Heritage Days 2026: explore the offbeat Museum of Funfair Arts – Pavillon de Bercy in Paris

In Paris, the Museum of Fairground Arts – Pavilion of Bercy is taking part in Heritage Days on 19 and 20 September 2026 in Paris. A chance to discover this unusually colorful, offbeat venue! Don’t miss the ticket office opening.

To the delight of visitors, the Musée des Arts Forains invites you to join a very special weekend this year, on the occasion of the European Heritage Days 2026. Young and old alike can participate on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026.

The Musée des Arts Forains - Pavillon de Bercy: an unusual and enchanting museum in Paris
Enjoy a magical immersive experience in Paris at the Musée des Arts Forains - Pavillon de Bercy, a museum that plunges you into a funfair atmosphere. A place that appeals to young and old alike! [Read more]

It's one of Paris's secret museums and among its most offbeat spots. Nestled in the Pavillon de Bercy, this anachronistic venue whisks us to a vividly colorful world that will delight the youngest visitors and invite adults to rediscover their inner child. Here lies one of the largest collections of show objects, curiosities, and fairground arts staged around themes of cabinets of curiosity, the Venice Carnival, extraordinary gardens, and the amusement park of the Belle Époque.

It's also an opportunity to discover and understand the preservation and restoration work carried out by the Musée des Arts forains staff, who care for many of the show's heritage objects.

The 2026 Heritage Days program at the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris:

A conference on photography at the 19th-century fairground
Talk suitable for ages 12 and up.

Who hasn't been photographed at the fair? A child on their first carousel ride, stepping off a thrill ride trembling, or enjoying a candy apple?

Photography is far from a recent phenomenon on the fairground: with the arrival of more portable cameras and shorter exposure times, itinerant photographers followed the fairfolk, before they themselves seized on this new art form, or even a form of entertainment.

This talk invites you to relive the story of fairground photography from the late 19th century onward.

This talk does not grant access to the museum's galleries.
Participation conditions: Registration required. Open to ages 12 and up. This conference does not grant museum access. - Free | Reservations required - https://my.weezevent.com/jep-2026-conference-la-photo-a-la-fete-foraine-du-19eme-siecle
Timings: Friday, September 18, 2026 — 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Guided tour of the Pavillons de Bercy — Museum of Fairground Arts
Discover this extraordinary museum-show that preserves the heritage of performance and festivity by bringing it to life. A 90-minute guided tour is recommended for ages 5 and up. A special, universal rate for everyone is available to mark European Heritage Days.
Participation requirements: Ticket sales open at the end of August. A single price for everyone: 14€ instead of 21€. - Special rate | Booking required - https://arts-forains.tickeasy.com/fr-FR/accueil
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
The Pavillons de Bercy, a living memory of fairground culture.
For 30 years, the Pavillons de Bercy have showcased objects from the world of celebration and performance, with a particular emphasis on the funfair. But how do you preserve an intangible culture whose transmission is mainly oral?

Through this guided visit, discover the different facets of this unique museum mission, from the first objects highlighted by Jean Paul Favand to its role in UNESCO’s recognition of Funfair Culture as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Participation conditions: Conference for ages 12 and up. Registration required. - Free | Registration required - https://my.weezevent.com/jep-2026-conference-lieu-de-memoire-vivante-de-la-culture-foraine
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Note that the museum still charges admission, but it’s offering a special rate for Heritage Days. Book your visit soon—this special museum appeals to both kids and adults.