French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a state visit to Armenia from May 3 to 5, the Armenian government announced.
The visit will begin with Macron’s participation in the 8th European Political Community Summit, set to take place in Yerevan on May 4, bringing together around 50 high-level delegations of European heads of state and government for discussions on regional security and cooperation. The European Political Community was created in 2022 on Macron’s own initiative, making Yerevan’s hosting of the 8th summit — and Macron’s in-person attendance — a symbolically significant moment.
Macron’s official state visit will begin on May 5.
Talks will be held between Macron and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, starting with a private meeting followed by expanded negotiations involving both delegations. The two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements and deliver joint statements to the media. Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has signaled that the two countries may formalize their long-anticipated strategic partnership agreement during the visit.
A separate meeting is also planned between Macron and Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan.
During the visit, Macron will lay a wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. He will also visit the Matenadaran, the renowned repository of ancient manuscripts in Yerevan.
The Macron state visit coincides with another major diplomatic milestone in Yerevan: the first-ever bilateral Armenia–European Union Summit, also scheduled for May 5. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to represent the EU, marking a structural deepening of Armenia–EU ties beyond the broader EPC platform.
Macron’s state visit will also include a trip to Gyumri, accompanied by Pashinyan, where he will pay tribute to the victims of the 1988 earthquake.
A major concert titled “Musical Bridge: Armenia–France,” dedicated to Armenian-French friendship and the deepening of cultural cooperation, is scheduled for May 5 at Vardanants Square in Gyumri. The event will feature Armenian and French performances by well-known artists from both countries, accompanied by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.
Gyumri was selected as the venue because of the city’s deep cultural and linguistic affinity with France, shaped in part by French assistance during Gyumri’s reconstruction following the 1988 earthquake. The concert is also seen as supporting Armenia’s broader engagement with the Francophone world ahead of the 2027 Francophonie Games, which Armenia is set to host.
The Armenian government has allocated approximately 393 million drams (around $1 million) for organizing the concert. Organizational details for the event were discussed at a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday.
