Les Arènes Lyriques 2026: sixteen lyrical evenings in the heart of Montmartre
From 22 July to 15 August 2026, the gates of the Jardin des Arènes de Montmartre swing open for Les Arènes Lyriques - sixteen open-air musical evenings in a garden that's normally off-limits to the public. Eight soloists, a fifteen-piece orchestra of emerging musicians, and a programme that moves freely between opera, jazz and soul. The setting, a few steps from Sacré-Cœur, does the rest. Seats are limited, so booking early is the smart move.
Les Arènes Lyriques: a hidden venue, a one-of-a-kind festival
The arènes de Montmartre - tucked away at 25 rue Chappe, at the foot of the Butte - are one of the 18th arrondissement's best-kept secrets. Stone terraces, lush greenery, and a silence that the city rarely offers: the garden only opens for special occasions. Each summer, Les Arènes Lyriques claims it as its stage. Under the artistic direction of Pierre Mollaret, the festival crosses genres and centuries without losing its sense of intimacy - opera arias alongside jazz standards, classical strings alongside soul voices. It's the kind of evening that feels impossible to find in a city this size, which is exactly why it sells out.
The 2026 programme: E Fra le nubi d'or and eight exceptional soloists
The 2026 concert is titled E Fra le nubi d'or - "Among the golden clouds" - drawn from the closing words of Catalani's aria « Ebben ? Ne andrò lontana » from La Wally. The programme also features Arturo Márquez's Danzón No. 2, Puccini's « Nessun dorma » from Turandot, and Nina Simone's « My baby just cares for me ». Two sets of soloists rotate across the 16 evenings: the first team performs from 22 July to 1 August, the second from 5 to 15 August. Concerts start at 9 pm and run approximately 90 minutes. Seating is unreserved and places are limited - tickets at areneslyriques.com.
Why this festival is worth your evening
The arene lyrique Montmartre experience draws a genuinely mixed crowd: opera lovers after something more intimate than a concert hall, couples looking for a romantic night out, and visitors who want to see a side of Paris most tourists never find. Access to a normally closed garden, the glow of the Butte overhead, the spontaneity of a programme that surprises even on the second listen - it adds up to something memorable. If you'd like to make the most of the neighbourhood before or after the concert, check out our Montmartre guide
Getting there from Hôtel Jardin de Villiers
From Hôtel Jardin de Villiers in the 17th arrondissement, the journey is straightforward. Take Métro line 2 from Villiers towards Nation and get off at Anvers - just two stops. From there, it's a short uphill walk to rue Chappe. Door to door: around 20 to 25 minutes. Line 12 (Abbesses) and the Montmartre funicular are also options from the bottom of the hill. If rain forces a venue change, the concert moves to the nearby Église Saint-Jean de Montmartre - your ticket remains valid.
Les Arènes Lyriques is one of the most distinctive evenings Paris offers this summer. Grab your tickets at areneslyriques.com before they sell out, and browse our Paris events guide for more ideas on what to see and do during your stay.
