Photo : Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris
Paris History Tuesday Lectures: Entertainment in Paris
Forget the usual tourist trail and take a deep dive into the evolution of Parisian nightlife and entertainment through this series of engaging historical talks. From bustling 18th-century fairs to the dawn of the silver screen, you will explore the city's hidden leisure legacy across its various districts. It is the perfect opportunity to learn about the vibrant social life that defined Paris long before we arrived.
About
Explore the evolution of Parisian entertainment through a series of historical conferences held from April 7 to December 15, 2026. Organized by the City of Paris in partnership with local history and archaeology societies, these sessions offer a deep dive into the city's festive traditions, from 18th-century equestrian shows to the dawn of cinema and jazz. Open to anyone 12 years and older, these events provide a unique perspective on the capital's cultural memory. Attendance is free of charge for all sessions, though registration is mandatory for each specific talk. Join these academic gatherings to uncover the hidden stories behind Parisian leisure.
This season of historical lectures will be launched with an inaugural conference. Throughout the weeks, discover the entire program proposed by the history and archaeology societies of the districts in conjunction with the Department of History, Memory and Associative Museums / Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Paris and Laurence Patrice, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of the veteran world, history and memory of Paris, and the memorial cycle of colonial history, as a Defense representative.
Registration forms for the conferences are being put online gradually, but here is their complete list!
- Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 PM, History and Archaeology Society of the 13th District: Pleasure Gardens of 18th and 19th Century Paris. The Art of Partying in the 13th District by Gilles-Antoine Langlois
- Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 PM, History and Heritage of the 17th District: Porte Maillot and Luna-Park by Patrick Rollot, President of History and Heritage of the 17th District, and Léopold Thievend, student at the École Normale Supérieure and co-author of the book La Porte Maillot au fil du temps
- Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 PM, La Cité, Historical and Archaeological Society of the 3rd, 4th, 11th, and 12th Districts of Paris: Equestrian Shows in Paris at the Turn of the 18th Century, Emergence of a New Entertainment by Caroline Hodak, Doctor of History (EHESS) and author of the book Du théâtre équestre au cirque: Le cheval au cœur des savoirs et des loisirs (1760-1860)
- Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 PM, History and Archaeology Association of the 20th District (AHAV): How Parisians Enjoyed Themselves in Eastern Paris: Guinguettes, Balls, and Amusement Parks (18th-19th Centuries) by Christiane Demeulenaere-Douyère, Vice-President of the AHAV
- Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30 PM, History and Heritage of Paris 17th: The Crazy History of Magic-City, Amusement Park and Cradle of Tango in Paris, from the Belle Époque to the Roaring Twenties by Patrick Rollot, President of History and Heritage of Paris 17th, and Léopold Thievend, History student at ENS de Lyon and HEC
- Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 PM, Historical Society of the 6th District: The War of the Theaters, Competition and Inventiveness at the Saint-Germain Fair (17th-18th Centuries) by Christian Chevalier, Geological Engineer, member of the SH6
- Tuesday, November 24 at 6:30 PM, History and Lives of the 10th District: The Beginnings of Cinematography in the 10th District by Claude Calvarin, Cinema Historian, author of the book Un boulevard pour les premiers pas du cinéma
- Tuesday, December 1 at 6:30 PM, History and Heritage 12th District: Méliès, from Illusion Theater to the Beginning of Cinema by Pascal Friaut, President of the Méliès Cinematheque; and Anne-Marie Quévrain, great-granddaughter of Georges Méliès
- Tuesday, December 15 at 6:30 PM, 9th History: The 9th District, Epicenter of the Beginnings of Jazz in France by Philippe Baudouin, Jazz Historian, former Jazz instructor at the 9th District Conservatory
Our take on this event
The City of Paris invites residents and visitors aged 12 and over to participate in a cycle of conferences dedicated to the history of entertainment. Running from April 7 to December 15, 2026, these 18:30 sessions are curated by various district history and archaeology societies. Topics include the pleasure gardens of the 13th arrondissement, the history of the Luna-Park, the rise of equestrian theater, the guinguettes of eastern Paris, the Magic-City complex, and the origins of cinema and jazz in the capital.
The program features distinct sessions: April 7 on 13th-century gardens, May 12 on Porte Maillot, June 9 on equestrian performances, and September 15 on ballets and parks. October 6 covers Magic-City, November 17 explores the Foire Saint-Germain, and November 24 examines early cinema. The series concludes with Méliès on December 1 and the birth of jazz in the 9th arrondissement on December 15.
While all sessions are free, participants must register in advance for every conference they wish to attend. Registration links are released gradually, ensuring everyone can secure a spot for these informative evenings held across various historical contexts.