Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater set to return to Paris in 2026.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Paris from October 7 to 11, 2026. Two years after its last visit to the capital, the New York company will return to the Palais des Congrès de Paris with two distinct programs, one dedicated to the Alvin Ailey legacy and the other spotlighting more contemporary works.

Founded in 1958 by choreographer Alvin Ailey, the American company has developed a repertoire that brings modern dance, jazz, ballet, and the African American cultural legacy into dialogue. For its Paris return in 2026, it will present two programs in rotation across seven performances.

Program A, titled Ailey Legacy, shifts its focus to the repertoire and legacy of Alvin Ailey. It includes, in particular, Night Creature, choreographed to a Duke Ellington score, as well as Revelations, one of the company's signature works, created in 1960 from spirituals, gospel and blues.

The Program B, New Works, places greater emphasis on contemporary creation. It includes, notably, Blink of an Eye by Mehdi Walerski, a piece built around the relationship between movement and the music of Bach. Revelations is also presented in this second program.

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• Best deals of the week of September 21–27, 2026 in Paris and the Île-de-France region.

The two offerings thus allow us to explore different facets of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's repertoire, spanning works tied to the company's history and more contemporary creations. Revelations serves as the common thread linking the two programs.

At the Palais des Congrès de Paris, Ailey Legacy is slated for October 7, 9, 10 and 11, 2026, while New Works is on the schedule for October 8, 10 and 11. Each program runs roughly 2 hours and 5 minutes, with two intermissions.

Tickets are on sale at the Palais des Congrès de Paris box office, with prices starting at €29.

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