Let’s start with a cheerful “Bonne année!” There’s no better way to kick off 2026 than by stepping into the new year in the world’s most enchanting city. January in Paris is a time for fresh starts, and the city unfolds with a host of new delights. From concerts in the Eiffel Tower and the irresistible galette des rois tradition, to the latest culinary hotspots and runway shows, Paris in January is your chance to embrace the year in true Parisian style.
1. New Year’s Day Concert at the Eiffel Tower (January 1)
Price: €99 standard | €54 students under 26 | €29 children under 10
On January 1, Paris begins the year quietly, with most shops closed and reduced métro service. High above the city, however, music fills the Eiffel Tower. Two New Year’s Day concerts at 4 pm and 6 pm take place in the Salon Gustave Eiffel, performed by the Classik Ensemble accompanied by a violin soloist. The celebratory program features waltzes, dances, and polkas, with works by Johann Strauss, Béla Bartók, Johannes Brahms, Jules Massenet, and Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik.” The setting is unlike any traditional concert hall: winter light filters through the iron structure, the city stretches out below, and the acoustics feel intimate and clear. Each ticket includes a lift pass to the first floor, with the option to continue by stairs to the second floor for panoramic views. Premium tickets include a glass of champagne, offering a refined, understated way to welcome the year.
2. Costume Exhibition at the Opera (Through January 31)
Price: €15 adults | €10 ages 12–25 | Free under 12
It’s your last chance to catch the costume exhibition at the Opéra Garnier, part of the opera house’s 150th-anniversary celebrations. Nearly 200 pieces from the Paris opera’s archives trace a century and a half of opera and ballet, from Carmen and La Traviata, to Swan Lake and Giselle, with standout designs worn by legends like Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev. Beyond the sparkle, the show reveals how costume shapes movement and character. Pair it with a wander up the grand staircase and through the building’s gilded foyers for a richly layered winter visit.
3. La Bringue: Girls-Only Night Out (January 3)
Price: €15
Paris doesn’t let the party linger too far offstage. La Bringue, old-fashioned slang for “party,” returns to Folie Pigalle with a girls-only night designed by women, for women. Expect an easy, feel-good soundtrack that runs from old-school rap and pop to hip-hop, electro, Afrobeat, and hits from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s. Once a niche alternative, the event now has a dedicated following. It’s a natural pick for girls’ trips and anyone seeking a nightlife moment that feels current, social, and unapologetically fun.
4. Epiphany and Galette des Rois (January 6)
Price: €6 per slice | €15–35+ whole cake
Épiphanie is officially celebrated on the first Sunday of January, but in France, the ritual lasts all month; families, friends, and colleagues gather around the galette des rois, a puff pastry filled with almond frangipane and a fève, usually a tiny porcelain trinket. Find it, and you’re crowned king or queen for the day. Each year, Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, the country’s master artisans, present a ceremonial galette to the President of France at the Élysée Palace, a sweet salute to craftsmanship. In bakeries, small galettes typically start around €15 (or €6–7 a slice) and can top €30 for creations by star pâtissiers; supermarkets offer simpler versions for €5–10. Prefer it fait maison? Schools like Le Cordon Bleu and École Lenôtre often host hands-on classes, some in English so that you can master the art of the perfect galette.
5. Les Soldes (January 7 – February 4)
January is prime shopping time in Paris. Start with the grand department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps for a sweep of French and international brands under one roof. For boutique-hopping, Le Marais and Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés deliver that local, just-off-the-runway feel. Favorites like Sézane, Sandro, Maje, A.P.C., and Isabel Marant often mark their best prices of the year in their country of origin. Hermès also holds its exclusive winter sale at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, usually by invitation for select clients, and popular among scarf and leather enthusiasts.
6. Baroque Music at the Louvre (January 7)
Price: €38 adults | €15 under 18
Beneath the Louvre’s glass Pyramid, the museum’s sleek auditorium becomes a cocoon for sound. On January 7, Sébastien Daucé and his ensemble, Correspondances, explore the seismic shift of early 17th-century Rome, when Renaissance polyphony yielded to operas, cantatas, and oratorios bursting with drama. Descend from the throng of the courtyards to a room tuned for clarity and intimacy; in this subterranean hush, the music lands with contemplative focus, offering a different way to experience the Louvre, far from the crowds.
