Here we have a multitude of venues that showcase all the various performing arts, from the traditional to the experimental, the large and the small, and everything in between – and where to get your tickets.
The 13th Art is one of the largest performance halls on the Left Bank, with 3700m2 over three rooms, showcasing theatre, dance, music and other performing arts. In the Place d’Italie in the 13th.
The Theatre of Madness offers an eclectic program of educational and interactive shows for children and adults, with classical theatre, author plays, comedy, intimate and more unusual shows. In the 11th.
Concerts, music and comedy (mostly comedy) over four performance halls with 90 to 360 seats each. On the Rue du Faubourg du Temple in the 11th.
A national choreographic development centre serving art and the choreographic community with a wide program of artistic and cultural activities. In the 12th.
Inaugurated in 1896, listed as a historical monument and ‘renowned for its exceptional acoustics, its experimental spirit, its penchant for fostering strong artistic encounters and its creative projects’. In the 9th.
The oldest comedy club in Paris, offering four comedians every night for an hour of laughs, plus open-mic Thursdays, in a ‘brothel-style’ decor. In the 2nd.
Conceived as a collaborative platform, this space provides access to shows, concerts, exhibitions, workshops and meetings through a contemporary, experimental program. On the Rue Curial in the 19th.
A theatre ‘dedicated to shows of all origins and cultures’ offering a wide range of music, dance and storytelling in traditional and contemporary forms. In the 13th.
A public project built around and for dance, the National Dance Theatre’s mission is to ‘inscribe dance at the heart of society while bringing worlds closer together’. Within the Palais Chaillot in the 16th.
A touring troupe, the Arlette Gruss Circus performs regularly in Paris over the winter season – check the website for dates. They pitch their marquee on the Reuilly Lawn in the 12th.
A permanent fixture in the Paris circus scene, the Cirque Bormann presents spectacles throughout the year. On the Rue Boussoutrot
in the 15th.
The oldest circus in the world, the Winter Circus was inaugurated by the newly crowned Napoleon III on December 11, 1852 and has been run by the Bouglione family ever since. In the 11th.
The Electric Circus ‘develops a hybrid universe, between the myth of a circus tradition and the reality of a radical and modern urban culture’, across a collection of spaces, and a circus school. In the 20th.
Each season, Cirque Phénix reinvents itself, offering ‘performances that redefine the codes of the traditional circus, illustrating themes, legends and journeys through sensational tableaux.’ Over winter, in the 12th.
Theatre completely dedicated to comedy shows of all forms, plus hosting children’s workshops to perpetuate the art. In the 9th.
Founded in 1680, the Comédie-Française presents a repertoire of classic and contemporary texts, French and foreign, within three venues – in the Place Collette and Rue de Rivoli in the 1st, and in the 6th.
The city’s school of dramatic arts is the learning place for actors and directors, and also offers performances for the public. In the 9th.
Volunteer-run site tracking comedy shows in Paris spoken in English.
A theatre for the young public, the Espace programs a line-up of fantastical spectacles including comedy, musical theatre, magic, dance and puppets. In the 15th.
This 2500m2 space is ‘dedicated to discovery and supports emerging projects as well as the cream of independent, underground or recognised artists’. In the Goutte d’Or district of the 18th.
The FNAC website contains a theatre and performance calendar that you can filter to see what’s on, where, on a particular date or dates and book your tickets.
Where the very first music hall revue was born in 1870, the Folies Bergere presents shows, comedies, concerts, cabarets, musicals and more. On the Rue Richer in the 9th.
Within the Parc de la Villette is the Grand Hall, a cultural centre that programs theatre, dance, music, circus and more, and offering a useful guide to events within the park. In the 19th.
The Puppets of the Parc Floral programs spectacles for children (anyone over 2 1/2) throughout the year. In the 12th.
Puppet shows in an art-deco inspired theatre especially for children. In the Parc Montsouris in the 14th.
Italian-style theatre hall of five levels, classified as a historical monument, with an eclectic program of comedy, musical, family and more. In the 10th.
A space for ‘exchange, encounter and discovery for deaf and hearing people, combining a theatre, a training centre and a publishing house’. In the 9th.
The Colline is a national theatre mandated to promote contemporary works, therefore mainly stages works of the 20th and 21st centuries. Over two venues in the 20th.
