Paris is always full of exciting things to do with kids, and January is no exception! I’ve rounded up my suggested list of activities, events, and experiences to enjoy as a family in Paris this January. I update these guides every month with the latest events, so be sure to check back for the newest things to do in Paris with kids next month.
- 1. Watch the Nutcracker Adaptation by Benjamin Millepied
- 2. Watch Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty at Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell
- 3. Visit the Festival du Merveilleux at the Musée des Arts Forains
- 4. Experience La Féerie des Eaux 2025 at Grand Rex with Zootopie 2
- 5. Visit the Lantern Festival: “Japan in Lights” at Jardin d’Acclimatation
- 6. Visit "Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs" at the Atelier des Lumières
- 7. Visit La Géode: Immersive Cinema Experience
- 8. Go Ice Skating at Grand Palais
- 9. Watch Slava’s Snowshow at Le Trianon
- 10. Celebrate Epiphany with Galette des Rois
- More on Paris
1. Watch the Nutcracker Adaptation by Benjamin Millepied
No holiday season in Paris would be complete without Casse-Noisette, or The Nutcracker. This January, choreographer Benjamin Millepied reimagines the classic at La Seine Musicale from 7 to 11 January 2026. Millepied takes Tchaikovsky’s beloved score and gives it a fresh, contemporary twist, with scenic design by artist Paul Cox. Featuring 22 dancers from the Ballet de l’Opéra de Nice and music specially recorded by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, the show offers a lyrical, imaginative take on the timeless story. The result is a performance that families, ballet fans, and anyone seeking festive inspiration can enjoy.
Where: La Seine Musicale, Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt (just outside Paris, on Metro line 9)
When: 7-11 January 2026
Tickets: €38-€98, depending on seating category. Book your tickets here.
2. Watch Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty at Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell
A new festive highlight in Paris this year is Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty, a luminous reinterpretation of the classic tale staged at the Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell. This one hour performance mixes classical ballet with modern light technology, turning every pirouette and soft landing into a burst of colour. Six dancers move through the story in phosphorescent costumes that glow in the dark. The choreography has been created by María Farelo and Cristian Pérez of Luma Artistas, who use light almost as an extra performer, shaping each scene in a way that feels both familiar and completely new.
It is suitable for children aged five and up, and seats are allocated as you arrive, so it is worth getting there early. If you are looking for a family outing that feels a little different from the usual holiday shows, this is a lovely option, especially for kids who love dance or anything that glitters.
Where: 38 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 75010 Paris
When: 16 January 2026
Tickets: €26-€41 depending on seating category. Buy tickets here.
3. Visit the Festival du Merveilleux at the Musée des Arts Forains
If you’re in Paris with kids just after Christmas, the Festival du Merveilleux is one of those rare events that feels as magical for adults as it does for children. Once a year, the Pavillons de Bercy – Musée des Arts Forains opens its doors for self-guided visits, and the entire space transforms into a world of music, theatre, movement, and old-fashioned fairground fun. Throughout the day, you can wander freely through the museum’s richly decorated halls while catching a dozen or so short performances presented on rotation – musicians, dancers, video projections, and more. Normally, visits at this museum are guided only, so this is the one moment of the year when you’re truly free to roam.
Families also get to try a few of the museum’s historic attractions: every paid ticket includes two attraction tokens. You can choose from beautifully restored 19th-century rides and games such as wooden horses, gondola carousels or vélocipèdes.
Where: 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris
When: 1-4 January 2026
Tickets: €22.80 adults, €18.80 ages 12-18, €14.80 ages 3-11, free for under 3. Buy your tickets here.
4. Experience La Féerie des Eaux 2025 at Grand Rex with Zootopie 2
Every year, the Grand Rex, Europe’s largest cinema, transforms its main auditorium into a festive wonderland for a spectacular water and light show, followed by a screening of a major Disney release. For 2025, Zootopie 2 takes centre stage after the show.
The experience begins with the Féerie des Eaux itself, a 15-minute performance where water jets rise up to around 15 metres, moving in perfect rhythm with music, colour, and special effects. Expect a mix of choreographed fountains, shimmering sprays, misty arcs, and swirling cascades that sweep across the stage. Special effects and multicoloured spotlights bring the whole room to life, washing the auditorium in glowing Christmas colours.
Seating is free, so arriving early gives you the best choice of spots. The whole experience including the water show lasts around 2 hours 15 minutes, making it ideal for an afternoon or early-evening Christmas activity with kids. There are three show times daily at 10.30am, 13.15pm and 4pm. The film is screened in French.
Where: Grand Rex, 1 Bd Poissonnière, 75002 Paris
When: Until 4 January 2026
Tickets: €14 for morning shows and €18 for afternoon shows (€14 for those under 16). Buy your tickets here.
5. Visit the Lantern Festival: “Japan in Lights” at Jardin d’Acclimatation
Taking the kids to Jardin d’Acclimatation is the highlight of our summers in Paris. It’s the Top Paris Amusement Park for Kids, and you can easily spend a whole day here.
