As night falls... books come alive. Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Culture to celebrate the joy of reading, the Nuits de la lecture events invite the public to stay up late each year, engaging in thousands of physical and digital activities. For their 10th edition, organized by the National Book Center, the celebration will take place from January 21 to 25, 2026, centered around a theme that explores the dialogue between urban and rural landscapes: "Cities and Countryside". A sleepless night for insomniac book lovers, curious minds, and all those passionate about words in every form.
In this atmospheric literary setting, one location stands out as a guiding light: the Jacques-Doucet Literary Library. Nestled in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, just a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, it offers guided tours by reservation (spaces are limited) scheduled from January 21 to 23, 2026.
Established by the Parisian fashion designer and patron Jacques Doucet, the library houses collections that vividly depict the working environments of modern literary figures from Baudelaire onward. Manuscripts, archives, personal bookshelves, recreated writing desks, familiar objects, and art collections — here, literature is experienced through both sight and sensation, whispered stories, and tangible impressions.
As part of the Night of Reading, visitors are encouraged to explore recreated writers’ offices before discovering a display of original documents, including archives and manuscripts from literary collections. This evening stroll sheds light on the key themes of city and countryside in literature, offering a quiet opportunity to revisit texts in the calm and focus typical of late hours.
Reading, observing, exploring... the night has never been so well described.
Dates and Opening Time
From January 21, 2026 to January 23, 2026
Location
Jacques-Doucet Literary Library
8 Place du Panthéon
75005 Paris 5
Access
Metro Line 10 at Cardinal Lemoine
Official website
bljd.sorbonne.fr
Booking
doucet@bljd.sorbonne.fr
