GOOD NEWS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, FAMILY VERSION

In Paris, the new school year officially begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. And yet, in the capital, it never really feels like an ending. Shop windows are reinvented, theatres reopen their seasons, museums regain their rhythm, cultural calendars fill up, and families rediscover the city in a softer light.

Around the Opéra district, September has something unmistakably Parisian about it: hurried footsteps along the avenue, brand new school bags, the golden façades of the Palais Garnier, department stores announcing autumn, and the first weekends we allow ourselves to extend summer just a little longer.

Here is our selection of good news to enjoy as a family at the start of the new school year, just a few minutes from Hôtel Edouard 7, between culture, play, heritage, shopping and moments in the open air.

 

VISITING THE PALAIS GARNIER
the grand setting of the new school year

THE GRAND SETTING OF SEPTEMBER​

Among our favourite addresses to begin September beautifully, the Palais Garnier remains an obvious choice. Just a few steps from the hotel, it impresses children as much as adults. The grand staircase, gilded foyers, mosaics, painted ceilings, stories of dancers and the imagination of The Phantom of the Opera create the perfect setting for a first cultural outing of the season.

NOT TO BE MISSED

At the start of the 2026 season, the Opéra national de Paris will notably open with Perle noire : méditations pour Joséphine, at the Palais Garnier, from September 9 to 19. The performance, announced as lasting one hour and fifty minutes without intermission, pays tribute to Joséphine Baker in a contemporary stage format, between music, memory and intimate portrait. For older children and teenagers, it is a beautiful gateway into live performance, the story of a French and American icon, and the artistic world of the Opera.

Another major family event: Théâtre Mogador will welcome back The Lion King from September 25, 2026. Just a few minutes from the hotel, this musical remains one of the most accessible shows to enjoy with children, thanks to its visual universe, costumes, sets and songs.

PRACTICAL TIP

For a family visit to the Palais Garnier, it is best to go in the morning. Doors generally open at 10 a.m. for guided tours, and it is recommended to arrive around 30 minutes before the reserved time. Good to know: access to the auditorium is never guaranteed, as rehearsals and artistic requirements may make it unavailable.

 

WALKING DOWN
towards the Tuileries

BETWEEN THE CAULDRON, THE LOUVRE AND FAMILY MUSEUMS

From Hôtel Edouard 7, simply walk down Avenue de l’Opéra to reach one of the most beautiful back to school routes in Paris: the Louvre, the Tuileries, the Orangerie and the quays. In September 2026, this walk takes on a special dimension with the return of the Paris 2024 Cauldron, installed in the Tuileries Garden until September 14.

TO SEE IN SEPTEMBER

• The Paris 2024 Cauldron, visible in the Tuileries until September 14, with a flight announced around 8:30 p.m., subject to weather conditions.
• The Louvre family workshops, offered until September 18, such as My Louvre Memory Book and Eau riginal !.
• The Musée de l’Orangerie, ideal for a first encounter with the Water Lilies and a stroll through the Tuileries Garden.
• The Musée en Herbe, near the Louvre, with Admirez les tous !, an exhibition paying tribute to Pokémon, combining pop culture, Japanese folklore and contemporary art.

WHY GO AS A FAMILY?

This route works very well with children because it allows different formats to be alternated: a walk, an iconic artwork, a creative activity, a playful exhibition, then a break in the gardens. This avoids overly long visits while giving children several ways to enter into culture.

 

ENJOYING THE EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYSE
family style

THE GREAT HERITAGE WEEKEND

On September 19 and 20, 2026, the European Heritage Days will offer Paris one of its most beautiful weekends of the new school year. For this 43rd edition, two themes will be highlighted: photographic heritage and heritage in danger. Friday, September 18 will also be dedicated to schools with the Levez les Yeux ! initiative, which invites pupils to discover heritage in a different way.

