Autumn half-term holidays 2026 at the City of Architecture: workshops and family tours

What to do in Paris during the Toussaint holidays 2026 with kids? From 17 October to 1 November 2026, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, based at the Palais de Chaillot, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, offers a program blending construction workshops, storytelling tours, creative courses and a deep dive into heritage. A perfect cultural family outing at the Trocadéro, as well as activities tailored for teens and adults.

All Saints' Day holidays | City of Architecture and Heritage

Family-friendly activities during the All Saints' Day holidays

For this autumn break, the museum invites families to see architecture in a fresh light. Children can explore the collections through stories, games, and building activities, with several sessions designed to be shared with parents or loved ones.

Among the activities on offer:

• Mystérieuses créatures : a family-friendly tour to seek out strange creatures hidden in the museum’s collections, with sessions on October 19 and 21.
• Une forteresse imprenable : a construction-play workshop on October 24 and 25, to imagine and build together.
• Le secret du labyrinthe : a storytelling visit on October 25, with surprising characters and a puzzle to uncover.
• Tours du monde : a family construction workshop on October 31 and November 1, to experiment with architecture together.
• Le trésor de Jacques Cœur : a storytelling visit scheduled for November 1, turning museum discovery into a narrative.

These formats are designed especially for families who want to mix cultural discovery with hands-on participation, rather than a conventional tour of the collections.

Drawing and model-building workshops for kids

For children eager to dedicate more time to creativity, two workshops are offered during the holidays.

From October 21–23, 2026, the workshop Contre toute attente, devised by visual artist François-Xavier Debelle, takes its cue from François Morellet’s work. Participants will explore drawing and model-making through simple rules, constraints, and chance.

From 28 to 30 October 2026, the workshop Architecture à réparer, led by architect Bojana Adji-Mitrevska, tackles the protection of monuments and the preservation of heritage. Tied to the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance, it invites participants to consider how to safeguard the buildings that bear witness to our history.

A murder mystery party and a tour of architecture careers for teens

Teenagers aged 15 and up also have dedicated slots. On October 21 and 22, the Junior Architecture Class offers two days of meetings with professionals, hands-on workshops and site visits to better understand the careers and the challenges of architecture.

A different vibe on October 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM, with Murder at the Museum – Season 2, a murder party hosted at the Cité. Participants are invited to inspect a crime scene, question suspects, and present their accusations to solve the case. An activity likely to appeal especially to teens who enjoy puzzles and investigative games.

Meurtre à la bibliothèque et au musée : deux murder parties à la City of Architecture
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Guided tours and exhibitions to discover at the Trocadéro

The All Saints' Day break is also a chance to explore the collections at the Cité de l’architecture, which trace centuries of architectural creativity through plaster casts, scale models, and heritage works.

Several themed visits round out the program. On October 23 and November 1, The Museum's Masterpieces offers a guided tour of the collection’s emblematic works. On October 24, a session devoted to the great architects of the 20th century highlights the projects of Auguste Perret, Le Corbusier, Jean Nouvel, and Renzo Piano.

On October 25, a visit to the exhibition François Morellet – Traits d'esprit explores the links between the artist’s works and architecture. On October 30, Vivre au Moyen Âge offers a glimpse into the figures and depictions of that era. Finally, on October 31, a visit to Patrimoines en résistance examines safeguarding heritage in times of war, from Timbuktu to Odessa.

The lineup also includes En scène au musée, on October 22 at 7 p.m., featuring performances by young artists inspired by the collections.

All Saints' Day holidays | City of Architecture and Heritage

A cultural outing to the Palais de Chaillot during the holidays

Located at the Palais de Chaillot, Place du Trocadéro, the City of Architecture and Heritage invites visitors to explore the history of buildings and cities within a setting lined with grand galleries and monumental architectural replicas. The visit appeals just as much to architecture enthusiasts as to families hoping to spark their children’s interest in design.

To choose a workshop, a tour, or a course during the Toussaint holidays, check out the detailed program and ticket links on the official site of the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine