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Every year on the first Saturday night of October, Paris becomes the theater of an extraordinary artistic event. Artists, musicians, and performers invade the city’s streets and most beautiful monuments for a night of wonder.
We’re not going to lie: with so many art installations and parties taking place all over the city, browsing the event’s official website can be a bit overwhelming.
So we’ve studied the program and are sharing the highlights with you so that you can make the most of the ‘White Night’! And, we’ve even made a map to help guide you through our picks — scroll to the bottom to see la carte!
Step 1: Get ready for the night!
A few things to know before you start your city tour:
- Don’t get lost: The organizers have listed all of the events on mapster. Download the app and follow @Nuitblanche to find your way in the maze of art installations.
- Moving from one point to another: Forget taking a car tonight! The streets will be crowded and some roads (including parts of the periphérique ring) will be closed. Most years, the metro offers a special ticket and stays open all night, but nothing has been announced yet for the 2022 edition.
- Dressing for the occasion: Make sure to wear comfy shoes as well as a warm jacket and bring your umbrella! Many of the events take place outdoors and we all know you can’t trust the weather in Paris in the fall. You might want to make an effort to look stylish though, as the Nuit Blanche is a great occasion to boost your Instagram account with some killer artsy pictures.
- Sharing your experience: When you post your awesome snapshots, don’t forget to use the hashtags of the event: #nuitblanche and #paris_maville, and, of course, #urbansider for a chance to be featured on our account!
Step 2: Go out & enjoy!
7pm – Have some cake at the Hôtel de Ville
Renowned Parisian pâtissier Pierre Hermé is baking a magnificent cake to celebrate the festival’s 20th birthday, and you can come get a taste! Along with this special treat at the Hôtel de Ville, the nearby Paris Tourist Office at 29 Rue de Rivoli will also be hosting a photo retrospective retracing the history of the ‘White Night’ event and featuring some of the favorite pieces from past editions.
8pm – Balader through Beaubourg
Just a short 5-minute walk from the Hôtel de Ville, the Beaubourg area around the Centre Pompidou really comes alive on Nuit Blanche. For this year’s event, you’ll find fun foam sculptures at the Place de Beaubourg and there are always artists ready to amaze.
9pm-midnight – Travel back in time at the theater
If contemporary art isn’t your cup of tea, definitely make your way to the Institut de France to enjoy a theater performance of one of Molière’s plays just as it would have been back in the 17th century, by candlelight and all!
Up for something a little more seductive? Head instead to the Théâtre du Châtelet to take in a free performance by le Cabaret New Burlesque.
Midnight-4am – Enjoy an immersive musical and visual experience
The Philarmonie de Paris is offering a range of free concerts from 6pm to 4am for the 2022 edition of Nuit Blanche, but the late-night concert by Mathieu Le Sourd (Maotik) and Maarten Vos Go will make for a great way to end the evening.
But do be sure to check the full program (in French) in case there’s an earlier concert you don’t want to miss!
Urbansider’s Nuit Blanche 2022 Map
Not in Paris for the festivities this year? The next Nuit Blanche will be in June 2023 — that’s right, future editions will be in the summer —, so mark your calendars now!
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