The 2026 cultural season in Paris promises to be a busy one, with numerous new productions, the return of major productions, and major events already announced by theaters, concert halls, and cultural venues. This guide lists the most eagerly awaited shows on the Parisian scene in 2026, across all disciplines, to give you an overview of the events that will mark the year.
The program is being built around new proposals and the continuation of trends that emerged in 2025, particularly around the most eagerly awaited plays. Parisian venues are gradually unveiling their projects, and several creations are already among the highlights announced by cultural institutions.
The shows in 2026 are part of a movement of artistic innovation, with renewed scenographic devices and an increased focus on hybrid formats. To complete this selection, you can also check out the new shows for 2026 to discover in Paris and Île-de-France, where the first announcements of the season are presented.
The diversity of the offerings reflects the evolution of cultural practices: musicals, musical performances, comedy, dance, and immersive forms. The year is characterized by an alternation of French productions and international tours, as well as transdisciplinary shows combining theater, opera, ballet, visual arts, and sound and light shows.
This guide is updated regularly throughout 2026, as announcements are made by venues, producers, and companies. It provides an overview to help you plan your cultural outings in Paris and discover the season's most notable creations.
Les Misérables: the award-winning musical set to return to the Châtelet in 2026
The hit musical Les Misérables is making a return to the Théâtre du Châtelet from November 12, 2026, to January 10, 2027, following a successful tour. Details, show dates, and our review inside. [Read more]
Swan Lake: Tchaikovsky's legendary ballet returns to Paris in 2026
Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky's timeless ballet, is back on stage at the Arena Grand Paris and the Palais des Congrès for two exceptional evenings on March 3 and April 1, 2026. [Read more]
Dance Theatre of Harlem: New York ballet returns to Paris
Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to France after a 40-year absence with two programs at the Palais des Congrès de Paris from February 26 to 28, 2026. [Read more]
Swan Lake: International Festival Ballet at Grand Rex for a classic ballet
On March 15, 2026, the Grand Rex welcomes Swan Lake in a fairytale version by the International Festival Ballet, accompanied by a live orchestra. [Read more]
The Nutcracker: Benjamin Millepied reinvents classical music at La Seine Musicale
From January 7 to 11, 2026, Benjamin Millepied presents a new choreographic version of The Nutcracker at La Seine Musicale. The dancers of the Ballet de l'Opéra de Nice bring their accessible, poetic interpretation to life. [Read more]
The Legend of Monte Cristo: a musical retelling of Alexandre Dumas's novel
La Légende de Monte-Cristo, based on the novel by Dumas, arrives as a musical in Paris in January 2026 at the Dôme de Paris, followed by a tour of France. The show features Swiss singer Gjon's Tears. [Read more]
Philip Glass's Satyagraha: Gandhi, non-violence and hypnotic opera at the Palais Garnier
Philip Glass's opera Satyagraha, inspired by the thought of Gandhi, enters the repertoire of the Palais Garnier from April 10 to May 3, 2026, for a series of never-before-seen performances. [Read more]
Monte Cristo: the musical inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo at the Folies Bergère in 2026
After the wildly successful, and deservedly so, film adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo starring Pierre Niney, Alexandre Dumas' masterpiece is about to come to life on stage. The Folies Bergère have announced that the musical Monte Cristo will run from February 5, 2026 to April 19, 2026. [Read more]
Sting comes to Paris in 2026 with his committed musical "The Last Ship
Get out your diaries, Sting will unveil his committed musical "The Last Ship" at La Seine Musicale, Boulogne-Billancourt, from February 18, 2026. Inspired by the Newcastle shipyards, this work blends rock, working-class memory and theater. Don't miss the box-office launch on June 11. [Read more]
Holiday On Ice: the Horizons figure skating show at the Zenith in Paris in February 2026
The Holiday On Ice phenomenon returns to Paris with its new show: Horizons. From February 12 to 15, 2026, discover a figure skating show accompanied by unique lighting effects at the Zénith in Paris. [Read more]
The Rise at the Dôme de Paris in April 2026
The Rise, a dystopian musical and choreographic fresco, will be at the Dôme de Paris from April 3 to 12, 2026, with 33 artists on stage. [Read more]
The Ballet de Milan returns to Paris with a dance show combining French chanson and Bolero
From February 4 to 8, 2026, the Milan Ballet makes a stopover in Paris with La Vie en rose and a reinterpretation of Ravel's Bolero, combining neo-classical dance and the great voices of French chanson. [Read more]
Shrek The Musical: the quirky family musical at the Folies Bergères from October 2026.
