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Cultural outings in Paris over the Christmas period

The festive season is the opportunity to discover numerous top shows, exhibitions, circuses, celebrations …

Nota Bene - Covid

The end of year celebrations in 2021 are marked by the programming of numerous cultural events: exhibitions, shows, circuses... Not forgetting the Christmas animations in certain castles, the illuminations and the Christmas shop windows. Below is a selection of some of the events to enjoy in Paris at the end of 2021.

Exhibitions in Paris

The Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art

This event offers to discover, for the first time in France, more than 200 masterpieces of French and Russian modern art: Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Pierre Bonnard, Maurice Denis, Henri Matisse, André Derain, Pablo Picasso, Mikhaïl Vroubel, Kasimir Malevitch, Ilia Répine, Miche Larionov, Valentin Sérov


Until 3 April 2022

Signac collectionneur

Expo Signac collectionneur - Musée d'Orsay - Affiche, Paris

The Musée d'Orsay proposes to discover the incredible collection of the painter Signac (paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Gustave Caillebotte, Armand Guillaumin) initiated with the acquisition of a landscape by Paul Cézanne.

Until 13 February 2022

  • Musée d'Orsay - 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur - Paris 7th
  • Metro : Solférino

Vogue Paris 1920-2020

Expo Vogue 1920-2020 - Palais Galliera - Affiche, Paris

To mark the centenary of the famous magazine Vogue Paris, the Palais Galliera is holding an exceptional exhibition. No fewer than 400 pieces have been collected for the occasion.


Until 30 January 2022

In the footsteps of Napoleon I - For the Best and for the Empire

To mark the bicentenary of the death of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the Monnaie de Paris presents the exhibition In the footsteps of Napoleon I - For the Best and for the Empire, from 17 September 2021 to 6 March 2022. It highlights the role that medals, and symbols played in the making of the Napoleon legend and the creation of the Franc Germinal in 1803. In the footsteps of Napoleon I - For the Best and for the Empire

In the footsteps of Napoleon I - For the Best and for the Empire

Until 6 March 2022

Playmobil at the Invalides

Exposition Playmobil aux Invalides, en avant Napoléon ! Paris

The Musée de l'Armée at the Invalides has an unusual exhibition for the festive season 2021. Coinciding with the bicentenary of the death of Napoleon, Playmobil figures trace the life of the emperor in 12 huge scenes. Children and adults alike can round off their visit with a fun activity involving a fascinating investigation in search of Playmobil figures hidden within the museum.

From 18 December 2021 to 9 January 2022

Dufy’s Paris

Affiche de l'exposition Le Paris de Dufy au musée de Montmartre Jean Renoir, Paris

The Musée de Montmartre Jardins Renoir is hosting an exhibition titled ‘Le Paris de Dufy’ (Dufy’s Paris). A modern artist, Raoul Dufy is best known for having painted La Fée électricité (The Electricity Fairy), the world’s largest painting.

Until 2 January 2022

Soutine / De Kooning, painting incarnate

Expo Soutine - De Kooning - Musée de l'Orangerie - Affiche, Paris

For the first time, the Musée de l’Orangerie is presenting an exhibition featuring the works of both Chaïm Soutine and Willem de Kooning. The show sets up a dialogue between the two artists and their singular creative universes.

Until 10 January 2022

Ultimate Combat. Asian Martial Arts

The exhibition Ultimate Combat, Asian Martial Arts offers visitors a fascinating insight into the world of martial arts, its origins and history. The show consists of more than 300 works from the past and present and pays tribute to historic figures.

Until 16 January 2022

Daniel Angeli. Paparazzi de A à Z

The exhibition space on the roof of the Grande Arche de la Défense is hosting a retrospective of the work of Daniel Angeli, nicknamed the ‘king of paparazzi’.

Until 31 January 2022

Aerodream. Architecture, design and inflatable structures 1950-2020

More than 250 monumental inflatable structures designed by architects, engineers, and designers from the 1950s to the present day are on display along a discovery trail through the galleries of the Cité. 

Aerodream. Architecture, design and inflatable structures 1950-2020

Until 14 February 2022

Les Flammes. L'âge de la céramique au MAM

Exposition Les Flammes - Bol sein, Paris

The end of 2021 is the opportunity to discover - or rediscover - the Musée d'art Moderne de Paris, or MAM. In addition to the museum's superb permanent collections (Christian Boltanski, Henri Matisse, Daniel Buren, Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy, etc.), the programme of temporary exhibitions is particularly rich for the festive season: the Anni and Josef Albers exhibition brings together more than 350 works by the two artists, and the Flames exhibition traces the history of ceramics from the Neolithic period to the present day. Other exhibitions and events round off this rich programme.

The Flames. The golden age of ceramics

Until 6 February 2022

Shows in Paris

The Lion King

Le Roi Lion - La chasse de la lionne, Paris

Simba, Scar, Nala, Timon and Pumba are back to entertain young and old alike in a playful and colourful show, which is already shaping up to be one of the many unmissable events in Paris! 

