Nuit Blanche 2026: ‘all night’ free culture festival in and around Paris
The festival’s 25th edition is set to host over 100 special events
The festival’s artistic director, Barbara Butch, will host a DJ set at the Paris town hall
Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock
Paris’ annual Nuit Blanche cultural festival takes place this Saturday night (June 6), with several galleries, museums, and art spaces in the city and surrounding areas hosting free special events.
Nuit Blanche is an expression that means ‘a sleepless night’ - and that is precisely what is planned for this weekend, with many events carrying on into the early hours of Sunday morning.
A total of 123 artistic projects and events make up the 25th edition of the festival’s programme, estimated to attract some 600,000 visitors.
“Seeing it, hearing it, feeling it, experiencing it – this is what the Nuit Blanche, launched by Bertrand Delanoë a quarter of a century ago, embodies a culture that is both demanding and accessible to everyone, a culture that reaches out to the city’s residents,” said Paris mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire.
The artistic director behind the Nuit Blanche 2026 is DJ and activist Barbara Butch, who has decided to centre the festival around the theme of love.
“I believe in love as a living force. An energy that brings people together, that heals, that sets things in motion. It is this energy that I wanted to spread throughout the city,” said Ms Butch.
She will be hosting her own DJ set at the Paris town hall from 19:00 - 21:40, with several surprise guests set to make appearances throughout the evening.
Other festival locations include the Musée national Picasso-Paris, the Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection, the Musée du quai Branly, and Fondation Louis Vuitton.
A full list of events being hosted are available via the Paris mairie, which provides a handy interactive map on its website. Some events require visitors to reserve a spot in advance.
You can also find event guides by downloading the Paris Ma Ville app or by visiting the Paris La Boutique at 29 Rue de Rivoli.
Participants should be mindful of planning their journey home.
In previous years, certain public transport systems including major metro lines have run overnight in the city for Nuit Blanche - however, no specific plan is being put in place this year with services finishing at usual weekend hours.
Vélib city bikes will be available for free throughout the night (June 6).
