A Full Information to Attending the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles

Do you know which you can gown up in Baroque costumes, stroll by means of the Gardens of Versailles, after which occasion the night time away within the very areas the place King Louis XIV threw his personal lavish events for the French the Aristocracy? Since you completely can!

The Palace of Versailles places on a number of particular occasions each inside and out of doors the palace all year long although a gaggle known as Château de Versailles Spectacles. One in every of these occasions is Le Grand Bal Masque, or the Grand Masked Ball, which has now been an annual custom at Versailles for 13+ years.

The Grand Masked Ball is understood for a number of issues. First: you need to gown in period-appropriate clothes and have your face masked. Second: That is Baroque in outfits solely; the ball begins at 11:30 p.m. and goes till daybreak, and the music is normally of the EDM selection!

I went to the Grand Masked Ball for the primary time in 2025, and I need to share the whole lot it’s essential find out about going, in case all of the social media movies have made you add this one to your bucket checklist.

(And, spoiler alert: I feel it is 1000% value it!)

What’s the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles?

Le Grand Bal Masque is an annual occasion on the Palace of Versailles in France that takes place annually normally someday in June. (In 2025, the ball was on June twenty first.) It is not your typical “ball,” although; it is actually extra of an in a single day dance occasion. Suppose: French the Aristocracy at da membership.

Individuals gown in Baroque-inspired costumes and elaborate face masks and dance the night time away to DJ units of EDM music.

The place is the Grand Masked Ball?

This one is necessary! The Grand Masked Ball is *at* the Palace of Versailles, however not technically *in* the Palace of Versailles. The ball takes place within the Orangery, which is a constructing linked to the palace and gardens (it might have been the place the royals grew issues like citrus timber).

Should you’ve seen images/video of individuals contained in the palace itself – like within the Corridor of Mirrors – they both went to a unique occasion solely (like Fêtes Galantes), or they booked a further ticket for a “Royal Serenade” tour contained in the palace earlier than the ball (that is what we did!).

The precise ball provides you entry to the palace gardens within the night, after which the Orangery and a smaller hooked up backyard from the beginning of the ball till daybreak.

Grand Masked Ball ticket ideas

The Grand Masked Ball has gotten actually standard because of TikTok and Instagram, so you actually do must scoop up tickets once they go on sale. (For the 2025 ball, tickets bought out inside a few hours.)

So how do you get tickets for this coveted occasion? Previously, tickets for the Grand Masked Ball normally went on sale in the direction of the start of the 12 months (normally in January). With the occasion gaining recognition lately, although, they really put the 2025 tickets on sale in November 2024. So I might anticipate 2026 tickets to go on sale earlier than the tip of 2025.

It’s essential purchase tickets by means of Château de Versailles Spectacles immediately, and the easiest way to get information about once they’re happening sale is to subscribe to the Spectacles publication (join right here; you possibly can simply tick the “Occasions” field).

You may as well comply with the occasion on Fb, and/or be a part of the Versailles Grand Masked Ball Fb group, which is a useful supply of information concerning the occasion.

How one can get tickets for the Grand Masked Ball

It is not precisely the Nice Struggle of getting Eras Tour tickets (IYKYK), however you do want a little bit of luck to get tickets through the common sale. The sale entails a digital ticket queue, and the web site does generally glitch out or give folks issues. Loads of individuals who need tickets don’t get them.

Listed below are some ideas for ticket sale day:

1. Create an account on the Spectacles web site earlier than the sale day. In any other case, you will need to do it as a part of the check-out course of, and it will add further time.
2. Get into the ticket queue early (to get within the queue, you will go to the Spectacles web site and click on the “Guide” button). The particular person in my group who was capable of buy tickets obtained into the queue about 10 minutes earlier than the ticket sale time, however you most likely need to get in even earlier, as we actually obtained among the final tickets accessible.
3. Have a couple of bank card able to go, and entry to your cellphone and e mail (some folks with US-issued bank cards had some bother utilizing them, and different folks reported needing to get a verification code to their cellphone or e mail earlier than ending the check-out course of).