GOOD IDEAS AROUND THE OPÉRA

As a family, the idea is not to do everything, but to choose a visit that tells a story. In the Opéra, Grands Boulevards and Louvre districts, you can focus on:

• places linked to performance and backstage worlds
• historic or institutional buildings exceptionally open to the public
• addresses connected to photography, the press or publishing
• covered passages, perfect for observing Parisian architecture
• heritage sites suited to children or teenagers

AN INVESTIGATION AT THE BNF RICHELIEU

Just a few minutes from the hotel, the BnF Richelieu can also become a wonderful stop at the start of the season. The immersive game Mazarin et les Gardiens du secret offers a life size investigation through the historic spaces of the library, between riddles, the Oval Room and heritage décor. For preteens and teenagers, it is an interesting alternative to a classic visit: you learn by playing, observe the place differently, and discover one of the most beautiful cultural sites in the neighbourhood

THE RIGHT REFLEX

Spot time slots as soon as programmes open. The most confidential visits fill up quickly, especially when they are free and suitable for families.

 

MAKING THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR SHINE
at Galeries Lafayette

BACK TO SCHOOL PREPARATIONS, PARISIAN STYLE

Just a few minutes from Hôtel Edouard 7, Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann transform back to school preparations into a Parisian experience. People come to find a school bag, pencil case, supplies, a first day outfit or accessories for children, but also to look up beneath the famous Art Nouveau dome, inaugurated in 1912 and now one of the great landmarks of Boulevard Haussmann.

For families, the address has the advantage of being central, easy to navigate and spectacular. Children remember the height, the lights, the windows, the movement. Parents appreciate being able to find everything in one place, before extending the walk towards the Opéra, the Madeleine or the covered passages.

SEPTEMBER UNDER THE SIGN OF DESIGN

September 2026 will also be marked by the energy of design:

• Maison&Objet will take place from September 10 to 14;
• Paris Design Week will animate the capital from September 10 to 19;
• the shop windows, showrooms and boutiques of the Opéra, Concorde and Étoile districts often become sources of inspiration.

Even though some events are intended for professionals, the whole city benefits from this creative energy. With teenagers interested in fashion, objects, decoration or trends, it is a beautiful way to turn a walk into a creative stroll.

ALSO TO DO

Go up to the Galeries Lafayette terrace, freely accessible, to admire Paris from the rooftops. For a more gourmet break, the Galeries also offer experiences to share as a family, such as macaron workshops, designed as a playful pause after shopping.

 

 

REDISCOVERING THE PLEASURE OF PLAY
at the Musée Grévin

On the Grands Boulevards, the Musée Grévin is one of the easiest outings to enjoy with children. The visit lasts around one hour and thirty minutes on average, a perfect format for a back to school day. You move through the rooms like a very Parisian family album, between historical figures, artists, athletes, cinema icons and theatrical scenes.

THE ANECDOTE TO TELL

The museum, inaugurated in 1882, was originally imagined by Arthur Meyer, director of the newspaper Le Gaulois, who wanted the public to discover in volume the personalities being discussed in the press, at a time when photography was not yet everywhere.

NEW FIGURES TO SPOT

In 2026, Grévin continues to speak to children and teenagers with new, very current figures:

• One Piece, which arrived at the museum in June
• Bad Bunny, added in July
• Gautier Capuçon, among the new figures of the year

Enough to create points of reference for all ages, between pop culture, music, cinema, manga, great characters and historical figures.

TO EXTEND THE OUTING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

After the visit, the Grands Boulevards make it easy to extend the outing: Passage Jouffroy, Passage Verdeau, old shop windows, bookshops, theatres, cinemas and gourmet addresses give the neighbourhood that lively atmosphere that works so well for families.

 

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR THAT IS ALSO SPORTY
and musical

JAZZ À LA VILLETTE AS A FAMILY

For a musical start to the season, Jazz à la Villette is one of the most interesting events of early September. The festival returns from August 28 to September 6, 2026, with a programme spanning jazz, hip hop, soul and funk. Its Kids version offers participatory concerts, film concerts and musical performances designed to introduce children to jazz.

WHY IS IT A GOOD IDEA?

