What’s On in Paris – January 2026

VACANCES SCOLAIRES (French School Holidays): December 20th, 2025 – January 5th, 2026

January 2
Lost in Frenchlation is screening the French thriller Vie privée (A Private Life) with English subtitles at the Cinéma Balzac (1 rue Balzac, 8th). Drinks from 7pm, screening at 8pm. Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and starring Jodie Foster and Daniel Auteuil, the film follows an American psychoanalyst in Paris whose life is derailed by the mysterious death of a patient, unfolding into a sharp, darkly humorous whodunnit. Tickets €12.50.

Through January 3
The Louvre museum is usually open late nights Wednesday and Fridays until 9pm, but for the holiday season they’re open until 9pm on December 22^nd; 26^th-29^th, and January 2^nd-3^rd. Closed at 5pm on the 24th and 31st; closed completely on the 25^th and 1^st. Reserve your timeslot online in advance (up until 7:30pm, rooms start closing at 8:30pm).

January 4
Lost in Frenchlation screens Jules et Jim tonight at the Studio des Ursulines (10 rue des Ursulines, 5th). Tea and hot drinks are available from 7pm (bring your own mug if you like), with the screening starting at 8pm. “François Truffaut’s 1962 New Wave classic follows two artist friends, Jules and Jim, and the woman they both love, Catherine, in a story of friendship, desire, and disillusion spanning pre- and post–World War I Paris.” Tickets €9.50.

January 4th (and every 1st Sunday)
Many museums and monuments in Paris are open for free the first Sunday of the month. In January, that includes the Orsay, Picasso, Cluny, Arts-et-Métiers, Musée Rodin, Orangerie, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Musée Delacroix, Musée Gustave Moreau, Cité de l’Architecture, Musée des Arts Asiatiques Guimet, Cité de la Céramique de Sèvres, Musée Jean-Jacques Henner, Musée départemental Albert-Kahn, Quai Branly, Musée de l’histoire de l’Immigration, and the Château Fontainebleau. Monuments include the Arc de Triomphe, Pantheon, Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Versailles, Château de Vincennes, and Saint-Denis Basilica. Be sure to check each museum’s website, as some still require you to have a timed ticket; even if the entrance is free. See the full list here.

January 5–February 6
The summit of the Eiffel Tower is closed to visitors from January 5 through February 6 for its annual winter maintenance and renovation works. This temporary closure affects only the top level (the 3rd floor). The work is essential upkeep for a space exposed year-round to extreme wind, cold, and weather at nearly 300 meters high. Visitors can still access the 1st and 2nd floors by elevator or stairs during this period. The 2nd floor is still higher than 99% of the city’s buildings, for panoramic views over Paris, along with shops, exhibitions, and food options.

January 6
Today is the Catholic celebration, Epiphany (when baby Jesus was visited by the three wise men). Whether Catholic or not, the French celebrate with food (of course), specifically the beloved Galette du Roi, or King Cake. In case you didn’t know, and don’t want to break a tooth, each galette has a ceramic fève (figurine) hidden inside (the one who kinds it gets to wear the crown and be King or Queen for the day), so bite down gingerly until it’s found. Learn more about it here on the France24 video.

January 6–26
Inscriptions open soon for the second semester of the Cours d’Adultes de Paris, the City of Paris’s municipal adult education program run by the Ville de Paris. Registration runs from January 6 to January 26 for classes beginning in February, including highly affordable French-language courses (FLE) for non-native speakers, as well as foreign languages, professional training, and general education. Courses are offered across Paris, with many locations accessible to people with reduced mobility. Fees are heavily subsidized, making this one of the best-value ways for Paris residents to take French classes. Applications are submitted online, with placement confirmation sent by email before final registration and payment.

January 7 – February 3
The twice-annual sales (soldes en français) kick off in shops all over France, with clothing and home goods up to 70% off. Even if “everything is cheaper online,” the sales are a great time to support small, independent shops, especially those that are usually a bit out of your price range.

Through January 17, 2026 (closed Dec 20th – Jan 1st)
Mathgoth Gallery opens HOMMAGE, a group exhibition exploring memory, influence, and artistic lineage through new works by a dozen major urban artists, including Jef Aérosol, Jace, Bordalo II, Hera, Philippe Hérard, KogaOne, Lady M, Speedy Graphito, and Mademoiselle Maurice. Each artist interprets the theme freely, from personal tributes to creative inheritance, in the gallery’s temporary space at 1 rue Alphonse Boudard, 13th (Metro/RER Bibliothèque or Chevaleret). Open Wednesday–Saturday, 2–7pm. Free entry.

Through January 11, 2026
Paul Poiret, Fashion is a Party expo is on at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (107 rue de Rivoli, 1st arrondissement), open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am–6pm (late opening Thursday until 9pm). Closed Mondays. Admission €15 (€11 reduced). This major retrospective traces the creative universe of Paul Poiret, the early 20th-century designer known for liberating women from corsets and revolutionizing fashion. Featuring 550 works—from garments and accessories to decorative arts and archival images—the show highlights his influence across fashion, interiors, fragrance, and high society festivities, from the Belle Époque to the Roaring Twenties.