There ARE possibilities to get tickets after the preliminary sale, both by means of Spectacles releasing further tickets, or by means of re-sale. The Versailles Grand Masked Ball Fb group normally units up a course of for group members to resell/purchase tickets at face worth in a approach that is secure, so in the event you’re in search of resale I might begin there.

How a lot does the Versailles ball value?

There are 3 tiers of ticket for the Grand Masked Ball:

• Easy – Simply entry to the occasion; €150
• VIP – Entry to a particular VIP space with seating, restrooms, and a small buffet, plus 2 included glasses of champagne and free coat/bag test; €250
• Fantastique – Reserved desk seating, full buffet, limitless champagne, free cloakroom, and devoted occasion parking; €550

Is VIP or Fantastique value it?

You would possibly not likely have a alternative of tickets when you get by means of the queue, however the Easy ticket is the most well-liked. My group of 5 really ended up with VIP tickets.

For us, Fantastique tickets wouldn’t have been value it, as we weren’t driving to the occasion, spent many of the night time dancing as an alternative of sitting (in truth, I solely sat down as soon as for possibly 5 minutes), and half of us did not even drink a lot champagne.

The VIP tickets, then again, *would possibly* be value it for some folks. The devoted VIP space was much less crowded, had tables for sitting plus these massive mats lined in pillows for napping, and had its personal bar and restrooms that hardly ever had any strains. The two glasses of champagne was additionally good!

The issues I did not like about our VIP expertise included the road to get in, which was longer and slower than another line for the occasion, and the truth that as soon as we obtained in we needed to wait in but extra strains to test luggage and put cash on a wristband for purchasing extra drinks. I additionally was bummed that they did not restock the VIP buffet previous about 3 a.m.

If I went once more, I’d nonetheless attempt for VIP (they do appear to take heed to suggestions and enhance this part yearly), but additionally suppose the Easy tickets could be high quality!

How one can get a fancy dress for the Versailles ball

Upon getting your ball tickets, it is now time to determine your costume! Dressing in Baroque-style costumes and masks is required for this occasion, and they’ll certainly flip folks away if they do not make an effort.

The three choices for getting a fancy dress for this occasion embrace:

• Renting a fancy dress from a fancy dress store in both Paris or Versailles (the most well-liked possibility)
• Shopping for a fancy dress new on a web site like Amazon or Etsy
• Shopping for a fancy dress secondhand

Renting a fancy dress for Le Grand Bal Masque

Most individuals who go to the Grand Masked Ball lease their costumes, which is essentially the most economical possibility and means you do not have to journey with a ballgown in-tow. I’ll admit that that is a lot simpler in the event you already reside in France, although, and might get your self to a fancy dress store inside a number of weeks of shopping for your ticket for one of the best choice.

For my group of 5 ball attendees, 4 of us opted to lease costumes. My pal Kat and I really went to Paris in February (we already had different journey plans in Europe) and have been capable of go to a number of costume outlets to attempt on and reserve costumes for the 4 of us who wanted them.

The primary outlets in Paris that individuals lease from are Sommier & Fils (11 Bd Saint-Martin), La Compagnie du Costume (50 Rue Ardoin), Académie du Bal Costumé/Au Clown de la République (two areas, on firm), Costume sur Seine (50 Rue Ardoin), and Aux Sept Merveilles (144 rue Lafayette).

Rental choices close to Versailles embrace Les robes de Sophie.

Many locations in Paris require an appointment for attempting on/renting costumes. My pal Kat and I attempted two totally different outlets in Paris, and we ended up renting from Sommier & Fils (we did not want an appointment there). One of many house owners, Stephane, took SUCH excellent care of us and deserves all of the reward on the planet. We tried on many attire for 4 totally different folks, and obtained what we would have liked!

You’ll be able to anticipate to pay anyplace from €100-€200 to lease an outfit for the ball. Most locations additionally require a safety deposit if you choose up your outfit (ours was €500 per gown, which was refunded on the spot once we returned the attire).

