Paris Opera's Palais Garnier opens new dance season with gala

On the evening of 10 October 2026 at 19:30, the Paris Opera inaugurated its 2026-27 dance season with a gala at the Palais Garnier, the ornate 19th-century opera house commissioned under Napoleon III and designed by Charles Garnier. The gala, long a fixture of the French cultural calendar, mixes short works from the company's upcoming programme with new creations and traditionally features the full roster of Étoiles, Premier Danseurs and corps de ballet of the Ballet de l'Opéra National de Paris. This year's opening is also the first full season for the company's new artistic director, who inherits a repertoire spanning classics by Marius Petipa and Rudolf Nureyev alongside contemporary pieces by choreographers including Crystal Pite and Mats Ek. Tickets for the Saturday evening gala, which carries a formal black-tie dress code and includes a Grand Foyer reception, had been reported sold out since mid-September. The Paris Opera's season launch coincides with programming at the Opéra Bastille, where the company's opera programme opens separately. The Palais Garnier's distinctive bronze and gold auditorium is capped by Marc Chagall's 1964 ceiling.