Chopin Festival in Paris
Romantic piano in the gardens of Bagatelle
About Chopin Festival
Chopin Festival in Paris: The Soul of the Piano in an Exceptional Garden
Since 1981, the Chopin Festival in Paris has perpetuated the memory and musical heritage of Frédéric Chopin, who lived and composed in Paris for most of his life. Founded by the Chopin Society, this festival has found its ideal setting in the Orangerie of Parc de Bagatelle, a glass and stone building nestled in the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, surrounded by legendary rose gardens and 18th-century landscaped gardens.
The Orangerie of Bagatelle: A Magical Venue
The Orangerie, built under Napoleon III, offers an intimate and acoustically remarkable setting for solo piano. Its reduced capacity — around 250 seats — creates exceptional proximity between the performer and the audience. Concerts take place in the evening, often at sunset, bathed in a golden light filtering through the glass roof, while the scent of roses and lime trees from the park drifts into the hall.
A Program Dedicated to Piano Excellence
The Chopin Festival's program heavily features the works of Frédéric Chopin — Preludes, Nocturnes, Ballades, Etudes, Concertos — but also explores the great pieces of the Romantic and Classical piano repertoire: Beethoven, Liszt, Schumann, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy. Each edition is built around a theme that sheds new light on Chopin's work.
The world's greatest pianists have graced the Bagatelle stage: Martha Argerich, Maurizio Pollini, Nelson Freire, Krystian Zimerman, Evgeny Kissin, Daniil Trifonov, Alexandre Kantorow, and Rafał Blechacz. The festival also gives significant importance to young talents, programming laureates of major international piano competitions.
A Living Tribute to Chopin and Paris
The festival is part of a deeply Parisian Chopin tradition. Chopin settled in Paris in 1831, gave his most famous concerts there, composed the majority of his works there, and died there in 1849 on Place Vendôme. By choosing Bagatelle as its venue, the festival pays homage to this intimate relationship between the composer and the city, in a garden that Chopin himself likely frequented during his walks in the Bois de Boulogne.
Chopin Festival — edition 2026
The 41st edition of the Chopin Festival in Paris takes place from June 21 to July 14, 2026, at the Orangerie of Parc de Bagatelle, with a program of 13 recitals dedicated to romantic and classical piano. 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of George Sand, to whom the festival pays tribute as a muse of the Chopin universe.
41st edition - Summer 2026
The Chopin Festival in Paris returns for its 41st edition at the Orangerie of Parc de Bagatelle, from June 21 to July 14, 2026. Thirteen recitals punctuate the summer evenings in this unique setting in the Bois de Boulogne: an inaugural concert entrusted to Momo Kodama, seven candlelit evening concerts, four afternoon weekend concerts, and a closing concert led by Adam Laloum.
For this edition, the Chopin Society in Paris has chosen to give performers great freedom in developing their programs, without a restrictive guiding theme. Chopin naturally remains the cornerstone of all concerts — mazurkas, nocturnes, ballades, sonatas — dialoguing with works by Schubert, Liszt, Debussy, and Beethoven, interpreted by pianists from Europe and beyond.
Tribute to George Sand
This 41st edition takes on a special resonance: 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of George Sand. The Festival pays tribute to her as an inseparable figure from Chopin's universe and a silent muse of these candlelit evenings.
Open House Piano
On Sunday, June 21, from 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM, an "Open House Piano" day opens the festival: seven young pianists perform successively at the Orangerie with free access (after paying the park entrance fee).
Programme Chopin Festival 2026
Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Open House Piano
- 2:30 PM - 7:00 PM — Seven young pianists with free access (after park entrance fee)
Monday, June 22, 2026 — Inaugural Concert
- 8:45 PM — Momo Kodama · Chopin Mazurkas, Scherzo, Nocturne, Sonata
Candlelit Concerts (8:45 PM) — weeks from late June to mid-July
- Monday, June 29 · 8:45 PM — Alain Planès
- Tuesday, June 30 · 8:45 PM — Clément Lefebvre & Talich Quartet
- Thursday, July 2 · 8:45 PM — Claire-Marie Le Guay
- Tuesday, July 7 · 8:45 PM — Szymon Nehring
- Wednesday, July 8 · 8:45 PM — Laure Favre-Kahn & Alain Carré (piano and reciter)
- Thursday, July 9 · 8:45 PM — Joseph Moog
- Monday, July 13 · 8:45 PM — Mūza Rubackytė
Weekend Concerts (4:30 PM)
- Saturday, July 4 · 4:30 PM — Michał Basista & Jan Widlarz
- Sunday, July 5 · 4:30 PM — Jean-Paul Gasparian
- Saturday, July 11 · 4:30 PM — Giuseppe Guarrera
- Sunday, July 12 · 4:30 PM — Rodolphe Menguy
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — Closing Concert
- 5:00 PM — Adam Laloum
Program and works performed subject to change; consult the official website of the Chopin Society for details of works interpreted by each artist.
Highlights Chopin Festival 2026
- 41st edition of the festival, from June 21 to July 14, 2026
- 13 recitals at the Orangerie of Parc de Bagatelle (Bois de Boulogne, 16th arr.)
- Inaugural concert by Momo Kodama (June 22), closing by Adam Laloum (July 14)
- Tribute to George Sand for the 150th anniversary of her death
- "Open House Piano" day with free access on Sunday, June 21, featuring 7 young pianists
- Program centered around Chopin in dialogue with Schubert, Liszt, Debussy, Beethoven
Prices Chopin Festival 2026
Practical information — Chopin Festival
Practical Information
Access
Address: Orangerie du Parc de Bagatelle, Route de Sèvres-à-Neuilly, 75016 Paris (Bois de Boulogne).
Metro: Pont de Neuilly (line 1) then bus 43, or Porte Maillot (line 1, RER C) then bus 244.
Bus: Line 43 (stop Bagatelle Pré Catelan).
Car: Free parking near the park entrance, Route de Sèvres-à-Neuilly.
Prices
Prices range from €25 to €50 depending on the concert and seating category. Reduced rates for students and those under 26. Subscriptions and passes available for multiple concerts.
Schedule
Concerts take place in the evening, usually at 8:30 PM, from Tuesday to Sunday. Doors open 30 minutes before the concert.
Tips
- Book your tickets in advance, as capacity is limited to about 250 seats.
- Arrive early to enjoy a stroll in the Bagatelle gardens before the concert (the park closes at 8:30 PM but remains accessible to festival-goers).
- Bring a warm layer for the evenings, as the temperature can drop in the open Orangerie.
- The Bagatelle garden is famous for its rose gardens: a visit is an ideal complement to the concert.
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Where does it take place — Chopin Festival
Orangerie du Parc de Bagatelle
Route de Sèvres-à-Neuilly, 75016 Paris