Theatre specialising in the art of comedy, offering classic and contemporary works for all ages, as well as theatre school. In the 5th.
Two performance halls offering a program designed to welcome new comedic talent who can make audiences laugh and think. In the 9th.
Two venues of comedy, open all year round, offering a program exclusively dedicated to boulevard comedies and one-person shows. In the 3rd and the 9th.
The House of Poetry aims to ‘transmit literature as widely as possible and to make it a tool for social connection’, offering a range of activities including ‘Listen to the sounds of the world’. In the 3rd.
Performance theatre on a barge, offering shows combining comedy, drama, cabaret, music and shows for young audiences. In the Seine in the 5th.
350-seat theatre showing comedy, absurdism and experimental performances. In the 2nd.
The White Queen produces or co-produces several plays every year that draw heavily on the sciences – sociology, history, psychology – as well as physics, biology and medicine. ‘A truly educational and social vocation.’ In La Chapelle in the 18th.
Theatre, music, comedy, circus, dance, La Scala is open to all artistic disciplines, ‘uniting young artists and stage stars to bring the best of creation to all audiences’. In the 10th.
Comedy club featuring themed shows of New Wave, Comedy Night, Open Mic and Comedy Fight. In the 18th.
The Paris Scene’s programming ‘dares everything and forbids nothing’ and ‘makes room for everything that touches, amazes, and moves’. Adjoining the Folies Bergère in the heart of the 9th.
A theatre school for beginning and advanced students, across acting, improvisation, camera and movement, and offering public performances at nearby theatres. In the 11th.
The 70-seat ‘Modern Parisian Washhouse’ offers an open and multidisciplinary program of theatre, music, dance, poetry, performances, digital arts and new artistic forms. In the 18th.
New York style comedy club and ‘talent incubator showcasing a new generation of comedians’, plus live music concerts, jam sessions and early-hour sessions. In the 10th.
70-seat comedy room ‘designed and adapted for stand-up comedy, Le Fridge is a real Comedy Club with an American feel and distinctly French humour’. In the 2nd.
The Grand Hotel of Dreams is ‘a private mansion transformed into a dream machine’ offering immersive theatrical adventures for the whole family. In the 5th.
The Grand Rex offers a range of shows, concerts, musicals and many large events. On the Boulevard Poissonnière in the 2nd.
The Kiosks are where to go to get theatre tickets at half price for the same day, at three different points: Madeleine Kiosk in the 8th, Montparnasse Kiosk in the 15th, and the Tourist Office in the 15th.
The Lido is dedicated to musical theatre, and presents shows from local producers as well as international artists. On the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in the 8th.
The Lucernaire is a hive where the arts meet and rub shoulders around three theatres, three arthouse cinemas, a bookstore, a gallery, a restaurant, a bar and a drama school. In the 6th.
100-seat theatre known for one-person comedy shows, in the Rue de Sentier in the 2nd.
The National Puppet Centre supports and showcases puppeteer artists through a program of performances for adults. In the 5th.
A place for comedy and emerging and established comedians, ‘The Semicolon’ is in the 4th.
The ‘Look of the Swan’ is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and sharing all things dance (strong in its roots and rich in its future fruits!) In the 20th.
Modern theatre showing a range of contemporary drama, comedy and musicals designed to challenge, inform and entertain. In the 10th.
An open-air theatre that every French summer hosts a multidisciplinary festival that includes Shakespearean works. In the Bois de Boulogne in the 16th.
The Folies Gruss presents an aerial, equestrian and musical circus spectacle from early November to early March, on the Carrefour des Cascades in the 16th.
Artistic and cultural factory offering new shows from emerging and established artists, along with opportunities to meet with and discuss the artists’ work. In the 20th.
The North Star is ‘a stage dedicated to young creation and emerging artists. This venue places experimentation at the heart of its programming, whether in theatre, dance, or literature’. In the 18th.
The European is a historic concert hall with a central stage that offers a program of local and international comic acts, and is modelled on Warhol’s Factory. In the 17th.
Comedy club where ‘the public will see established comedians in the midst of creation, already having a show … unique because she places the artist, the artwork, and the incredible programming at the heart of the project’. In the 1st.
