Heritage Days 2026: discover the Cinémathèque Française and the Méliès Museum

For this 43rd edition of the Heritage Days, head to the Cinémathèque française on September 19 and 20, 2026. As every year, expect a unique, weekend-long cultural experience. Run on a European scale, Heritage Days aims to open up as many cultural venues as possible to the widest audience. That means you’ll have access to spaces that are usually closed to the public! Curious visitors can also seize the chance to rediscover iconic cultural institutions, such as the Cinémathèque, which is taking part in the celebration!

Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): a district-by-district lineup of visits
For the 2026 Heritage Days in Paris, the capital’s monuments and historic sites throw open their doors (often for free) to reveal their secrets to us. Don’t miss this essential event, scheduled for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, under the themes: "Heritage in Peril" and "Heritage of Photography". [Read more]

Heritage Days 2026: the program for cinema enthusiasts in Paris and Île-de-France
During the Heritage Days 2026, embark on a cinema tour across Paris and Île-de-France on September 19 and 20. Their behind-the-scenes worlds unfold for you, with our selection of cinemas and museums devoted to the seventh art to discover! [Read more]

Surrounded by its vast lawns, the Cinémathèque française is a little corner of paradise cherished by cinephiles. Founded in 1936 by Henri Langlois and Georges Franju, the Cinémathèque française is dedicated to safeguarding and restoring the world's cinematographic heritage. And since 2021, a museum dedicated to the inventor of cinematic art, Georges Méliès, has opened its doors within the building, right in the heart of Bercy.

From film history and exhibitions to the great names of the 7th art and little-known anecdotes about filming, the Cinémathèque Française has plenty to delight lovers of the 7th art. Young and old alike are fascinated by the magic of cinema and the impressive collections of the Musée Méliès. Whether you're a cinephile or not, this exceptional weekend is the perfect opportunity to discover the Cinémathèque Française for free- but be warned, some events require compulsory registration!

• To be read
• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France, July 20–26, 2026.

The 2026 Heritage Days program at the Cinémathèque Française:

• The Méliès Museum

  A magician and pioneer of special effects, Georges Méliès is the perfect guide to tracing the history of cinema and its tricks, from Metropolis to Hugo, from A Trip to the Moon to Star Wars.

  Through a journey dotted with interactive devices, unreleased films, props, costumes and rare posters, the Méliès Museum offers a fabulously immersive voyage that blends delight and wonder.

  Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  Free with reservation: https://bit.ly/JEPMuséeMéliès

  The 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. slots are reserved for parole points

  theatricalized and accessible at this link: https://bit.ly/JEPpointsparoles

  Participation rules: Free with reservation - Free | Reservation required - https://bit.ly/JEPMuséeMéliès

  Hours : Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:00 to 20:00 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 to 20:00

• A Brief History of Georges Méliès's Tricks

  For his next underwater adventure film, Georges Méliès, a pioneer of cinematic special effects, is staging one of the most astonishing sea scenes. But to bring his fantastical world to life, he’s missing a crucial element: a sea monster! Your move: imagine, draw, sculpt the most extraordinary creature you can... snap a quick photo and, voilà, it appears in Méliès’s film. A participatory experience developed in partnership with Wakatoon.

  Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Free. On the mezzanine.

  Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required

  Schedules: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 2:00–5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 2:00–5:00 PM

• Exploring the Cinémathèque's Treasures

  Through a sequence of theatrical encounters, six actors bring to life iconic figures to tell the grand story of cinema and the people who helped preserve its memory. A journey punctuated by anecdotes and discoveries at the heart of the Méliès Museum.

  With the Ankreation Company

  Saturday and Sunday between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Free, reservation required. All ages welcome.

  https://bit.ly/JEPpointsparoles

  Participation conditions: Free of charge, by reservation. - Free | Reservations required - https://bit.ly/JEPpointsparoles

  Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

• Discovery workshops at the Cinémathèque studios

  To round out the Méliès Museum experience, demonstrations of green-screen tricks and stop-motion techniques in the Cinémathèque studios. A day designed to introduce children to the action-filled world of the studios and inspire them to return throughout the year.

  For families, ages 6 and up

  Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Free. Educational spaces. https://bit.ly/JEPstudios

  Participation terms: Free, subject to availability - Free | Reservation required - https://bit.ly/JEPstudios

  Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

• From safeguarding to the conservation and restoration of cinematic heritage

  The Film Library shines a light on the women who helped create, enrich and safeguard the Cinémathèque française’s collections. Photographs, archives and documents devoted to Mary Meerson, Lotte Eisner, Marie Epstein and Musidora, as well as to many other collaborators of Henri Langlois, will be on display.

  This display will also revisit the conservation and restoration methods used for non-film materials (shooting scripts, posters, photographs, photo albums, animation celluloids…) and how these fragile documents are preserved, restored and showcased to the public.

  At the Film Library. Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

  Free admission. No booking required.

  Participation conditions: Free admission - No reservations required

  Hours : Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM

Shall we go, friends?