And sure, outlets lease out outfits for each ladies and men!

Shopping for a fancy dress for the ball

The opposite possibility is to buy a fancy dress for the Grand Masked Ball. One woman in our group did this, as did loads of folks within the Versailles Fb group.

My pal Ashley bought a robe from MiniDonuts on Etsy, and it got here out fabulous! This can be a dearer possibility – attire begin at round $350 – however the maker can create a gown to suit your actual measurements, and so they’re all lovely and good high quality. (Ashley transported it in a vacuum-sealed bag so it did not take up her whole suitcase, after which steamed it in Paris.)

Many individuals additionally buy attire from websites like Amazon. There are lots of choices in the event you seek for “Baroque attire” or “Marie Antoinette attire” that vary from $35-$150. Clearly you will get the standard you pay for, however general most of those choices are going to be simply high quality for this one-night occasion!

Some Amazon choices that look good embrace this one, this one, this one, this one, and even this one. A number of folks purchased attire from Amazon after which altered/embellished them with further bows, rhinestones, capes, and many others.

For males, shopping for a fancy dress is mostly just a little cheaper. There are alternatives on Amazon (like this one and this one) for below $75.

Different costume bits to purchase

If you buy a gown of any kind, simply do not forget that you will additionally need to buy the massive skirt to go below it. Do not go for a spherical hoop skirt, although; those that look essentially the most period-accurate are the “pannier petticoat” skirts like this. (Should you lease a fancy dress, a pannier skirt will seemingly be included along with your rental.)

You will additionally want a masks! Some outlets lease these, too, however personally all of us selected to purchase our personal. Etsy is an efficient place to search for masks, or you should buy a plain one and adorn it your self to match your costume.

Issues like jewellery, hats, hair equipment, and small luggage are different issues the women would possibly need to buy, although you do not HAVE to. Three necessities I personally would not go with out embrace a cellphone lanyard (ideally with a built-in pockets) so you possibly can put on your cellphone all night time, an influence financial institution so mentioned cellphone lasts all night time, and bike shorts with pockets you possibly can put on below your gown if you wish to skip bringing or checking a bag.

To wig or to not wig

The Baroque interval was one among wigs in France, so you will positively see loads of folks – each women and men – sporting wigs on the Grand Masked Ball.

Clearly sporting a wig is completely as much as you, however remember the fact that this occasion takes place in June – which means the climate will be very unpredictable. In 2024, it was chilly the day of the ball. In 2025, Paris was within the midst of a warmth wave the place the excessive temp that day was 94 levels F (34 levels C). I personally can’t fathom sporting a wig like that in a warmth wave!

All of us did fancy up-dos with issues like butterflies and birds in our hair, and I feel we regarded nice.

What about footwear?

For Le Grand Bal Masque, the one factor you are allowed (and, actually inspired) to fudge on with regards to historic accuracy are footwear. This occasion is an extended one (particularly in the event you get to Versailles early to stroll across the gardens), so consolation is totally the secret with regards to footwear.

Now, did I see ladies (and males) in heels and males in interval footwear? Sure. However the majority (and particularly the vast majority of ladies sporting longer attire) have been all sporting sneakers! My complete group wore sneakers. I even noticed one man sporting Converse that he’d hooked up some bows to.

You completely are allowed to put on sneakers to this occasion.

And remember the fact that there’s a bag/coat test contained in the Orangery. If you wish to put on nicer footwear for some images within the gardens earlier than the occasion, pack some sneakers and swap your footwear as soon as the ball begins. Imagine me, your toes will thanks by the morning!

What to anticipate on the night time of the Grand Masked Ball

Okay, so now crucial half: the ball itself!! What’s it like? What must you anticipate? Are you able to really keep up all night time?

