Carnival of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

The Carnival of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois: the spring popular festival

The town of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois (91700) organizes its Carnival every year, a festive highlight of spring that brings residents together in a costumed and colorful atmosphere. A great traditional popular festival, the carnival of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois is an opportunity to have fun, dress up, and celebrate the end of winter in a convivial spirit.

The grand costume ball

The heart of the Carnival of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois is its grand costume ball, organized at the Salle Gérard-Philipe. This ball, usually held on a Tuesday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., invites residents—children and adults alike—to dress up and come dance and have fun. Festive music, costume contests, activities, and conviviality are on the program for this carnival afternoon.

The Salle Gérard-Philipe

The Salle Gérard-Philipe is the main performance and cultural events venue in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois. Named in honor of the great French actor, it hosts the town's major cultural and festive events. Its ticket office is open on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., from January to April (phone: 01 69 51 51 31).

A rich cultural season

Beyond the Carnival, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois offers a rich and varied 2025–2026 cultural season at the Salle Gérard-Philipe. Theater performances, concerts, artistic shows, and family events punctuate the town's cultural year. The Carnival is one of the highlights of this season, alongside other popular events.

Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, a town with a unique heritage

Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois is a commune in Essonne with about 35,000 inhabitants, known for its Russian Orthodox cemetery, one of the largest outside Russia, where many figures from the Russian diaspora are buried—including the actor Andrei Tarkovsky, the prima ballerina Rudolf Nureyev, and the writer Ivan Bunin. This unique heritage gives the town a remarkable international and cultural dimension.

Other festivals of the year

The festive calendar of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois also includes:

• The Fête de la Musique (June 21): free outdoor concerts
• The Bastille Day (July 14): fireworks and festivities
• The Christmas Market in December
• Neighborhood festivals throughout the year

2025 Edition

The 2025 Carnival of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois featured the grand costume ball at the Salle Gérard-Philipe, on a Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Costumes, music, and activities for the whole family. The town's 2025–2026 cultural season also offers a varied program at the Salle Gérard-Philipe throughout the year.

2026 Edition

The 2026 Carnival of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois will be held in the spring, likely in February or March 2026. Grand costume ball at the Salle Gérard-Philipe, with costumes, music, and activities. Program and ticketing at sgdb91.com. Ticket office: 01 69 51 51 31 (Fridays 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.–12 p.m., from January to April).