This summer was marked by intense heat waves and widespread drought across the entire country, which affected vegetation and disrupted natural cycles. As the country begins to return to a more normal rhythm and autumn has arrived, the mushroom season is still waiting to start. The lack of rain and the high temperatures have delayed the growth of fungi, which typically thrive in cooler, wetter conditions. However, mycologist Aurélie Sanchez suggests that the mushroom season might still have surprises in store, with "large growths" expected in the future. Mushroom picking spots, often passed down through generations, remained dry this season in some areas. Although autumn has officially arrived and the return to normal life has begun, the harvest is still waiting in some parts of France. Aurélie Sanchez, a mycologist based in Toulouse, Paris, and Bordeaux, has even had to cancel planned mushroom picking trips due to the high temperatures and lack of rain. According to Météo-France, 84% of France is experiencing a drought that is extreme for September, with conditions similar to those seen over the past decade. In recent years, the mycological season has been delayed by about a month, according to Sanchez. However, she predicts that the 2026 harvest could be particularly abundant, following a summer marked by heat waves. The repeated heatwaves have damaged the mycelium—the underground part of the mushroom—but the stress caused by these conditions might encourage the mushrooms to reproduce more. "The mycelium only waits for one thing to fruit and produce carpophores, mushrooms such as we know them, that is for it to rain," Sanchez explains. She also runs an Instagram page called Champignons sauvages, dedicated to wild mushrooms. In addition to the usual mushrooms, other species are benefiting from the water stress experienced by trees in recent months. Some parasitic species take advantage of the weakened state of trees, growing in wounds or at their bases. Some edible mushrooms, like the sulfur polypore and the beef tongue, also known as the hepatic fistulina, do not even need water to fruit. Mycorrhizal mushrooms, which form a symbiotic relationship with trees, such as boletes or porcini, are also expected to flourish, encouraged by the distress of the trees. The balance between these two types of mushrooms will be an interesting development to monitor this year. For the baskets to be filled this autumn, the conditions need to be favorable: "regular rains and seasonal temperatures, with a bit cooler nights," lists Aurélie Sanchez, highlighting the key factors that will determine the success of the mushroom season.