This article presents an epidemiological and virological overview of influenza activity in France during the 2016–2017 season. Methods: This review is based on a descriptive analysis of surveillance data on influenza or influenza-like illness reported by outpatient medical networks, virological analyses from partner laboratories, reports of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in elderly care facilities, surveillance of emergency department visits and hospitalizations coded as influenza, surveillance of severe influenza cases hospitalized in intensive care units, and mortality data. Results: The influenza epidemic began in mid-December, peaked in mid-January, and ended in early February, for a total duration of 10 weeks. Caused almost exclusively by the influenza A(H3N2) virus, it was of moderate intensity in the outpatient setting but had a significant impact on the elderly. It was characterized by a high proportion of hospitalizations among emergency department visits for influenza-like illness (16% of 40,000 visits) and by a high proportion of patients aged 65 and older among those hospitalized (69%). This age group accounted for 67% of the 1,479 influenza cases admitted to intensive care. This epidemic was also marked by excess mortality estimated at 14,400 deaths attributable to influenza, more than 90% of which occurred among people aged 75 and older. Conclusion: The 2016–2017 influenza epidemic, which began early and was of moderate intensity, was characterized by a particularly significant impact on the elderly, linked to the near-exclusive circulation of the A(H3N2) virus in a context of insufficient vaccination coverage and suboptimal vaccine efficacy. This epidemic serves as a reminder of the severity of the disease and the importance of prevention, namely vaccination among at-risk individuals, which must be supplemented by preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus among contacts of confirmed cases.