This is what my group’s day regarded like within the 24 hours surrounding the ball:

• 11:30 a.m. – Brunch
• 2 p.m. – Begin preparing (we did our personal hair and make-up)
• 5:40 p.m. – Switch booked from Paris to Versailles
• 7 p.m. – Arrival at Palace of Versailles
• 7:30 p.m. – Tickets for Royal Serenade tour contained in the Palace of Versailles
• 8:30 p.m. – Pictures within the gardens at Versailles
• 9/11 p.m. – Versailles gardens (getting snacks, watching the fountain present, and fireworks)
• 11:30 p.m. – Entry into the ball (entry took about an hour of standing in varied strains)
• 1 a.m.-5:30 a.m. – Get together time!
• 5:30 a.m. – Stroll over to the Ballroom Grove for breakfast
• 6 a.m. – Depart Versailles

Preparing for the ball

We obtained prepared on our personal for the ball, with one particular person in our group principally doing all of the hair up-dos (thanks, Megan!). You are sporting a masks many of the night time, so none of us went loopy with make-up.

We stayed in Paris, and determined we did not need to cope with metros and trains to get to Versailles and so pre-booked a switch by means of Welcome Pickups. Welcome Pickups principally does airport transfers, however you possibly can ebook them for something! We booked a pleasant massive van, and the driving force picked us up proper the place we have been staying and dropped us off proper exterior the gates of Versailles.

We didn’t pre-book a switch again to Paris, which ended up being a mistake. (We needed to name Bolts the next morning, and it wasn’t a snug journey for any of us.) If I might try this half once more, I might have pre-booked a switch again to Paris round 6:15 a.m. You will exit the occasion on Rte de Saint-Cyr on the facet of the palace, proper throughout the road from the Pièce d’Eau des Suisses.

Pre-ball actions

Included in your ball ticket is entry into the Gardens of Versailles beginning at 8:30 p.m. for the Night time Fountains present (which incorporates music, lighted fountains, and a fireworks show simply earlier than 11 p.m.).

We additionally booked tickets to the “Royal Serenade,” a particular tour supplied on summer season weekends that features a fast tour by means of elements of the Palace of Versailles (together with the Chapel Royal, the Corridor of Mirrors, and among the royal residences), with musical and dance performances in every area. For *some* of those excursions, you are allowed to put on costumes – and naturally the night time of the ball was one of many costume-approved nights.

We booked our Royal Serenade tour for 7:30 p.m., and it ended proper round 8:30 p.m. once we might enter the gardens with our ball tickets.

As soon as within the gardens, we obtained some images taken by an expert photographer (we went with Rachel Calvo, who affords mini periods each exterior the palace and contained in the gardens earlier than the ball), after which explored for a bit earlier than the fireworks present simply earlier than 11 p.m.

Simply remember the fact that in the event you wander far into the gardens, you will must stroll again to the Orangery to enter the ball.

Entry to the Grand Masked Ball

Coming into the ball was maybe the worst a part of the night time! It’s a must to stroll down an enormous staircase to the Orangery, however the VIP entrance line really began partway up these stairs. Should you did not discover this, nonetheless (and it was straightforward to overlook, as there have been no indicators), then you definitely needed to stroll all the way in which again up the steps to get in line.

We ultimately had our tickets scanned and obtained our VIP wristbands, after which obtained to enter the Orangery constructing itself, from which EDM music was already pumping. It is fairly the sight if you stroll in, with its tall arched ceilings and lighting results.

We then obtained our first champagnes, checked out the VIP space, after which needed to stand in one other lengthy line to load cash onto totally different bracelets in an effort to pay for added meals/drinks by means of the night time. (I am unsure why there wasn’t a devoted desk to do that at inside the VIP space – there actually must be!)

We have been lastly totally able to occasion by about 1:30 a.m. – and at that time it did not appear tough in any respect to make it to breakfast at 5:30 a.m.

Le Grand Bal Masque in a single day occasion

A DJ performs EDM music all night time, from the beginning of the ball till the very finish with no breaks. The entire inside of the Orangery turns into a giant dance flooring. My pal Ashley and I planted ourselves near the elevated DJ sales space the place it wasn’t too crowded, and danced for hours!

