. The same pattern played out across the country, with dramatic consequences.
An alarming drowning toll
According to the latest figures from Santé publique France, at least 274 people drowned between 1 May and 15 July. This alarming number is largely linked to wild swimming taking place outside secured zones.
The Canal Saint-Martin itself was the scene of a tragedy. On 26 June 2026, a man lost his life after drowning in the Parisian canal. Emergency services attempted to resuscitate him for several minutes, without success.
“Too many drownings, still. To combat these risks, swimming in unauthorised areas has been reclassified as a third-class offence as of this Sunday. The fixed penalty has therefore been raised to €68.”, Préfecture de Police, 2 August 2026
A fine nearly doubled to deter reckless swimmers
To address the situation, the Paris police prefecture has taken regulatory action. The fine for wild swimming has been upgraded from a first-class to a third-class offence. In practical terms, the penalty rises from €38 to €68.
This decree, which came into force on 2 August 2026, applies across the capital and throughout the whole of France. Furthermore, the measure is not limited to swimming in the Seine: any water activity carried out outside authorised zones is covered.
The logic is clearly one of deterrence. The authorities hope this will reduce the number of unnecessary risks taken in unsupervised waters.
- The Canal Saint-Martin has been open for swimming since 17 June 2026.
- The Seine’s official swimming zones opened on 4 July 2026.
- At least 274 drownings were recorded between 1 May and 15 July, according to Santé publique France.
- The fine for wild swimming rose from €38 to €68 as of 2 August 2026.
- The decree applies in Paris and across all of France, covering swimming and any unauthorised water activity.
Which zones are open or closed in Paris?
Some Parisian spots are subject to temporary restrictions. The Bras Grenelle site is currently closed to host the European Swimming Championships.
On the other hand, the Bras Marie and Bercy zones, which had been shut following a fuel spillage, are now back open. Swimmers can head there legally to enjoy a dip in the Seine.
Swimming in the Seine: the right reflexes to adopt
In the heat, the temptation to swim in the river is entirely understandable. Even so, sticking to the official zones is essential to avoid any accident. Authorised spots are supervised and offer a far safer environment than unmonitored riverbanks.
On top of that, swimming outside designated areas now carries a €68 fine, applicable anywhere in France. This penalty covers swimming in the Seine as well as any other unauthorised water activity.
So before you dive in, it is worth checking that your chosen spot is open and permitted. The Bras Marie and Bercy zones are accessible, and swimming in the Seine there is both safe and fine-free.
