Théâtre de la Gaîté Montparnasse, a former café-concert venue

The Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse, located at 26 rue de la Gaité, is a stone's throw from the Gare Montparnasse train station . Its distinctive red façade is easy to spot on the busy street.

This historic theater owes its creation toNapoleon III's Universal Exhibition of 1867. The aim of the exhibition was to promote the France of the Third Republic to the whole world, bringing together over 50,000 exhibitors and welcoming the Russian Tsar, the Emperor of Japan and the German Kaiser. A temporary theater was created for the occasion. The following year, following the destruction of the theater, limonadier François Jamin rebuilt a new one, using materials from the old theater. The Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse was born in 1868.

First operated as a café-concert until the end of the Second World War, great artists such as Polin, Dorville and Yvette Guilbert performed here. Later transformed into an avant-garde theater, it was finally bought and renovated by Michel Fagadau in 1955. It was listed as aHistoric Monument on April 3, 1984.

With its 401-seat auditorium, the theater has become an essential venue for comedy and musical shows in Paris. Despite its size, the venue manages to retain an intimate atmosphere. Since 2010, the Gaîté-Montparnasse has belonged to the Théâtres parisiens associés, an association of 50 private Parisian theaters.

A magnificent venue full of history at 26 rue de la Gaité, in Paris's 14th arrondissement.

News from the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Gaîté Montparnasse
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs returns to Gaîté Montparnasse in Paris from October 3, 2026 to May 30, 2027. Olivier Solivérès adapts the fairy tale into a musical show with holograms and mapping, for children aged 3 and up. [Read more]

Les Vilaines: a musical comedy at the Gaîté Montparnasse
Les Vilaines returns to Gaîté Montparnasse in Paris for a third season, from September 30, 2026 to June 16, 2027. Three actress-singers pull back the curtain on the backstage world of Parisian revues. [Read more]

• To be read
• What’s on this week, October 26 to November 1, 2026, in Paris and Île-de-France

Anthony Kavanagh: Jet Lag at La Gaîté Montparnasse
Anthony Kavanagh presents Jet Lag, his new show co-written with Sacha Judaszko, at the Gaîté Montparnasse in Paris, from January 14 to May 1, 2027. [Read more]

A festive mood: Cinq de Cœur at the Gaîté Montparnasse
Cinq de Cœur presents Un air de fête at the Gaîté Montparnasse in Paris, nine special performances from November 4, 2026 to June 2, 2027, staged by Virginie Lemoine. [Read more]

And don’t miss the show: Fred Radix’s musical at the Gaîté Montparnasse.
Fred Radix presents 'Et n'oubliez pas la pièce', a musical comedy at the Gaîté Montparnasse theatre from September 21, 2026 to May 25, 2027, for ages 8 and up. [Read more]

Puss in Boots, the Musical: a family-friendly show at Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse
Puss in Boots, the Safa Brothers' musical, returns to Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse from September 19, 2026 through May 29, 2027, for ages 3 and up. [Read more]

Léo Brière: The Secret at Gaîté-Montparnasse in Paris
Léo Brière presents Le Secret at the Gaîté-Montparnasse from October 8, 2026. After Existences, the mentalist dedicates this new show to coincidences and fate. [Read more]

Fred Radix's La Claque at La Gaîté Montparnasse: the history of theater claque
Fred Radix brings to his show, La Claque, an interactive piece in which he chooses to revisit the history of the claque (applause) in the theater. A production on the Gaîté Montparnasse bill, running from 21 September 2025 to 23 May 2027. [Read more]