Shows and theatre productions starting in May 2026 in Paris

Published by Julie de Sortiraparis · Photos by Philippine de Sortiraparis · Updated on May 1, 2026 at 01:23 p.m.
Which shows and plays kick off in May 2026 in Paris and the Île-de-France region? Discover the month’s new line-up, spanning theatre, comedy, musical performances, shows and stage creations.

Which shows and plays debuting in May 2026 in Paris and the Île-de-France region? This guide brings together the month’s latest announcements, spanning premieres, revivals, new programming launches, and performances hitting the stage.

For a broader selection, also check out our guides to the theatre productions to see in Paris in May 2026 and to the shows to see in Paris in May 2026.

May 2026 openings: shows and theatre productions in Paris and Île-de-France

The Plays Opening in May 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France

Absalon, Absalon ! : la pièce de William Faulkner au Théâtre National de l'OdéonAbsalon, Absalon ! : la pièce de William Faulkner au Théâtre National de l'OdéonAbsalon, Absalon ! : la pièce de William Faulkner au Théâtre National de l'OdéonAbsalon, Absalon ! : la pièce de William Faulkner au Théâtre National de l'Odéon Scenes from a marriage at the Odéon: a couple confronts violence
From May 20 to June 7, 2026 at Odéon Paris 6, Markus Öhrn revisits Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage in a radically offbeat version. [Read more]

Into The Light, une exposition lumineuse à la Grande Halle de la VilletteInto The Light, une exposition lumineuse à la Grande Halle de la VilletteInto The Light, une exposition lumineuse à la Grande Halle de la VilletteInto The Light, une exposition lumineuse à la Grande Halle de la Villette Molière’s Tartuffe or the Hypocrite performed in its original version at La Grande Halle de la Villette
Tartuffe or The Hypocrite by Molière, directed by Ivo Van Hove, will be staged at La Grande Halle de la Villette from May 21 to July 11, 2026. [Read more]

Visuels salles de spectacle et théâtres - théâtre de la porte Saint martinVisuels salles de spectacle et théâtres - théâtre de la porte Saint martinVisuels salles de spectacle et théâtres - théâtre de la porte Saint martinVisuels salles de spectacle et théâtres - théâtre de la porte Saint martin The Imaginary Invalid: Molière’s Comedy-Ballet at the Porte Saint-Martin
Molière’s The Imaginary Invalid, directed by Claude Stratz, will run at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin from May 27 to July 12, 2026. [Read more]

Shows kicking off in May 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France

FauxFaire FauxVoir : l'expérience magique, cognitive et connectée à la Grande Halle de La VilletteFauxFaire FauxVoir : l'expérience magique, cognitive et connectée à la Grande Halle de La VilletteFauxFaire FauxVoir : l'expérience magique, cognitive et connectée à la Grande Halle de La VilletteFauxFaire FauxVoir : l'expérience magique, cognitive et connectée à la Grande Halle de La Villette FauxFaire FauxVoir: a magical, immersive, and interactive experience at La Grande Halle de La Villette
The Grande Halle of La Villette invites you to experience "FauxFaire FauxVoir," a captivating magic show blending cognitive science and technology, created by the Le Phalène company. Scheduled from May 5 to 9, 2026, this immersive journey challenges our perceptions and beliefs, offering a unique theatrical exploration. [Read more]

Le Grand Rex visuelsLe Grand Rex visuelsLe Grand Rex visuelsLe Grand Rex visuels Spring Live Magazine: follow an investigation and a live, real-time diary from the Grand Rex
Forget your screens and the endless stream of social media: on May 11 and 12, 2026, information takes shape on the storied Grand Rex stage. The Spring Live Magazine offers a unique experience where journalists, photographers, and artists come to deliver stories in the style of a fleeting, living newspaper — not something you read, but something you feel. [Read more]

Swami : le spectacle entre magie, mentalisme et réalité virtuelle à la Grande Halle de La VilletteSwami : le spectacle entre magie, mentalisme et réalité virtuelle à la Grande Halle de La VilletteSwami : le spectacle entre magie, mentalisme et réalité virtuelle à la Grande Halle de La VilletteSwami : le spectacle entre magie, mentalisme et réalité virtuelle à la Grande Halle de La Villette Swami: A Show Blending Magic, Mentalism, and Virtual Reality at Little Villette
Attention magic enthusiasts! Little Villette invites you to experience Swarmi, an immersive adventure created by Rémy Berthier that combines magic, mentalism, and virtual reality, running from May 12 to May 16, 2026. [Read more]

Dîner enquête immersif à Paris : embarquez à bord de La Dame de Canton ce vendrediDîner enquête immersif à Paris : embarquez à bord de La Dame de Canton ce vendrediDîner enquête immersif à Paris : embarquez à bord de La Dame de Canton ce vendrediDîner enquête immersif à Paris : embarquez à bord de La Dame de Canton ce vendredi Immersive murder-mystery dinner in Paris: set sail aboard La Dame de Canton in May 2026
La Dame de Canton hosts La Dame Secrète, an immersive mystery-dinner on the Seine, featuring an aperitif, dinner and a puzzle to solve, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. [Read more]

Les Nuits Étoilées du Ritz Paris : opéra et danse au Grand JardinLes Nuits Étoilées du Ritz Paris : opéra et danse au Grand JardinLes Nuits Étoilées du Ritz Paris : opéra et danse au Grand JardinLes Nuits Étoilées du Ritz Paris : opéra et danse au Grand Jardin Starry Nights at the Ritz Paris: opera and dance in the Grand Garden
The Ritz Paris is kicking off its very first festival from June 13 to 15, 2026, in its Grand Jardin on Place Vendôme. Three evenings of opera, dance, and orchestral music with international artists. [Read more]

