All Saints' Holidays 2026 in Paris: What to Do with Kids
From Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, the French All Saints' school holidays (« vacances de la Toussaint ») give families two weeks to enjoy Paris.
This year's highlights: Halloween in the theme parks, new exhibitions, a film festival for little ones and the Salon du Chocolat. Here is our pick of family activities, with dates and practical tips to plan your stay.
Key dates
• French school holidays (all zones): Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. School resumes on Monday 2 November. • Clocks go back: overnight from Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October. • Halloween: Saturday 31 October. • All Saints' Day (La Toussaint): Sunday 1 November, a public holiday. Some venues close or shorten their hours. • Art Basel Paris: 23 to 25 October at the Grand Palais. Demand for accommodation is high that week. |
Halloween with the family
Spooky, but not too scary.
Disneyland Paris: more festive than frightening
The Disneyland Paris Halloween Festival runs until Sunday 1 November, in Disneyland Park only, and is included in your park ticket. This year, Doctor Facilier (The Princess and the Frog) joins the Disney villains, and Mickey and friends wear Victorian-inspired costumes. On Saturday 31 October, a special evening runs until 11 pm with fireworks.
Best for: young children who prefer magical to terrifying.
31 October is the only day guests can come to Disneyland Paris in costume.
Parc Astérix: Peur sur le Parc, for older kids
From 3 October to 8 November, Parc Astérix offers three levels of fear during the day, included in the ticket. In the evening, twelve late-night events (7 pm to 1 am) need a separate ticket, from €53 online, with a new haunted forest trail. These evenings are aimed at teenagers and adults.
In Paris: walks, cruises and haunted parks
Le parc de l'Étrange, Parc André-Citroën (15th): Halloween activities from 16 to 31 October, ages 6 and up.
Vedettes de Paris Halloween cruise, Port de Suffren (7th): 29 to 31 October, for ages 3 to 11.
Jardin d'Acclimatation (16th): Halloween decorations and a Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration. Check dates on the park's website.
Museums and exhibitions
The must-sees for kids. Book your time slots ahead: tours and workshops sell out fast.
Louvre Museum (1st): family tours and creative workshops every day, plus illustrator Bérénice Milon's installation « La fête des formes » at the Studio, 17 to 31 October.
Musée en Herbe (1st): an exhibition celebrating 30 years of Pokémon, until 31 December 2026. A guaranteed hit with 6 to 12-year-olds.
Philharmonie de Paris (19th): the exhibition on video game music closes on 1 November. Your last chance to see it.
Petit Palais (8th): « Visionnaires » by artist Prune Nourry, from 20 October. Sculptures up to 3.5 m tall, displayed all the way into the garden.
Musée de l'Orangerie (1st): « Monet, peindre le temps » (Monet, painting time), until 25 January 2027. A lovely first encounter with painting, around the Water Lilies.
Musée d'Orsay (7th): « Mary Cassatt. L'indépendante », until 31 January 2027. The Impressionist painter often portrayed mothers and children.
Grande Galerie de l'Évolution (5th): a storytelling tour for ages 8 and up on 21 October, followed by the Jardin des Plantes zoo.
Cinema and shows
Mon Premier Festival: 21 to 27 October, in around twenty Paris cinemas. Films, previews and workshops from age 3, from €4.50 per screening. Most films are in French.
Métamorphoses festival, Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (7th): films and activities for young audiences, 17 to 25 October, ages 3 and up.
Musicals: Shrek at the Folies Bergère (9th) and Arsène Lupin at the Théâtre le Ranelagh (16th) are playing during the holidays.
Salon du Chocolat: a sweet end to the holidaysFrom Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (Hall 5, 15th), 10 am to 7 pm. Tastings, chef demonstrations and the famous chocolate dress fashion show: kids love it. Prices: around €16 to €20 per adult, €8 to €10 per child, family pass €45 to €56. If you can, avoid Saturday afternoon, the busiest time. |
Castles, monuments and treasure hunts
Monument jeu d'enfant: on 17 and 18 October, tours and games for children at the Château de Vincennes, the Basilica of Saint-Denis and the Domaine de Saint-Cloud.
Opéra Garnier (9th): family tour on 24 October and storytelling tours on 27 and 31 October, ages 6-7 and up.
Musée de l'Armée, Les Invalides (7th): « Dans les bottes de Napoléon » (In Napoleon's boots), for ages 8 to 14 on 19, 25 and 28 October.
Palace of Versailles: the last Musical Fountains Shows of the season, until 1 November.
Treasure hunts in Montmartre: several dates during the holidays, ages 8 and up.
Our ideal 4-day itinerary
Day 1 | The Louvre in the morning (kids' workshop), a snack in the Tuileries Garden, then the Musée en Herbe. |
Day 2 | Disneyland Paris, about forty minutes from central Paris on the RER A. |
Day 3 | The Grande Galerie de l'Évolution and the Jardin des Plantes zoo, then a Mon Premier Festival screening. |
Day 4 | The Salon du Chocolat in the morning, a Halloween cruise on the Seine in the late afternoon. |
Our tips
• Book early: tickets and accommodation. Art Basel week (20 to 25 October) and the Halloween weekend are in high demand. • Remember 1 November: it falls on a Sunday. Check opening hours before you go. • Plan for the weather: in late October, Paris is often between 8 and 15 °C. Bring a raincoat and have an indoor plan B. • Make the most of the time change: from 25 October, the sun rises earlier. Perfect for beating the crowds. |
Staying in Paris with your family
With children, an apartment makes all the difference: several bedrooms, a kitchen for breakfasts and snacks, a washing machine and room to rest between visits.
Your family apartment in the heart of Paris, from the Marais to the 16th: hotel-quality linen, professional cleaning and concierge service throughout your stay.
Own a property in Paris? School holidays, trade fairs and major events drive up demand.
FAQ
When are the All Saints' school holidays in 2026?
From Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 for all three French school zones (A, B and C). School resumes on Monday 2 November.
What can kids do in Paris during the All Saints' holidays?
The Disneyland Paris Halloween Festival, Louvre workshops, the Pokémon exhibition at the Musée en Herbe, Mon Premier Festival, the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution and the Salon du Chocolat are among the most popular outings.
When is the Salon du Chocolat 2026?
From Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, from 10 am to 7 pm.
Where can families celebrate Halloween in Paris?
At Disneyland Paris (special evening on 31 October until 11 pm), at Parc André-Citroën with Le parc de l'Étrange, at the Jardin d'Acclimatation or on a Halloween cruise on the Seine.
When do the clocks change in October 2026 in France?
Overnight from Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October 2026: at 3 am, clocks go back to 2 am.
Where should families stay in Paris during the holidays?
A furnished apartment is often the best option: more space, a kitchen and a lively neighbourhood. The Marais, Saint-Germain, the 7th and the 16th are convenient for reaching the major museums.
Dates and prices are those announced by the organisers in mid-October 2026. Please check them on the official websites before your visit.
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