Each half-hour or so, totally different performers got here out to do fast units on a big stage arrange in the course of the orangery. Principally these have been dancers, however there have been additionally some acrobats. These “spectacles” have been a very cool addition to the night time, and you possibly can see them from anyplace contained in the Orangery (and even from sure spots exterior, too).

Talking of outdoor, the out of doors elements of the Orangery are additionally totally open to ball-goers. There have been folks scattered all around the gardens, both strolling by means of the cooler air, or sitting (and even laying) within the grass. That they had an enormous bonfire arrange, too, plus some bar and meals stands.

The entire Orangery smelled of orange blossoms, and each time we went on the market we have been always pinching ourselves – as a result of how cool is it that we had entry to all these areas at Versailles?!

I can’t overstate sufficient how a lot FUN I had at this occasion! Everybody was having a superb time and fairly respectful, and I did not see *too* many overly inebriated folks. I had my 2 glasses of champagne after which switched to water and iced tea, and actually was feeling fairly good many of the night time!

After-ball breakfast

Round 5:30 a.m. (simply earlier than dawn), an announcement was made for everybody to make their approach again exterior to the Ballroom Grove (Bosquet de la Salle de Bal), which is definitely an out of doors venue that King Louis XIV had created particularly for out of doors balls!

The Ballroom Grove had one other DJ plus some lights within the fountains, and so they serve a small “breakfast” right here of pastries and (dangerous) espresso. It is not going to fulfill any starvation (and really they ran out of pastries earlier than everybody even obtained exterior), however it’s fairly cool to finish the night time in an area that was actually meant for this.

Afterwards, everyone seems to be ushered out and the occasion is over.

The place to remain for the Versailles ball

You have obtained two selections right here, every with professionals and cons. You’ll be able to both keep in Versailles (farther from the outlets the place you are most probably to lease costumes, which means you will have to move these to/from Paris, however nearer to the occasion itself), or you possibly can keep in Paris (many extra lodge choices and nearer to rental outlets, however you will need to get your self to/from Versailles).

We opted to remain in Paris, but when I did it once more, I might most likely attempt to keep in Versailles for ease of attending to the ball and again right into a mattress afterwards.

IF you are going to keep in Versailles, you will need to ebook as far upfront as doable in an effort to have essentially the most lodge choices. Some Versailles inns to take a look at not removed from the palace embrace:

Should you’re staying in Paris, I might advocate selecting a lodge in a neighborhood you will take pleasure in spending time in. To get to Versailles in full ball apparel, I might personally advocate pre-booking a switch or taking a rideshare (Uber works in Paris, although locals use Bolt extra usually), although you CAN get there utilizing public transport for much less cash.

For all my Paris lodge suggestions, try my 5 days in Paris itinerary!

Is the Grand Masked Ball value it?

Pay attention, this is not an affordable occasion. NOT together with journey prices to Paris or lodging prices there. This is how my prices broke down *simply* for the Grand Masked Ball:

• VIP ball ticket: €250
• Costume rental: €158
• Cash spent on hair equipment/jewellery: €65
• My share of transfers to Versailles: €50
• Skilled images: €100
• Cash for drinks/snacks on the ball: €50

The Grand Masked Ball value me practically €675 ($785) if you add all of that up. You’ll be able to in fact avoid wasting cash by getting a Easy ticket as an alternative of VIP, taking public transport to/from the occasion, counting on buddies or strangers to take images of you, and never consuming very a lot on the ball itself.

However actually I feel it was value each penny we spent!

It is not on a regular basis that you simply get the prospect to occasion inside an precise palace, or put on a fancy dress like this, or on the whole get to make these types of recollections.

I might fortunately pay to do it over again!

READ NEXT: How one can Take a Versailles Day Journey from Paris (6 Completely different Methods to Do It!)

Let me know: is the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles one thing you’d prefer to expertise?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!