Thousands of people had taken to the Promenade des Anglais to celebrate National Day on July 14, 2016, when the driver of a white truck suddenly rammed the visitors.
The driver, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, managed to drive two kilometers before he was shot dead by police.
86 people died and more than 400 were injured.
No clear connection to IS
Now the trial begins, which is expected to last until mid-December.
The trial is being held in the special court building in Paris that was set up for last year's negotiations regarding the terrorist attacks in the capital in 2015.
Victims and relatives will be able to follow the trial live.
The terrorist organization IS has claimed responsibility for the act, but French investigators have found no direct connection between the perpetrator and the terrorist group.
Risks up to 20 years in prison
A total of eight people are held accountable for the crime, seven men and one woman.
Nor are these suspected of direct connection to the terrorist group.
Three of the defendants are charged with participating in a terrorist conspiracy and five with participating in a criminal conspiracy and violating French arms laws.
One of the suspects faces life imprisonment if convicted as he is a repeat offender.
The others risk imprisonment for between five and 20 years.
Watch a recap of what happened during the Nice attack in the video above.