It is a perfect outing for the first weekend of September, especially on September 5 and 6, when the school year has only just begun. Children discover jazz differently: through rhythm, play, movement, images and listening. For parents, it is also a way to step outside the traditional concert format, with shorter, livelier formats that are better suited to a family outing.

SEPTEMBER SPORTING EVENTS

The new school year will also be sporty:

• from September 11 to 13, La Parisienne will bring together running, walking, yoga, fitness and activities;
• on September 14, the Fête du Sport will extend the legacy of the Paris 2024 Games with events organised all over France.

For families, these events are a reminder that September is not only the month of school bags: it is also the month of good resolutions, movement and the activities we choose for the year ahead.

 

ESCAPING
to the Jardin d'Acclimatation

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE

For a new school year that keeps a little summer spirit, the Jardin d’Acclimatation is a wonderful breath of fresh air. Located in the Bois de Boulogne, it brings together rides, animals, play areas, tree lined paths and gourmet breaks in a format ideal for families.

It is the perfect address after a cultural morning or a Saturday return to routine. Children run, choose a ride, observe the animals and stop for a snack. Parents rediscover a greener, slower Paris, almost outside time.

DATES TO REMEMBER

• On September 19 and 20, 2026, the Jardin d’Acclimatation will host Chuseok, the K Festival, an event dedicated to Korea, with performances, martial arts, workshops, games, parades and activities.

• On September 26 and 27, the Fête des Jardins et de l’agriculture urbaine will celebrate nature in the city, with activities in several Parisian green spaces.

WHY IS IT PRACTICAL?

These events make it possible to combine open air and cultural discovery, without imposing an overly long visit. Between the Tuileries, the Bois de Boulogne, neighbourhood gardens and great Parisian walks, September still offers many opportunities to enjoy Paris outdoors before

 

INTRODUCING CHILDREN
to art

FORMATS DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES

At the start of the new school year, Parisian museums also know how to speak to children. The idea is not necessarily to do a major two hour exhibition, but to choose the right format: a short visit, a workshop, an immersive experience or a route that makes you want to look differently.

EXHIBITIONS AND EXPERIENCES TO REMEMBER

• The Musée en Herbe, near the Louvre, presents Admirez les tous !, an exhibition paying tribute to Pokémon that creates a bridge between video games, Japanese folklore, collecting, pop culture and contemporary art.

• The Atelier des Lumières presents Le Petit Prince, l’Odyssée immersive, from July 3 to September 30, 2026, with 360 degree projections, spatial sound and a sensory journey.
• The Louvre offers family workshops until September 18, to discover the collections in a different way.
• The Grand Palais is also developing formats dedicated to children, between art, science and sensory experiences.

THE RIGHT APPROACH

Choosing a short exhibition or a workshop allows children to enter art through play, drawing, images or movement. For parents, it is also a way to share a cultural moment without turning the day into a museum marathon.

 

EXPERIENCING SEPTEMBER
from Hôtel Edouard 7

From 39 avenue de l’Opéra, Hôtel Edouard 7 allows families to experience the Parisian new school year with rare ease. The Palais Garnier is just a few steps away, Galeries Lafayette can be reached on foot, the Grands Boulevards and the Musée Grévin are very close, and the Louvre, the Tuileries and the BnF Richelieu are never far.

A MONTH RICH IN EVENTS

In September, Paris offers a rare concentration of events:

• performances
• heritage
• design
• music
• sport
• exhibitions
• gardens
• major fashion events

After a day of visits, Hôtel Edouard 7 becomes that central point of balance where families return to put down their bags, prepare the evening or simply find a little calm. Its rooms and suites offer comfort that is particularly appreciated by families, with generous spaces, storage designed for everyone’s belongings and, depending on the category, bathrooms with bathtubs, ideal for a bath after a day spent exploring Paris.

The new school year, family version, does not need to be over organised. It needs a beautiful address, a few carefully chosen ideas, a little culture, a little play, a few well placed dates in the calendar, and a place where the whole family can rediscover its comfort at the end of the day.