Performances by established comedians as well as those just beginning to test their material. ‘Laugh at everything, with anyone.’ In the 9th.
The Metalworkers’ House is now a cultural establishment presenting a program of live concerts, performances, public debates and events, as well as tours of the old factory. In the 11th.
The MPAA runs programs aiming to encourage, develop and promote amateur artistic practices – focusing on dance, music and theatre. In five locations across Paris.
Under the auspices of the Guignol Anatole troupe, the Buttes Chaumont puppet theatre has a year-round program aimed at anyone over three years old. In the 19th.
The theatre of Parisian puppets offers a year-round program ‘for all those who have kept their innocence and childlike soul within them’. In the 7th.
Open-air puppet theatre open from April to early October, programming puppetry classics and their own creations. In the 8th.
One of the oldest theatres and music halls in France, the Opéra Comique programs the genre of comic opera, which is ‘a theatre genre mixing the sung and the spoken’ and strives to make performances accessible to all. In the 2nd.
The Paris National Opera is responsible for programming the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille including ballets, operas and concerts as well as a program dedicated to young audiences.
Theatre devoted to stand-up, comedy, fantastical creations and family-friendly shows. In the 10th.
The Porte Saint-Martin is dedicated to contemporary theatre. On the Boulevard Saint-Martin in the 10th. Its offshoots the Petit Saint-Martin is in the 10th, and Les Bouffes-Parisiens is in the 2nd.
Comedy club offering nightly sessions of stand-ups, every night, ‘where the big names of comedy mingle with up-and-coming talents’. In the 11th.
Comedy club where you can ‘discover or rediscover the best stand-up comedians … designed so that the audience and comedians can come together in the best possible condition’. In the 2nd.
Medium-sized theatre rooms aiming to offer demanding, original and modern quality texts and acts. In two venues in the 13th, on the Rue du Chevaleret and the Boulevard Auguste-Blanqui.
A ‘place of artistic creation, thought, and encounters’, Theatre 14 presents a program of stimulating, mostly modern performances, and an actors lab. In the 14th.
Offering spectators a popular, intelligent, accessible and universal theatre, the Bruyere focuses on works by contemporary authors. In the 9th.
Italianate theatre where ‘The actor’s performance is freed from all conventional constraints so that the staging reaches its peak’, reconciling tradition and modernity through an eclectic program. In the 10th.
66-seat theatre with programming focused on ‘comedy shows, discovering new talent, one-person shows, comedies, and shows for young audiences. In the 3rd.
120-seat tiered theatre offering a diverse program of classical plays, contemporary creations, comedies or even cabaret. The Clavel also offers theatre classes for adults. In the 19th.
The Bastille Comedy Theatre offers a wide variety of comedic shows and performances, including for children. On the Rue Nicolas Appert in the 11th.
The TDM offers a diverse program of classical and contemporary theatre, comedies, café-theatre, musical shows, performances, and concerts and shows for children. In the 19th.
Historic theatre currently under re-construction. [Stay tuned!] In the 2nd.
The Belleville Theatre promotes the renewal of repertoires and aesthetics, between contemporary creations by established and emerging artists. In the 11th.
Italian-style theatre holding a special place in Paris’ dramatic history, offering a program of dance, music, comedy and tragedy, ‘remaining resolutely apart from trends’. In the 3rd.
The Bastille is a ‘resolutely contemporary and protean place, a house where the unexpected becomes shareable’. Its programming connects theatre, dance and performance. In the 11th.
The only Italian theatre in France (though spoken in French), and ‘the only theatre in the world that perpetuates the Italian commedia dell’arte in its various forms’. On the Rue de la Gaîté in the 14th.
Multidisciplinary space with large hall, studio, cinema room and speaker’s corner hosting shows, debates, workshops and events. In the 8th.
Comedy, magic, solo performances, curiosities and shows for young audiences, ‘La Gaite’ offers a wide variety of programs. In the 14th.
Home of The Ionesco Show since 1957, the Huchette has a proud avant-garde history, and often performs with English subtitles. On the Rue de la Huchette in the 5th.
Independent theatre dedicated to showcasing contemporary and emerging authors, and aiming to present a story to its audience for the first time. In the 18th.
700-seat art deco theatre offering unique shows and creations emanating from French cultural heritage, and productions dealing with societal and contemporary issues. In the 2nd.