Shrek finally swaps his swamp... for the Folies Bergère in Paris! To mark his 25th anniversary, cinema's most iconic ogre arrives with Shrek The Musical, from October 2, 2026, or January 17, 2027. Accompanied by Fiona, the talkative donkey, and all the heroes from the DreamWorks film, he takes the audience on an adventure full of pop rock, soul, and funky music and offbeat humor. Tickets are now on sale! [Read more]
Paul Mirabel: upcoming dates for his Molière award-winning show
Par Amour, the new show by comedian Paul Mirabel, has already been announced as sold-out at the Dôme de Paris in November 2025. But don't panic! The comedian returns to the Accor Arena stage for two exceptional dates, on April 10 and 11, 2026. [Read more]
True Tales of Sex, Success, & Sex and the City: meet the real Carrie Bradshaw at the Folies Bergère.
Meet the real Carrie Bradshaw! On April 26, 2026, the Folies Bergère welcomes Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City, with her one-woman show True Tales of Sex, Success, and Sex and the City. Laughter, confidences, and New York glamour are guaranteed as you dive into the cult universe of Carrie and her friends. [Read more]
Amadeus at Théâtre Marigny: Mozart and Salieri on stage in January
Peter Shaffer's masterpiece, directed by Olivier Solivérès, returns to the stage with Amadeus, to be performed at Théâtre Marigny from January 22, 2026. [Read more]
Prodigy12 at La Villette: an immersive 360° show to be discovered in a mysterious blue pavilion
From February 7 to April 25, 2026, La Villette Park is preparing to welcome a mysterious blue pavilion. Inside? A 360° live show, featuring "one of the largest temporary LED installations in Europe" and "using the most advanced technologies," according to the announcement. We'll tell you more about this artistic project entitled "Prodigy12." [Read more]
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna at Paris la Défense Arena in 2026
The prestigious Spanish riding school from Vienna returns to France with two performances of its equestrian show, on February 28 and March 1, 2026, at the Paris la Défense Arena. [Read more]
Nixon in China: John Adams' opera returns to the Opéra Bastille
From February 24 to March 20, 2026, the Opéra Bastille welcomes Nixon in China, John Adams' opera directed by Valentina Carrasco. [Read more]
La Cenerentola at the Palais Garnier: Rossini's Cinderella returns to Paris
The Opéra Garnier presents Rossini's La Cenerentola, a sparkling retelling of the Cinderella tale, from June 3 to July 11, 2026, directed by Guillaume Gallienne. [Read more]
Forever, The best show about the King of Pop: Michael Jackson tribute show at Grand Rex
"Forever, The best show about the King of Pop" is back in Paris After 15 years of performances, the show returns to Paris, but this time at the Grand Rex from February 17 to 20, 2026. [Read more]
Top Hat at the Théâtre du Châtelet: tap dance, romance and old-fashioned Broadway
Fred Astaire, tap dancing and unforgettable melodies: Top Hat, Irving Berlin's musical film classic, comes to the Théâtre du Châtelet from April 15 to May 3, 2026 for an elegant stage adaptation. [Read more]
Harlem Globetrotters: 100th anniversary basketball show at the Accor Arena in March 2026
The Harlem Globetrotters' high-flying show, which combines basketball, humor and acrobatics, returns to Paris to celebrate its 100th anniversary on March 28 and 29, 2026, at the Accor Arena. [Read more]
Paul Taylor at the Olympia: 100% English stand-up on the life of a French expat
British comedian Paul Taylor will be on stage at the Olympia on March 1, 2026 with a show performed entirely in English. It's a self-deprecating account of his life in France and his obsession with cultural paradoxes. [Read more]
Ercole amante: Antonia Bembo's baroque Hercules between power and desire at Opéra Bastille
From May 28 to June 14, 2026, Antonia Bembo's Ercole amante makes its debut in the Paris Opéra repertoire, supported by an original staging and singular Baroque vocal writing. [Read more]
Messmer returns to the Grand Rex in Paris with his 13Hz show in January 2026
Messmer, the master of hypnosis, is back in Paris with his show "13Hz", which has already won over a million spectators. Join us at the Grand Rex from January 16 to 25, 2026 for a breathtaking show. [Read more]
Hans van Manen: Dutch National Ballet pays tribute to the neo-classical master
Dutch National Ballet celebrates Hans van Manen with four major works by the Dutch choreographer, as part of the TranscenDanses season at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. [Read more]
Booder in Ah... l'école ! a funny and tender look at education
With Ah... l'école! Booder returns to the stage to evoke the school system with humor and emotion, from his own childhood to that of his son. A committed family show to be discovered on March 21, 2026 at Grand Rex. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026
