Zombie Walk Paris is back on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Zombies gather at Place de la Bastille, at the crossroads of the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements, before slowly winding their way to Place de la Nation, straddling the 11th and 12th. A free, open-to-all parade where bloody makeup doubles as the entry pass.
Like last year, the march keeps its anchor at Bastille and its November date. Halloween is over, the pumpkins are starting to soften, but the undead, they’re not letting go. This time the procession heads straight east, toward Nation.
It’s a bit like a George Romero film crashing onto the boulevards of east Paris. Passers-by stop, phones go up, and kids waver between giggles and a chill run down their spines. A quirky way to stretch the season of thrills by a whole week.
The official Zombie Walk Paris site lays out how the afternoon will unfold:
The walk is free and open to everyone, whether you join in or simply watch the crowd pass by. To reach the starting point, Bastille station is served by Paris Metro lines 1, 5 and 8, as well as bus lines 20, 29, 65, 69, 76, 86, 87 and 91. At the finish, Nation station offers connections to Metro lines 1, 2, 6 and 9 or the RER A.
The event is led by a nonprofit organization, La Mad, which covers the cost of renting the equipment. Participants who want to support it can contribute through the organizers' online fundraising page.
First thing to note: there’s no makeup booth this year. So everyone arrives already zombified, or finishes up their touch-ups on the spot during the gathering.
Fake blood, a pallid complexion, hollowed eyes and tattered clothes make up the classic look. Organizers remind us that a successful makeup job doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. The Facebook group Maquillage Zombie Walk Paris shares tips and tutorials. To complete the outfit, our pick of costume shops in Paris offers a few leads.
Another rule not to be taken lightly: carrying any weapon or realistic-looking replica is strictly forbidden and punishable by law. Those who refuse to comply face a sanction as drastic as it is unexpected, as organizers promise to repaint their weapon pink, with no exceptions. So it’s best to leave machetes and chainsaws in the closet.
The concept was born in Canada. The first officially titled Zombie Walk took place in Toronto in October 2003, before spreading to numerous cities around the world.
Paris hopped on the trend in the late 2000s. By 2013, for its sixth edition, the Paris zombie walk was already drawing about 2,000 undead, according to The Local.
What makes the event so appealing is its good-natured, family-friendly vibe. Beneath the layers of fake blood, you’ll encounter families, groups of friends, horror-series fans, and curious onlookers hoping for a photo op. It’s a carnival turned inside out, where ugliness takes center stage instead of glitter.
The final stop is full of irony. During the Revolution, the square — then known as the Place du Trône-Renversé — welcomed the guillotine in the summer of 1794. More than a thousand condemned were executed there, then buried in the nearby Picpus Cemetery. A setting tailor-made for a horde of the undead.
At the heart of the square today stands the Triumph of the Republic, an imposing bronze sculpture by Jules Dalou. On the edge, the two tall columns framing the Trône barrier recall the old Fermiers généraux enclosure. To stretch the afternoon, our guide to the quartier de Nation, de Charonne à Bercy gathers our picks. On the departure side, the quartier de Bastille et de la Roquette rounds up the best plans.
The Zombie Walk 2026 is primarily for anyone who finds Halloween too short. Horror fans will discover a joyfully macabre community, photographers will hunt for striking portraits, and groups of friends will enjoy a free, offbeat night out. Spectator or participant, everyone leaves with something to take home.
Some precautions, though: the crowd at the gathering can be quite dense, and some highly realistic makeup might intimidate the youngest visitors. Arriving around 1 p.m. at Place de la Bastille lets you take advantage of makeup touch-ups and spontaneous photo sessions before the event kicks off.
Thrill-seeking? Our pick Dark Tourism: discovering Paris's spookiest spots and our guide escape rooms and immersive, spine-tingling experiences offer more ideas to explore.
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Dates and Opening Time
On November 7, 2026
Location
Place de la Bastille
75011 Paris 11
Official website
www.facebook.com
More information
Gathering at 1 p.m. Place de La République