7. MMA in Paris (January 9)
Price: From €39
Paris contains multitudes–catwalks and kitchens, yes, but also the electric charge of live sport. On January 9, Hexagon MMA takes over Zénith de Paris, transforming the concert hall into a fight arena for a night of professional bouts featuring athletes from France and across Europe. It’s an adrenalized snapshot of a discipline that’s become a notable part of France’s sporting landscape.
8. Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (January 22 – 25)
Price: From €25
The Cirque Phénix hosts one of winter’s most exhilarating tickets: the 45th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a launchpad for the next generation of circus artists. The 2026 lineup spans the globe–think Brazilian diabolo wizardry from Vítor Martinez Silva; Ukrainian juggling by Vladyslav Holda; Ivorian contortions from Yaya Diarrassouba; and French contemporary artistry by Baptiste Coudurier alongside aerial and acrobatic turns from Canada and Switzerland. Acts are tight, inventive, and precision-led. Alumni have gone on to Cirque du Soleil and beyond; consider this your chance to see tomorrow’s stars before everyone else does.
9. Paris Men’s Fashion Week (January 24 – 27)
Paris closes out January with Men’s Fashion Week, a citywide pageant of craft, spectacle, and new ideas for Fall/Winter 2026–2027. The heavyweights are here: Louis Vuitton under Pharrell Williams, Dior by Kim Jones, Hermès with Véronique Nichanian, AMI by Alexandre, Mattiussi, as well as Japanese vanguards Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Junya Watanabe Man. Emerging voices such as EgonLab, LGN Louis‑Gabriel Nouchi, KidSuper, Steven Passaro, Willy Chavarria, and Auralee sharpen the conversation with fresh silhouettes and intimate presentations. The mood? Paris at its best: heritage meeting the new guard, with the whole city as a runway.
10. Five New Paris Restaurant Openings
As a new year begins, it makes sense to try something new, especially at the table. January’s calmer pace offers the ideal moment to explore Paris’s latest restaurant openings, when reservations are easier to secure, and the city feels more local. From modern French comfort food to confident fusion and refined vegetarian cooking, these five new restaurants capture how Paris is eating right now.
- Set in the 10th arrondissement, just steps from Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, Les Deux Gares Express brings a brisk, contemporary energy to one of Paris’s busiest crossroads. The bold, graphic décor mirrors the constant motion outside, while the menu focuses on elevated French staples. Expect rotisserie chicken with jus, steak-frites, croque-monsieurs, and generously filled sandwiches that work equally well for lunch or a casual dinner. Desserts stay reassuringly classic, with chocolate cake and seasonal fruit tarts rounding out the menu.
- In the 11th arrondissement, near the creative hub of Bastille, Shuzo introduces a thoughtful dialogue between Japanese technique and Colombian flavors. The intimate, understated dining room keeps attention firmly on the plate. The menu may move from tuna sashimi with citrus and chili to yakitori-style grilled meats, alongside rice bowls layered with fermented vegetables and spiced sauces. Larger dishes—such as grilled fish with miso and ají amarillo—highlight the kitchen’s ability to balance precision with warmth.
- Located in the 19th arrondissement, within reach of Parc de la Villette, Envie Le Banquet is built around the idea of communal dining. The open, welcoming space is designed for long tables and shared plates, and the menu follows suit. Think whole roasted chicken, slow-baked seasonal vegetables, comforting gratins, and large salads served family-style, followed by desserts meant to be shared. It’s less about individual plates and more about the pleasure of eating together.
- Near Palais Royal in the 1st arrondissement, Mischief brings chef Erica Paredes’s confident, playful sensibility to one of Paris’s most elegant quarters. The sleek, contemporary room sets the stage for a menu that reworks French foundations with subtle global accents. Dishes may include a reimagined pâté, carefully sauced fish or meat mains, and desserts that balance richness with restraint. It’s inventive without being showy, offering precise cooking with personality.
- In the 9th arrondissement, close to Pigalle, Vivide confirms that vegetarian dining has fully claimed its place in Paris. The light, modern space reflects the clarity of the menu, which focuses on vegetables treated with the same care as classic French mains. Expect dishes like roasted squash with sauce vierge, root-vegetable tarts, and seasonal vegetable compositions layered with purées and crisp elements, followed by fruit-forward desserts.
Mariam, originally from Paris, now calls the Bay Area home. A seasoned traveler and writer, she’s always on the lookout for exciting new restaurants, hidden bars, and offbeat experiences. She has a passion for writing about travel, food, people, and all things unexpected. If you’d like to share your tips and events about Paris and France, please feel free to send them her way at [email protected].
