Every year, contemporary art in all its forms is celebrated in Paris during the traditional Nuit Blanche. This year, scheduled for Saturday, June 7, 2025, this major event is an opportunity to enjoy free, all-night artistic events in the four corners of the capital, and even beyond. But do you know when Nuit Blanche was launched and why? Here's a look at the history and origins of this event, which over the years has become a must for Parisians.
In 2002, when Bertrand Delanoë was Mayor of Paris, the very first Nuit Blanche was launched by the City of Paris. The aim of this popular and festive event? To offer the capital's inhabitants the chance to admire and listen to contemporary creations for one night only. From sound and visual installations to performances, monumental sculptures and exhibitions,contemporary art in all its forms is showcased in heritage, cultural and unusual venues, as well as in squares, bridges and gardens across Paris.
In 2002, artistic director Jean Blaise was entrusted with the artistic direction of the very first Nuit Blanche. His vision was of a major nocturnal celebration of art, free and open to all, with a collective itinerary and a spiritual dimension. The event proved to be a great success, with 500,000 curious visitors on the night of October 5, 2002, discovering the installations created for the occasion.
Since then, the Nuit Blanche has evolved considerably, even extending to the Greater Paris region. Since its launch in 2002, no fewer than 4,000 French and international artists, both established and emerging, have been eager to unveil their work to the general public.
And the success of the Nuit Blanche now extends far beyond France's borders, with some 30 cities having adopted the idea, including Bilbao, Seville, Venice, Rome, Vilnius, Bratislava and Leeds, as well as Montreal, Toronto and Miami.
For 20 years, Nuit Blanche has been held in autumn. However, to take advantage of better weather conditions, Nuit Blanche was brought forward to spring, following a vote organized by Anne Hidalgo. Parisians " overwhelmingly expressed their wish for Nuit Blanche to be held in June in future ", the City of Paris had announced in February 2022. The 2022 edition was therefore the last autumnal edition of this not-to-be-missed cultural event. Since 2023, Nuit Blanche has been held in June, after Nuit des Musées and before the Fête de la musique.
Nuit Blanche 2026: discover the date and artistic director of the next nocturne in Paris
Nuit Blanche 2026 in Paris and the surrounding region takes place on Saturday, June 6, 2026. With a multitude of free events spread over different routes, this new edition has some great surprises in store for us. [Read more]
For Nuit Blanche 2025, Paris invites a host of artists and collectives to take over the streets of the capital this Saturday, June 7, 2025. It's the perfect evening to discover Paris from a whole new angle, with dozens of free events in every arrondissement of the capital. Discover our selection of events by arrondissement. [Read more]
Nuit Blanche 2026: discover the date and artistic director of the next nocturne in Paris
Nuit Blanche 2025: the full program by arrondissement in Paris
