July 14, 2026, Holiday Weekend in Paris: Four Days of Celebrations, Including Fireworks on the Seine, Versailles, and Firefighters’ Dances
This year, Bastille Day offers a rare opportunity to enjoy a four-day weekend. On July 14 in Paris falls on a Tuesday, making it possible to take Monday, July 13, off and enjoy four consecutive days of festivities, from Saturday, July 11, through Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
An Extraordinary Long Weekend for National Day: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Before planning your itinerary, it’s a good idea to check the hours for each location. Many Parisian establishments are typically closed on Mondays or Tuesdays. As a result, some museums and monuments are closed on one of those days each week.
For example, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays; therefore, it will remain closed on July 14, 2026 and will not be open on an exceptional basis this year. It will be open on July 11, 12, and 13, 2026, at the usual admission rates.
However, the Palace of Versailles, which is normally closed on Mondays, will be open to the public on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The entire estate—including the palace, the Petit and Grand Trianon, exhibitions, the park, and the gardens—will thus be open on July 11, 12, and 14, 2026.
“Since July 14 falls on a Tuesday, it’s the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a four-day long weekend by taking Monday, July 13, off.”
Versailles and Seine River Cruises: Highlights for July 13 and 14
At the Palace of Versailles, the program is particularly rich. The Grandes Eaux Musicales will take place on July 11, 12, and 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Grandes Eaux Nocturnes, which conclude with a fireworks display, will take place on July 11 and 14, 2026, from 8:30 p.m. to 11:05 p.m.
The Royal Serenade also features a costumed performance in the Hall of Mirrors, including a fencing match, a concert of sacred music, and a dance demonstration, on July 11 and 14, 2026, starting at 6:30 p.m. You can combine this event with the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes.
On the Seine, July 13, 2026, is the night of the grand fireworks display. Several companies offer cruises and dinner cruises to view the fireworks from the water: the Bateaux-Mouches begin boarding at 9 p.m., the Vedettes du Pont Neuf offer dinner cruises or cruises with champagne, and Canauxrama offers trips on the Seine as well as on the Canal Saint-Martin, with all packages including the fireworks display.
Exhibitions and castles: a packed cultural program over the four days
Art lovers have plenty of options during this long weekend. Some exhibitions will be open all four days from July 11 to 14, 2026: the Gianni Versace retrospective at the Maillol Museum, the exhibition “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and Treasures” at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Calder. Dreaming in Balance at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, Leonora Carrington at the Musée du Luxembourg, or even The Splendor of the Baroque: From El Greco to Velázquez at the Jacquemart-André Museum.
Other exhibitions are open only on certain days. For example, the “Normes Corps” season at the Palais de Tokyo and the “Clair-Obscur” exhibition at the Bourse de Commerce — Pinault Collection, and the Marilyn Monroe exhibition at the Cinémathèque Française are open on July 11, 12, and 13, 2026, but closed on Tuesday, July 14. Conversely, “Beyond the Streets” at the Grande Halle de la Villette and the “Renoir and Love” exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay will be closed on Monday, July 13, but will reopen on the 14th.
When it comes to the castles of Île-de-France, there’s a wide selection to choose from. The Château de Vincennes will be open from July 11 to 14, 2026. The Château de Chantilly, the Château de Rambouillet, the Château de Fontainebleau, and the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte will be open from July 11 to 13, 2026. Vaux-le-Vicomte is also hosting a special candlelit evening on Monday, July 13, 2026.
- Grandes Eaux Musicales in Versailles on July 11, 12, and 14, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- “Grandes Eaux Nocturnes” with fireworks in Versailles on July 11 and 14, 2026, from 8:30 p.m. to 11:05 p.m.
- Fireworks from the Eiffel Tower on July 13, 2026, starting at 11 p.m., preceded by a free concert by the Orchestre national de France on the Champ-de-Mars
- Military parade on the Champs-Élysées on July 14, 2026, starting at 10 a.m., with the Patrouille de France leading the way
- Paris Plages opens on July 4, 2026, along the banks of the Seine and at the Bassin de la Villette; admission is free and open to the public
Family Activities, in the Air and on the Water
For a change of pace, Akwa offers electric boat rentals on the Bassin de la Villette and the Canal de l’Ourcq, with a “Bateau Plancha” option for dining while cruising. The Generali Hot Air Balloon rises to an altitude of 150 meters in André Citroën Park, while the Panoramagique hot air balloon at Disneyland Paris rises to 100 meters, day and night until 11 p.m. Both balloons will be open on July 11, 12, 13, and 14, 2026, weather permitting.
Families can also choose between the Paradox Museum, the Museum of Illusions, or Science Expériences at Bercy Village—all three of which will be open from July 11 to 14, 2026. Parc Astérix kicks off its Gallic summer on July 11, 2026, and remains open through August 30, 2026, daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., featuring 50 attractions, including 7 water rides.
The Jardin d’Acclimatation, open all four days, will host an event on July 14, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