The Lion King

Until 31 July 2022

Noah: the will to live

From the end of 2021, the Paris-Longchamp racecourse will host the musical Noah: the wille to live. The show - created by Essaï Altounian - retraces the universal story of Noah, a character from Genesis who has to recreate humanity. The audience, from 4 years old, is taken on board for 2 hours (with an interval) in an adventure that brings together more than 30 artists, unusual sets, visual effects and "animals" that are more real than life. Noah, the power of life is also a profound reflection on the need to protect the planet and the environment.

Until 16 January 2022

  • Hippodrome de ParisLongchamp - Bois de Boulogne - 2 route des Tribunes - Paris 16th
  • Metro : Porte Maillot, and bus 244 (stop Lonchamp Good Planet - Porte Maillot)

"How to become a Parisian in one hour" by Olivier Giraud

Olivier Giraud's show full of humour and tenderness "How to become a Parisian in one hour" is to be discovered at the Théâtre des Nouveautés in late 2021. The one-man show is available in three categories: 24€, 31€ or 37€.

"How to become a Parisian in one hour" by Olivier Giraud

Until 30 June 2022

Cirque Bormann : A Journey through time

Cirque Bormann - Voyage dans le temps affiche, Paris

With its new show, the Bormann circus invites you to a journey through time in its impressive baroque and traditional Big Top at the heart of the 15th arrondissement.

Cirque Bormann : a journey through time

Until 14 August 2022

  • Cirque Bormann - 5 rue Lucien Bossoutrot - Paris 15th
  • Métro : Havre - Caumartin

A Passage to Bollywood at Chaillot - Théâtre national de la Danse

Chaillot - Théâtre national de la Danse - Spectacle A passage to Bollywood, Paris

For the 2021 Christmas season, the Théâtre National de Chaillot has a stunning show in store for theatre goers. After 5 seasons of touring internationally, the great Bollywood show finally arrives in Paris! Dancers and performers from the Navdhara India Dance Theatre company surprise and dazzle the audience with this exciting, energetic, and enchanting show choreographed by Ashley Lobo -  a clever combination of classic Indian dance and the dynamism of modern choreography. Pure entertainment! See also the ‘Chaillot Expérience’ December programme linked to the show.

From 11 to 25 December 2021 - Performance at 3.30pm, 7.30pm, or 8.30pm depending on the day (5pm on 25 December 2021) - From €8 to €43

In the footsteps of Arsène Lupin with mentalism and magic

Hommes aux mille mains - Sur les traces d’Arsène Lupin : entre magie et mentalisme - Concentration, Paris

Just a stone's throw from the Canal Saint-Martin, the Laurette theatre hosts the show of magician and mentalist Jean-Michel Lupin, who pays homage to his famous namesake Arsène Lupin. In an interactive show for young and old alike, the numbers and tricks follow one another in rapid succession. It is poetic, playful, mysterious and fascinating. To be discovered at the end of 2021.

In the footsteps of Arsène Lupin with mentalism and magic

Saturday 18 December 2021 at 3pm and Sunday 19 December 2021 at 2pm. Resumes on 8 January 2022, Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 2pm - From 13€ to 18€.

National Equestrian Academy of Versailles

Académie équestre de Versailles, centre chorégraphique, écuyers 3, Paris © Agathe Poupeney / PhotoScene

Before its annual closure from 1 January 2022 to 18 February 2022, the National Equestrian Academy of Versailles is celebrating the end of the year 2021 in style. The equestrian and artistic show La Voie de l'Ecuyer will be performed many times between 18 and 31 December 2021. And on two occasions before 2022, the Grande Ecurie will open its doors for a private visit behind the scenes. To be discovered just opposite the Château de Versailles! For those who are late, don't panic, the season resumes on 19 February 2022!

La Voie de L'Ecuyer

18, 23 and 30 December 2021 at 6pm. On 19, 22, 24, 26, 29 and 31 December 2021 at 3pm. From €22

Behind the scenes at the equestrian academy

18 December 2021 at 3pm and 31 December 2021 at 11am. €6

2021 Christmas animations in Paris and the Paris Region

Christmas in the castle!

Noël 2021 - Vaux-le-Vicomte - Projection sur la façade avant, Paris

The castles of Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Fontainebleau, Breteuil, the Chantilly estate... offer in their respective parks beautiful decorations and some animations for this Christmas 2021!

Until the beginning of January 2021

Illuminations, Christmas windows in Paris

Animations parvis Hôtel de Ville

As 2021 draws to a close, Paris sparkles with a thousand lights! Take a stroll through the streets of the capital and discover the enchantment of the illuminations and Christmas windows.

Until early January 2022

More info on Christmas lights in Paris

More info on the Christmas windows at the department stores in Paris

Lumières ! at the parc de la Villette

Lumières ! Parc de la Villette, Paris

This festival invites you to discover unusual and spectacular light installations created along the Ourcq Canal and on the Triangle and North and South Circle meadows. From the light Flow, by the group F.

From 3 December 2021 to 2 January 2022

More info on Christmas fun and entertainment family in Paris

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