Notre-Dame de Paris closed for three days in September for Pope Leo XIV’s visit
Planning to visit Notre-Dame de Paris at the end of September? Before you finalise your plans, double-check your calendar: the cathedral will be closed to the public for three consecutive days due to an exceptional event that will take over the entire building.
Three days of closure at Notre-Dame de Paris: what you need to know
From Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September 2026 inclusive, Notre-Dame de Paris will be closing its doors to visitors. The reason is directly tied to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to the French capital. During these three days, entry to the cathedral will not be possible, regardless of the nature of your visit.
This closure is no small matter. It forms part of an apostolic journey by the Holy Father to France, scheduled from 25 to 28 September 2026. Paris is one of the stops on this trip, alongside Lourdes and Metz. To welcome the event in a manner befitting its significance, the cathedral must be prepared well in advance, hence the closure starting as early as 24 September.
If you were planning to visit the cathedral during this period, it is worth acting now and shifting your trip by a few days, either before or after this closure window.
Pope Leo XIV’s programme in Paris around the cathedral
The papal visit to Paris will revolve around several key moments. At Notre-Dame de Paris, the centrepiece will be the celebration of Vespers, a liturgical service bringing together priests, deacons, monks, nuns, seminarians and other consecrated persons from across France. This gathering is therefore primarily intended for the faithful and members of the clergy.
That said, the service will not be limited to those physically present inside the cathedral. Vespers will be broadcast live, giving anyone who wishes to follow the ceremony the opportunity to do so from a distance. This is a genuine alternative for those who want to experience the event without being on site.
Beyond Notre-Dame, the papal programme in Paris includes several other major engagements: a ride through the city in the Popemobile, a vigil with young people at the Stade de France, and an open-air Mass between the place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.
What this visit means in practice for visitors
For tourists and Parisians who had pencilled Notre-Dame de Paris into their autumn agenda, the impact is immediate. Three days of closure is a real constraint, particularly for those travelling from abroad or who have built their trip around this visit.
- The cathedral will be closed from 24 to 26 September 2026 inclusive.
- No visits will be possible during these three days, without exception.
- The Vespers celebrated at Notre-Dame will be broadcast live.
- The apostolic journey also takes in Lourdes and Metz.
- The open-air Mass will be held between the place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.
The simplest solution is to move your visit forward or push it back by a few days. The cathedral, which has been open to the public since its restoration, will return to normal access from 27 September 2026. Planning your visit just before 24 September or from 27 September onwards is the best way to avoid any unpleasant surprises on arrival.
A rare event that will transform an entire neighbourhood
The presence of Pope Leo XIV at Notre-Dame de Paris represents a historic moment for the capital. The cathedral, already at the centre of international attention since its reopening, will host a service of considerable symbolic importance for the Catholic Church in France.
For visitors who are not attending the religious celebrations, the key thing to remember is simple: from 24 to 26 September 2026, Notre-Dame de Paris will not be accessible. Factor this into your travel planning from the outset, so you do not find yourself standing in front of closed doors when you arrive at the parvis.