A ‘creative house for intertwined music and theatre’ housing La Vie Brève company, research and resident artists, and the biennial BRUIT Theatre and Music Festival. In the 12th.
Presenting new plays, comedies, and programming for young people, the Renaissance is an Italian-style theatre in the 10th.
Three-tiered theatre built between 1812 and 1822. offering a program of new plays, one-person shows, comedies and performances. In the 18th.
A ‘madcap’ place of creation that hosts various companies presenting new works and interpretations, as well as Shakespeare texts here and there. In the 12th.
At the foot of the tower since 1912, offering ‘an eclectic program blending comedies, musicals, one-person shows, children’s shows, concerts, cabarets and stand-up comedy’. In the 7th.
The Théâtre de la Ville troupe aims to challenge and stretch the idea of theatre and what it can achieve. They offer drama, dance, music and shows for young people. In two locations in the 4th and the 18th.
The Wooden Sword Theatre is ‘an intercultural meeting point’ offering a program of works ‘structured around rich and varied themes’. In the 12th.
Offering a diverse, high-quality program of plays, comedies, one-person shows and concerts, ‘resonating with today’s world’. In the 9th.
The Theatre of the Oppressed offers an avant-garde program of performances alongside a unique interactive ‘Forum Theatre’ approach. In the 12th.
Puppet theatre in the Georges Brassens park presenting shows from the classical and modern repertoire year-round, in the traditional glove puppet method. In the 15th.
Theatre showing a range of intriguing small shows by writers from all over the world, and musical shows and improvisation nights. In the 6th.
1000-seat Italian style theatre over three levels, in a site originally built in 1730, and now offering an ambitious program of classic and modern works. In the 9th.
200-seat art deco theatre offering ‘a consistently entertaining and high-quality program of theatre and music’. In the 16th.
Theatre built in 1942 ‘to house the young theatrical talents of the time’, and consistently since, seeking out and supporting new talent and discovering new modern classics. In the 6th.
The Parisian Rams Theatre offers a varied program combining contemporary plays, comedies and performances for young audiences. In the 18th.
A theatre dedicated to the avant garde and innovation, the Champs-Elysées programs opera, ballet, music, comedy and shows for all ages. On the Avenue Montaigne in the 8th.
The Two Donkeys is a ‘disobedient’ theatre offering a program of comedy in order to ‘Bray well and let people laugh’. In the 18th.
Theatre with a goal to ‘showcase the diversity of contemporary creation in theatre and musical theatre, and introduce audiences to new works’. In the 20th.
The Luxembourg Gardens Puppet Theatre focuses on children’s shows based around the classic character of Guignol and his traditional tales and stories. In the Luxembourg Gardens in the 6th.
Historical theatre with a program of French classic and contemporary performances, as well as family-friendly shows especially during the holidays. In the 8th.
A ‘historic mecca of vaudeville and light comedy’, the Theatre of Novelties strives to offer a program of eclectic and ambitious choices. In the 9th.
Based on the Grands Boulevards of Paris and specialising in boulevard comedies, the Variety Theatre ‘welcomes surprising headliners’. In the 2nd.
The Douze offers a program combining ‘interactive, poetic, humorous, musical and thought-provoking shows … enough to surprise and delight young and old alike! In the 12th.
Musicals, comedies and musical comedies, the Chatelet presents a range of shows and performances for all ages, from contemporary theatre to ballet. On the Place du Châtelet in the 1st.
Small (50-seat) neighbourhood theatre hosting an eclectic program of classic and contemporary theatre, one-person shows, musicals and shows for young audiences. In the 19th.
Performance hall with ‘a captivating program that pushes the boundaries of wonder: brilliant, creative, original, the best of world musical theatre’. On the Champs-Élysées in the 8th.
A 90-seat theatre with a weekly program of 15 mainly humorous shows: one-woman shows, stand-up and comedies. In the 3rd.
Theatre offering performances for adults, that are also accessible to children. To encourage audiences of all ages and sensibilities to participate in theatre. In the 13th.
Established in 1783, the 750-seat Royal Palace Theatre programs a range of mainly classic French plays. Next to the Palais in the 1st.