Pierre-Emmanuel Barré de retour avec son spectacle Come-Back : nouvelles datesPierre-Emmanuel Barré de retour avec son spectacle Come-Back : nouvelles datesPierre-Emmanuel Barré de retour avec son spectacle Come-Back : nouvelles datesPierre-Emmanuel Barré de retour avec son spectacle Come-Back : nouvelles dates Pierre-Emmanuel Barré and his Come-Back show at the Bataclan: Our review
Pierre-Emmanuel Barré is back at the Bataclan, from May 14 to 16, 2026, with his show Come-Back. Read our review. [Read more]

Danglade Show : Hell Drivers Monster TrucksDanglade Show : Hell Drivers Monster TrucksDanglade Show : Hell Drivers Monster TrucksDanglade Show : Hell Drivers Monster Trucks Unusual: a Monster Trucks show, motorcycle freestyle and Transformers set to roll into the area near Paris
Brace yourselves, things are about to get wild: the Hells Drivers Danglade Show is rolling into the Paris area with its Monster Trucks and jaw-dropping stunts. From May 16 to 31, 2026, the Hippodrome d’Enghien-Soisy will transform into a high-octane arena. A star-spangled family show where adrenaline takes the wheel. [Read more]

Augmented Magic : le spectacle de magie de Moulla à la Grande Halle de La VilletteAugmented Magic : le spectacle de magie de Moulla à la Grande Halle de La VilletteAugmented Magic : le spectacle de magie de Moulla à la Grande Halle de La VilletteAugmented Magic : le spectacle de magie de Moulla à la Grande Halle de La Villette Augmented Magic: Moulla’s Magical Show at La Grande Halle de La Villette
The Grande Halle of La Villette hosts an innovative magic conference and show centered on AI, titled Augmented Magic, presented by magician Moulla, from May 19 to May 23, 2026. Step into a truly immersive experience where illusions meet cutting-edge technology to amaze and astonish! [Read more]

bal danse couplebal danse couplebal danse couplebal danse couple So, Let's Dance: the family-friendly dance festival featuring performances and initiation sessions in Fontainebleau (77)
From May 19 to 24, 2026, the Théâtre Municipal de Fontainebleau transforms into a sprawling open-air dance floor for the fourth edition of "Alors, on danse ?". The festival invites kids and grown-ups alike to explore movement and dive into dance, blending performances with relaxed, beginner-friendly workshops. [Read more]

La Bohème à l’Opéra Bastille : l’amour et la jeunesse au prisme du souvenirLa Bohème à l’Opéra Bastille : l’amour et la jeunesse au prisme du souvenirLa Bohème à l’Opéra Bastille : l’amour et la jeunesse au prisme du souvenirLa Bohème à l’Opéra Bastille : l’amour et la jeunesse au prisme du souvenir 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]

Visuel Paris 11e - Mairie 11eVisuel Paris 11e - Mairie 11eVisuel Paris 11e - Mairie 11eVisuel Paris 11e - Mairie 11e Onze Bouge 2026, the outdoor arts festival, is making a mark again in the 11th arrondissement of Paris
The Onze Bouge festival is back for a new edition in the streets of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, from May 28 to 31, 2026. Expect a mix of dance, theatre, music, and comedy performances... Street arts take center stage in this free festival! [Read more]

DroneArt ShowDroneArt ShowDroneArt ShowDroneArt Show DroneArt Show: A spectacular display of illuminated drones synchronized with classical music at this racecourse
The sky over Bois de Vincennes transforms into a giant stage on May 28 and 30, 2026: hundreds of drones will perform a mesmerizing dance above the Hippodrome, all synchronized with a live classical music concert. An immersive sensory experience blending cutting-edge technology with poetic artistry. [Read more]

Once Upon a Crime à Paris : le spectacle immersif où vous menez l’enquête et changez la fin du conteOnce Upon a Crime à Paris : le spectacle immersif où vous menez l’enquête et changez la fin du conteOnce Upon a Crime à Paris : le spectacle immersif où vous menez l’enquête et changez la fin du conteOnce Upon a Crime à Paris : le spectacle immersif où vous menez l’enquête et changez la fin du conte Once Upon a Crime in Paris: the immersive show where you become the detective and rewrite the ending of the fairy tale
In Paris, at the Théâtre de l’Alliance Française, the immersive show Once Upon a Crime offers a one-hour interactive criminal investigation centered on Little Red Riding Hood. Audience members, all grown-up, get to vote and steer both the story's progression and its ending. This interactive theatre experience in Paris immerses viewers in a film noir atmosphere and provides a participatory adventure with multiple possible outcomes. [Read more]

HOLI 2026 au Jardin d'Acclimatation : la fête indienne des couleurs est de retour à Paris - la dateHOLI 2026 au Jardin d'Acclimatation : la fête indienne des couleurs est de retour à Paris - la dateHOLI 2026 au Jardin d'Acclimatation : la fête indienne des couleurs est de retour à Paris - la dateHOLI 2026 au Jardin d'Acclimatation : la fête indienne des couleurs est de retour à Paris - la date HOLI 2026 at the Jardin d'Acclimatation: India's festival of colors is back in Paris — the date.
The Jardin d’Acclimatation lights up in a thousand hues for the 7th edition of Holi, the famous Indian festival of colors. On May 31, 2026, the must-attend spring event returns, offering artisan workshops, Indian food trucks, live performances, and a splash of pigment. [Read more]

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Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From May 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.
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