January 14–27
UGC is back with a new edition of Les Incontournables, offering a chance to (re)see 21 of the highest-rated films of 2025 for just €5 each at UGC cinemas across Paris and France. The selection is based on certified UGC audience ratings and includes the 2025 Palme d’Or winner as well as two UGC Coup de Cœur picks. Films of particular interest this year include Une bataille après l’autre, The Brutalist, Valeur sentimentale, Sirât (UGC Coup de Cœur), L’Étranger (UGC Coup de Cœur), Un simple accident (Palme d’Or), Mémoires d’un escargot, Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes, La Venue de l’avenir, and Ma mère, Dieu et Sylvie Vartan. Screenings take place at all major UGC locations in Paris, including Les Halles, Bercy, Montparnasse, Gobelins, La Défense, and Paris 19, with additional cinemas throughout Île-de-France and the rest of France. Reservations open soon. A free UGC loyalty card is required to access the €5 rate and can be requested at any UGC ticket counter.

January 15
Democrats Abroad Paris marks International Voter Registration Day with an evening event at the American Church in Paris, officially launching their 2026 midterm Get Out the Vote campaign. An American politics specialist from the University of Lyon II will explain what’s at stake in the next elections, followed by time to connect with fellow U.S. voters and activists in Paris. Bring a friend who still needs to register. Thursday at 7:30pm in the Thurber Room, American Church in Paris, 65 quai d’Orsay (7th). Tickets $10, including light snacks and wine or a non-alcoholic drink.

January 15
The annual Hommage à Molière takes place at the Comédie-Française on the playwright’s birthday, marking the spot where Molière collapsed and died on stage in 1673. Following the evening performance of Les Fourberies de Scapin, the full troupe gathers onstage for a short ceremonial tribute at the Salle Richelieu (Place Colette, Palais Royal, 1st arrondissement). The performance is free, but tickets are available only in person, distributed on the day starting 90 minutes before curtain time (from 6:30pm) at the Petit Bureau, the exterior ticket window on the Rue de Richelieu side of the building. Expect a line and limited availability. This evening is also notable as the final performance at the Salle Richelieu before a six-month closure for renovations.

January 15
FFRandonnée Paris’s monthly “Panamée” urban walk is a fascinating way to see the city with the locals. The January walk is a free, three-hour cultural stroll dedicated to three influential women who shaped Paris in very different ways: Maria Brignole de Galliera, Marguerite Boucicaut, and Amicie Lebaudy. These walks often attract large groups (sometimes a few hundred people), but it’s not a tight tour format: the group naturally spreads out, there’s no obligation to interact, and many people come alone simply to listen and walk. Think of it as a moving, open-air lecture (en français!) through the city rather than a small guided tour. The walk departs at 7pm from Boulevard Pasteur (Métro Pasteur, lines 6 and 12) and ends around 10pm near the Musée Galliera (Métro Iéna, line 9). Free, no registration required, and open to everyone: just show up, dress for the weather, and be ready for a long evening walk, entirely en français.

January 15-18
The Bastille Design Center (74 boulevard Richard-Lenoir, 11th) is hosting a free streetart exhibition “100% Paper“ bringing together nearly 300 works by 120 urban artists created on paper using various techniques, including collages, drawings and inks. Open Thursday 6-10pm, and Fri-Sun 11am-7pm.

January 15-18
The annual District 13 Art Fair returns to the Hôtel Drouot auction house (9 rue Drouot, 9th) for three days to display the works of the 170 biggest names in street art and graffiti from around the world including Seth, D*Face, Obey, INTI, Sonic, Felipe Pantone, Add Fuel, Okuda San Miguel, JonOne, Queen Andrea, Jo Di Bona, L’Insecte, Richard Orlinski, Petite Poissone, Chloé Kelly Miller, Delteil Géraud, Keymi, Motte, Jace, Speedy Graphito, Reso, L’Outsider, and 13 Bis.. Vernissage on the 9th at 3pm. Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Price: €10/15 – Free under 12.

January 21–25
The 10th edition of Les Nuits de la Lecture takes place across France, celebrating literature around the theme “Villes et campagnes” (Cities and Countryside). Over five evenings, events in Parisian libraries, monuments, bookshops, and cultural venues explore how urban and rural worlds shape memory, identity, and imagination through readings, performances, talks, and guided visits. Events are almost entirely in French, making this a great opportunity for language immersion. Many are free, though some require tickets or are first come, first served. Full details are available via the searchable map on the official site.

January 21–27
The Festival cinéma Télérama returns for a week of great films at small prices, offering a chance to (re)see the best movies of 2025 in cinemas across Paris and France. Organized by Télérama with the Association française des cinémas d’art et d’essai, the festival screens a selection of 16 standout films from the past year, along with several avant-premières. All screenings are priced at €4 with the festival pass, valid for two people. The pass can be found in the January 14 and 21 issues of Télérama, or via the Télérama website. Participating cinemas include many of Paris’s independent and art-house theaters, with some special screenings followed by live Q&As broadcast from Le Balzac.