In the Parc Floral, the Dunois Theatre and six associated companies ‘are building an alternative cultural venue, offering a space of freedom, knowledge, and exchange for artists and younger generations’. In the 12th.
Surrealism, comedy, absurdism and avant-garde, the King René Theatre likes to experiment and ad-lib. In the 11th.
The Rond-Point offers an eclectic program of dance, performance arts, circus, musical theatre and music accompanying film. In the 8th.
The Sun Theatre, founded in 1964 by a cooperative of workers, aims to be ‘the most beautiful theatre in the world, a place of utopia identified with the possible not yet realised’. In the 12th.
130-seat theatre offering comedy, musical theatre, workshops and more – every night of the week. In the 14th.
A 730-seat theatre spread over three levels and offering a program of comedies, dramas, one-person shows and family-friendly performances. Near the Palais Garnier in the 9th.
The Essaion presents a wide variety of contemporary and traditional theatre, musical shows and performances for children. On the Rue Pierre au Lard in the 4th.
621-seat theatre offering comedic plays and performances, and music and concerts, and featuring a glass dome over the stage opening to the night sky. In the 9th.
Historic Batignolles theatre showing a program of classic and contemporary drama, and original productions. In the 17th.
The Boussole’s diverse program offers boulevard comedy, café-theatre, modern texts, magic, hypnosis and child-friendly shows. In the 10th.
Paris theatre of the 3 Chardons group, who are entirely dedicated to original productions for people aged two to eight. In the 13th.
Performance art theatre comprising the 49-seat Belleville Room in the 19th, and the 33-seat Little Crossroads in the 15th.
Musicals, comedies, one-person performances and shows for young audiences all year round. In the 9th.
120-seat theatre on Montmartre hill, offering a program of comedy, drama, one-person shows and shows for young audiences. In the 18th.
A theatre welcoming emerging and established companies, offering a program that is both demanding and popular. In the heart of Montmartre in the 18th.
Historic theatre that ‘skillfully blends timeless classics and contemporary plays, attracting a diverse audience for 500 performances per season and paying homage to the richness of its cultural heritage’. In the 16th.
Theatre known for its Sherlock Holmes adaptations, ‘driven by an inventive and vibrant program, blending humour, intelligence, interaction and sensitivity. In the 11th.
The Free Theatre offers a program of original creations in two halls (the second is the Scène Libre), with dramas, musicals, concerts, comedy, dance and more. In the 10th.
Classic Parisian theatre, also classified as a historic monument, offering a variety of performances and shows, music, drama and comedy. In the 8th.
Italian-style theatre open since 1908 and offering a variety of classic and modern performances, and theatre as well as sometimes cabaret, in the 8th.
A ‘temple of musical comedy in Paris’, the Mogador programs comedy, musicals and screenings, including family-friendly shows. In the 9th.
Opening in 1772, and living through several reinventions, the two rooms are now host to classic performances alongside emerging talents. In the 14th.
The Odeon presents the theatre of Europe, from classic to new works, and is dedicated to artistic and cultural education. On the Place de l’Odéon in the 6th.
The Open Theatre is a national centre promoting the renewal of contemporary dramaturgy and encouraging the emergence of new writing. In the 20th.
A cultural institution of the City of Paris, offering ‘contemporary creations for children, adults, and those who don’t fit into any category’. In the 19th.
Small community theatre offering comedy, classic, contemporary and musical shows for adults and children, as well as theatre workshops. In the 18th.
The Left Bank Theatre offers new works by contemporary authors, with established and emerging actors, and includes musical performances. In the 14th.
The location of Truffaut’s The Last Metro, and offering a program of classic and modern comedy, this Italian-style theatre is in the 9th.
The Monfort offers ‘a rich program built with artistic excellence as its goal, openness to forms accessible to families, musical discoveries, and curiosity for aesthetics from elsewhere’. In the 15th.
270-seat theatre offering a range of comedy shows, stand-up performances and concerts, and workshops. In the 9th.
A ‘temple of modern comedy’, the Tristan Bernard is ‘driven by a spirit that juggles social criticism, literary virtuosity and humour, a cocktail that has proven effectiveness’. In the 8th.
Two intimate audience spaces of 70 and 50 seats, with a mission to ‘champion and support emerging companies and projects, and to foster encounters between playwrights of all eras, cultures, and styles’. In the 15th.