Fête de la Nature 2026 at the National Museum of Natural History, free activities at the Jardin des Plantes

The Fête de la Nature 2026 takes place at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026, in the green setting of the Jardin des Plantes, in the 5e arrondissement of Paris. The program includes workshops, tastings, guided tours, shows and a large Village of Nature with free access, all free. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy a green interlude right in the heart of the capital.

This 2026 edition carries double significance: it marks the 20th edition of the Fête de la Nature and, at the same time, celebrates the 400th anniversary of the National Museum of Natural History, founded in 1626 as the Jardin royal des plantes médicinales. A historic milestone that gives this springtime gathering a special flavor.

What’s on the agenda at Nature Village?

The heart of the program is the Village de la nature, set up on the esplanade of the Jardin des Plantes, freely accessible from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on both days. The Welcome tent opens at 10 a.m. for registrations to activities by reservation. About fifteen naturalist associations will have booths there:

• N° 2 - Wildlife in the city - ASPAS
• N° 3 - The Wildlife Care Center - Faune Alfort
• N° 4 - Discover forest biodiversity! - National Forests Office
• N° 5 - The great predators - FERUS
• N° 6 - The footprints of time - Nature Reserves of France
• N° 7 - The unsung heroes of nature - OPIE, Office for Insects and Their Environment
• N° 8 - Biodiversity in the city - WWF France
• N° 9 - Medicinal and aromatic plants - National Society of Horticulture of France
• N° 10 - Geology at the Museum for 400 years - Friendly Society of Amateur Geologists
• N° 11 - Acting to protect the ocean - Surfrider Foundation
• N° 12 - Under our feet? The friends of the soil! - Friends of the Museum and the Jardin des Plantes
• N° 13 - Nocturnal raptors brought into the spotlight! - LPO Île-de-France
• N° 14 - The little hands of the forest - Humanité et Biodiversité
• N° 15 - Watching life with citizen science - Estuaire Associative Group, Vigie-Nature, Paris Crows
• N° 16 - The Museum's Gardens - Versailles-Chèvreloup Arboretum, Val Rahmeh-Menton Botanical Garden, Harmas Jean-Henri Fabre, Jardin des Plantes

What tastings are on the agenda?

The 2026 edition leans heavily on a distinctive, gourmet program, staged on the Grandes Serres lawn:

• The Taste of Plants (tent 17, pre-book at the Welcome tent) - Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. (slots every 50 minutes), for ages 8 and up, 30 minutes long. Conceived with chef Natalia Santos (Caucalis) and researcher Christophe Lavelle, this sensory journey offers a four-stop tasting exploring the benefits of plants: sleep, digestion, the brain, and circulation. A wonderful way to celebrate the “gastronomy of simples” cherished at Jardin du Roi.
  
  
• Plant Bar (tent 18, free access) - Saturday and Sunday, open to all. A tasting of original plant-based drinks, in partnership with Symbiose kéfir, Zone Sensible, De Vie and Christophe Lavelle, to honor the heritage of medicinal plants at the crossroads of science and history.
  
  
• When the Flower Becomes Ice (tent 19, pre-book at the Welcome tent) - Saturday and Sunday at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00, suitable for all audiences, 20 minutes. The ice-cream craftsman LOUISE leads a workshop around her floral flavors inspired by the Jardin des Plantes, with a tasting to conclude.

What guided tours are available?

All guided tours must be booked at the Welcome Tent, on the day of the visit, starting from 10 a.m., while spaces last.

• To be read
• This week's best bets in Paris and Île-de-France, May 18–24, 2026.
• Free museums in Paris and free monuments in Île-de-France: the top cultural deals

• The Taste of Plants: Between Knowledge and Flavors - Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 PM, for adults, 1 hour. With Christophe Lavelle, CNRS and Muséum researcher, a journey through the medieval “garden of simples” and its ties to botany, health, and gastronomy.
• Wind in the Face - Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM, for adults, 1 hour. A aromas-guided stroll through the garden’s plants (roses, lilacs, jasmine, and more) to explore how they scent themselves and humanity’s long relationship with them.
• The Tree That Time Forgot - Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM, suitable from age 6, 1 hour. A child-friendly investigative visit with activity booklet, in search of the Jardin des Plantes’ oldest tree.
• Behind the Scenes at the Jardin des Plantes Seed House - Saturday at 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, Sunday at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM, for ages 10 and up, 1 hour 30 minutes. A tour of a little-known, two-century-old site: the Graineterie, led by a gardener-seed keeper, unveiling France and Europe’s prized fruit and seed collections.
• Geological Treasures of the Jardin des Plantes - Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 AM, from age 8, 1 hour. A geological stroll across the site’s rocks and landscapes, in partnership with the Amical Society of Amateur Geologists.
• Spotlight on Pollinators - Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM, from age 8, 30 minutes. A garden tour to identify pollinating insects and understand their role.
• Pollinators of Every Stripe - Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM, and 4:30 PM, from age 8, 45 minutes. Watching bumblebees and other pollinators through citizen science programs and the Bumblebee Observatory, in partnership with the Estuary Group.
• Discovering Ethnobotany - Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM, all audiences, 45 minutes. A tour of the Lamarck plot to explore the many human uses of plants across history: medicinal, dietary, craft, and symbolic.
• Exploring the Jardin des Plantes Beehive - Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, from age 10, 1 hour 30 minutes. A visit to the beehive, usually closed to the public, with the Muséum’s beekeeper-horticulturists. Access is challenging and not suitable for mobility-impaired visitors.
• Meeting Parisian Crows - Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM, from age 10, 1 hour. An overview of the Muséum’s ongoing studies since 2015 on urban crows, as part of the Corneilles Paris program.

