Work at the Paris National Opera: the Palais Garnier stage will remain closed longer than expected

Aging buildings, repairs often carried out in a hurry: the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille need a major renovation. Construction has begun and is expected to last several years. At the Palais Garnier, the duration of the work was extended after lead was found on the stage grid.

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.

Buildings damaged by time and activity

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, Culture Minister Rachida Dati unveiled a sweeping renovation plan aimed at revitalizing the Paris National Opera’s diverse sites. The initiative covers the Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille, as well as the Ateliers Berthier in Paris and the Dance School located 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, cultural authorities plan to overhaul the stage equipment and rehabilitate the Bastille Opera’s rehearsal studios, with a temporary stage closure scheduled for two seasons, from 2030 to 2032. The Palais Garnier, meanwhile, continues its facade restoration. The Palais stage was set to close between summer 2027 and summer 2029. However, lead has been found across the entire stage fly tower. It is imperative to remove it completely, so the works are expected to run at least until 2032.

Visitor areas will remain accessible during the renovations. Accordingly, renovation periods are expected to be staggered between the two performance venues, so that cultural programming can continue—almost without interruption.

A costly project

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.