January 22
Looking to volunteer in Paris (and you’re a Parisian resident who can understand French)? It’s time for the 9th annual Nuit de la Solidarité, where volunteers are needed to help interview people living on the streets of Paris to better understand their profiles and needs to best adapt emergency and social mechanisms. Learn more and register here: https://nuit-solidarite.paris.fr/index.html

January 22–25
The Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain returns to the Cirque Phénix for its 45th edition, showcasing the next generation of international circus talent under the big top on the Pelouse de Reuilly. Since 1977, this influential competition has been a launchpad for artists who go on to redefine contemporary circus worldwide. Over four days, performers from across the globe present cutting-edge acts featuring flying trapeze, Korean teeterboard, aerial hoops, diabolo, tightrope, chair balancing, Chinese acrobatics, and Angolan straps—often with inventive twists that upend traditional roles and expectations. Clowns, frequently sidelined elsewhere, also reclaim a central place here through physical comedy and poetic movement. A notable first this year: the festival’s jury is composed entirely of women, drawn from leading international circus institutions. Performances take place Thursday and Friday at 8:30pm, Saturday at 2:30pm or 8:30pm, and Sunday at 3pm, at Cirque Phénix, Place du Cardinal Lavigerie (12th arrondissement, metro Liberté). Tickets €25–€67.

January 23–25
The art3f contemporary art fair returns to Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles for three days bringing together more than 250 artists and galleries from France and abroad. Painting, sculpture, and photography are presented in an open, walk-through format with no fixed route, designed to make contemporary art approachable for all visitors. Over 3,500 works are on view, spanning abstraction, pop art, street art, and kinetic art, with all pieces available for purchase. The vernissage is Friday on January 23, with live music, from 1–9pm. Open Saturday and Sunday 10am–7pm, Paris Expo – Pavilion 5.2, Porte de Versailles (15th). Entry €10 at the door, or free if you register in advance here.

January 25
Classic and vintage vehicles of all kinds will be on parade January 25th for the 26th annual Traversée de Paris organized by Vincennes en Anciennes. You’ll see cars, motorcycles, trucks, busses, even mopeds of all makes and models — as long as they’re at least 30 years old (many are pre-WWII). It’s not too late to sign up if you’d like to ride along in one of the vintage Renault city busses for €10/person. Participants gather behind the Château de Vincennes (in front of the Parc Floral) at 7am, and will start departing from 7:30am (through 9am), driving through the city in a massive loop around both Left and Right Banks, past all of the major monuments before finishing back at the Château de Vincennes at 5pm. Sign up by January 20th if you’d like to join (there are limited spaces). There are a few pit stops along the way (and you can hop off anytime), but be sure to bundle up, these old busses aren’t heated!  Check out Heather’s video from last year.

January 27–February 6
The annual Lézarts de la Bièvre group exhibition takes over the Galerie Bièvre, Athéna, and Antichambre spaces at the 13th arrondissement City Hall, bringing together works by around 50 member artists. Painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, collage, mixed media, and sculpture are all represented, offering a wide-ranging snapshot of contemporary local creation. Founded in 2001 to organize open studio weekends along the historic route of the now-underground Bièvre River, the association today brings together more than 80 artists working mainly in the 5th and 13th arrondissements. The exhibition opens with a vernissage on Tuesday, January 27 at 6:30pm, and also serves as a preview of the group’s next open studios weekend, scheduled for June 6–7, 2026 during Nuit Blanche.

January 28
SNCF train ticket sales open today for trips booked for March 30th through July 3rd, 2026. The best rates for the TGV trips throughout France and certain European destinations go very fast, so if you miss out, consider getting the €49 Carte Avantage (make sure you understand the conditions first, and whether the train trip you want to book is eligible for a discount with the card).

January 28
La Digue and Indivisible Paris are holding a rally tonight at 6:30pm in front of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (37 Quai d’Orsay, 7th arrondissement) to support Americans against ICE, and to speak out against Trump’s attacks on democracy in the US and abroad. French MP Pouria Amirshahi will be speaking.

February 1
The American Cathedral of Paris (23 Ave George V, 8th) is holding an interfaith Vigil for Peace this Sunday from 2-3pm. “It seems that wherever we look – Ukraine, the Middle East, even the Americas, to name only those – we see conflict and violence. The rhythm of bad news is relentless. We can be tempted to feel alone and overwhelmed, to withdraw. Yet our hope lies in coming together, building and strengthening our sense of community. We will come together to seek solace, but also strength. Join us to keep watch, to pray, and to share together our hopes for peace. RSVP is not necessary. ALL are welcome!”

Through February 25th
LV DREAM (26 Quai de la Mégisserie, 1st) is hosting “Louis Vuitton Art Deco Exhibition,” a free, reservation-only exhibition tracing the house’s role in the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. Spread across eight rooms and featuring over 300 archival pieces, it explores the brand’s connection to the Art Deco movement through rare objects and immersive displays. Extend your visit with pastries or cocktails at Le Café Maxime Frédéric, and stop by the Gift Store for limited-edition items. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 11am-7pm.