What performances and encounters are on the program?

• Savanturières, une histoire naturelle au féminin (Bibliothèque centrale, réservation conseillée en ligne) - Samedi et dimanche à 16h, dès 8 ans, durée 1h. A burlesque, sharp-witted performance that shines a light on forgotten women scientists throughout history. With actresses Sophie Garmilla and Crystal Lesser (Compagnie Chemin Ordinaire), in the presence of Marie Fleury, ethnobotanist at the Muséum. Supported by the Engie Foundation.
  
  
• Le jardin aux oiseaux - Dimanche à 11h, 15h et 17h, dès 7 ans, durée 1h, accès libre. A musical promenade through the Garden paths where the Bird Singers converse with the winged residents, accompanied by a musician. The route is not accessible to wheelchairs or strollers; information at the Welcome tent.
  
  
• Bibliothèque hors les murs (terrasse devant la bibliothèque, accès libre) - Samedi et dimanche de 14h à 18h30, tout public. The central library steps outside its walls to offer a curated selection of books for young and older readers, plus activities around the Savanturières, these women from around the world who enriched natural history for centuries.
  
  
• Parcours sonore "Intimités animales" par l'artiste Mélia Roger (casques à retirer à la tente Accueil, accès libre) - Samedi à 14h, 15h, 16h, 17h et 18h, dès 6 ans, durée 30 min. A sound-guided walk: forest whispers at night, sounds of photosynthesis, dialogue between foxes and herons... exploring the animal worlds through sound.
  
  
• Rencontre "À l'écoute des forêts" avec Mélia Roger, artiste sonore (Auditorium de la Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, réservation conseillée en ligne) - Samedi à 15h, dès 12 ans, durée 1h30. Listening to recordings, screening of the film "Tendre phonocène" (2024 - 14 min), followed by a presentation of the Sonosylva program by Jérôme Sueur, ecoacoustician at the MNHN.

What self-guided scavenger hunts can you do on your own?

• The Biodiversity Rally - Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM, open to all, 50-minute duration. Pick up a booklet at the ONF stand (tent 4). A quiz, riddles, land art, and croquet to explore forest biodiversity.
• Aspiring sculptors at the Jardin des Plantes - Open to all, 1 hour, smartphone required. Available to download on the Baludik app. A treasure hunt around the Jardin’s sculptures, in the spirit of its 400th anniversary—solo, with family, or with friends.
• The Strange Disappearance of the Botanist - Open to all, 1 hour, smartphone required. Available on Baludik. A playful investigation to unravel a mystery concerning the Museum’s collections.
• When Paris Was a Tropical Sea - Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM, free admission, information at the Friends of the Museum stand (tent 12). A geological scavenger hunt in search of Lutetian fossils (about 47.8 to 41.3 million years old) in the Jardin’s limestone buildings.

Who is the 2026 Fête de la Nature at the Jardin des Plantes aimed at?

This event is perfect for the whole family, from the youngest to the endlessly curious. Kids will enjoy the playful activities and encounters with local associations, while adults can take in guided tours and talks by specialists. It’s also a great introduction for newcomers to the Museum who want to discover its riches with free admission.

A quick heads-up: some workshops require same-day registration at the Welcome Tent, starting at 10 a.m. It’s best to arrive early if you have specific activities in mind, especially on weekends. Also note that the Jardin des Plantes’ permanent and temporary exhibitions remain open, but at their regular admission rates.

The National Museum of Natural History, accessible from Rue Cuvier (75005 Paris), just steps from Gare d'Austerlitz. Find the full program on the official MNHN site and on jardindesplantesdeparis.fr.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover the riches of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle and immerse yourself in a world dedicated to the preservation and understanding of nature. Immerse yourself in this exceptional experience and take advantage of this free voucher to enrich your knowledge and raise awareness of the importance of protecting our planet.