TheOpéra national de Paris is one of the capital's most important cultural institutions. Lovers of show business and music, as well as lovers of history and heritage, are all familiar with these halls, which give pride of place to opera and ballet. However, behind the red curtain and gilding, theOpéra Garnier andOpéra Bastille no longer shine with the same lustre...
On October 24, 2024, the Cour des Comptes published a report analyzing the management and accounts of the Opéra National de Paris. The public body's conclusions are without appeal: both opera houses are deteriorating rapidly, and are in need of major renovation work.
In its report, the Cour des Comptes (French Audit Office) explains that the maintenance work carried out to date is not sufficient to keep the buildings in good condition: the excessive use of these sites and the numerous activities are wearing out the equipment and buildings too quickly. The financial authority states that at " Bastille, after 32 years of activity without any major operations, renovation ('grand carénage') has now acquired a real sense ofurgency. " The same is true of the Palais Garnier, where " deterioration is visible in the public spaces, which have not undergone any major renovation for several decades. What' s more, several studies and diagnoses have also highlighted the profound need to modernize the Palais Garnier and its stage areas."
According to the Cour des Comptes, the Opéra Garnier and the Opéra Bastille need to carry out major renovation work on their stage machinery and public areas, waterproof their roofs, modernize their stage equipment, and adapt their buildings to current ecological standards...
On September 2, 2025, the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, unveiled a renovation plan to refurbish the various sites of the Opéra National de Paris. These include the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille, as well as the Ateliers Berthier in Paris and the École de Danse in Nanterre.
The Minister and the General Director of the Opéra national de Paris, Alexander Neef, presented the"New Era, New Air" plan: a major works project scheduled to last several years. The project's decision-makers refuse to close the buildings entirely for the duration of the works, and therefore plan to maintain the national opera's public activities during this period.
In detail, the cultural authorities are planning to renovate the stage equipment and rehearsal studios at theBastille opera house, with a temporary closure of the stage for two seasons between 2030 and 2032. The Palais Garnier, meanwhile, continues to restore its facades. The stage is scheduled to close between summer 2027 and summer 2029. However, the visitor areas will remain accessible during this work. As a result, the renovation periods should alternate between the two venues, so that cultural programming can be provided around the clock - or almost.
In addition, theopera's dance school and the Ateliers Berthier (used to store and build sets) should benefit from renovation work on roofs, accessibility, rehearsal spaces and logistics.
The renovation plan is part of an overall government project to enhance France's cultural heritage. With this in mind, the Minister of Culture also unveiled a cultural action project to encourage the general public to reappropriate the Paris Opera.
The Minister spoke of new conviviality and dining areas at the Bastille opera house, workshops, meetings and immersive experiences open to all, and free daytime access to the public areas of the Bastille opera house from 2030.
The Nouvelle ère, nouvel air project is to be financed by the Paris Opera and its patrons. A quarter of the funding will also come from the French state, according to announcements by Rachid Dati. The work, which is scheduled to last until 2032, is expected to cost 450.8 million euros, according toAFP.
Location
Opéra de Paris - Palais Garnier
8 Rue Scribe
75009 Paris 9
Access
Metro: Opéra station (lines 3, 7 or 8) Auber (RER A)
Official website
www.operadeparis.fr