From 10 December 2025 to 8 March 2026, the Jardin d’Acclimatation will once again glow with its spectacular annual Lantern Festival, Japan in Lights. This year’s edition features 2,000 luminous creations celebrating the spirit of Japan. The walk unfolds in three parts, beginning in the Empire of Traditions, where torii gates, temples, and samurai figures light the way, before diving into a burst of color in the Pop-Modern Odyssey filled with manga characters and neon lights. The journey ends in the tranquil Garden of Dreams, surrounded by cherry blossoms, koi carp, and the gentle glow of Mount Fuji. Between displays, families can warm up at the food court with mochi, ramen, or a classic hot chocolate before ending the evening with a ride on the Ferris wheel for a sparkling view of Paris.
Where: Bois de Boulogne, Rte de la Prte Dauphine à la Prte des Sablons, 75116 Paris
When: 10 December 2025 – 8 March 2026
Tickets: €18 for adults, €12 for children (ages 4-11), free for under 4. Buy your tickets here.
6. Visit “Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs” at the Atelier des Lumières
From 12 December 2025 until 8 March 2026, the Atelier des Lumières unveils a brand-new immersive exhibition, and this time it’s about the dinosaurs. The iconic digital art space returns with a spectacular journey into Prehistory, brought to life through images from the hit Apple TV series Prehistoric Planet. The entire space is transformed into an immersive world where dinosaurs appear in life-size scale all around you. With 360-degree projections, you move through oceans, jungles, and volcanic landscapes, guided by the deep narration of Gérard Lanvin and a powerful soundtrack created by Hans Zimmer. Kids will love spotting familiar giants like the T-Rex, velociraptors, and marine reptiles that seem to glide across the floor.
Where: 38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
When: 12 December 2025 – 8 March 2026
Prices: €18 adults, €11 (ages 3-11), free for under 3. Buy your tickets here.
7. Visit La Géode: Immersive Cinema Experience
La Géode in Parc de la Villette is a giant and unmissable mirrored sphere housing a 4K IMAX laser cinema, the biggest screen in Paris. During the day, the programme features large-scale scientific and nature documentaries in a stunning dome format. Evenings and weekends switch to blockbuster cinema in IMAX Laser, and a new cultural season will present live-event screenings from Pathé Live. It’s a brilliant way to introduce kids to science, nature, and big-screen storytelling in a way that feels completely immersive. Located in the heart of Parc de la Villette, it’s located just to the side of the Cité des Sciences, one of my favourite museums in Paris to go with kids.
Take a look at the full program at La Géode here.
Where: 30 avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris
When: Daily
Tickets: €15 adults, €12 for those under 26. Buy your tickets here.
8. Go Ice Skating at Grand Palais
The massive indoor ice rink beneath the stunning glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris is open again, running until 7 January 2026. The venue is gorgeous and it’s a great activity to do with kids this January. Your experience will vary depending on when you visit. Daytime is perfect for families, while evenings have a grown-up vibe with a live DJ, lights, and a party atmosphere.
For kids or beginners, there’s a separate practice area to help them get comfortable before joining the main rink. Ice skates are included in the ticket price, but don’t forget to bring gloves as they’re required. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance, and even with pre-booked tickets, expect a short wait in line outside.
Daily Sessions:
- Morning: 10am–1pm (€27 adults, €15 kids aged 3+)
- Afternoon: 2pm–7pm (€32 adults, €18 kids aged 3+)
- Evening: 8pm–2am (€39 single price, free for under 3)
Where: 7 Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris
When: Until 7 January 2026
Tickets: Buy your tickets here.
9. Watch Slava’s Snowshow at Le Trianon
After three years away, Slava’s Snowshow returns to Paris from 24 December 2025 to 11 January 2026, bringing its dreamlike world back to the stage of Le Trianon. Created by the legendary clown Slava Polunin and performed around the globe for more than three decades, this show as a mix of mime, visual theatre and music.
With universal humour and no spoken words, it’s easy for kids and adults to enjoy together. Expect laughter, wonder, and a finale that leaves the whole room buzzing. Suitable from age 8, the show lasts 1h30mins (with intermission).
Where: Le Trianon, 80 Blvd Marguerite de Rochechouart, 75018 Paris
When: until 11 January 2026
Tickets: €39-€78 depending on seating category. Buy your tickets here.
10. Celebrate Epiphany with Galette des Rois
Kick off the year by indulging in a French tradition with the best Galettes des Rois in Paris! This delightful pastry, which translates to “Cake of Kings,” is a tribute to the three wise men (or kings) who brought gifts to baby Jesus on the Epiphany. In 2026, Epiphany is celebrated on Tuesday, 6 January, and throughout the month of January, Parisian bakeries are full of these flaky, buttery pastries filled with frangipane (a mixture of almond cream and pastry cream). Hidden inside each galette is a tiny surprise, called a “fève” (literally, a “bean”). Whoever finds it gets to wear the golden crown and is declared king or queen for the day.
Each bakery in Paris offers traditional classic versions of the galette. However, famous pastry chefs like Jeffrey Cagnes, Cyril Lignac and Nina Métayer take it a step further, creating their own special versions for the holiday. While you don’t need to reserve galettes in advance from your local boulangeries, it’s highly recommended to pre-order from renowned bakeries, especially if you’re after a particular size or a signature flavor. These artisanal creations range from the traditional frangipane galettes to innovative varieties with chocolate, chestnut cream, and other exciting fillings. Each year, pastry chefs experiment with new tastes and flavors, making January the perfect month to sample a few different options.
More on Paris
The Best Areas to Stay in Paris with Kids (and WHY!) – help with choosing the right neighbourhood to stay in.
Paris Itineraries with Kids – 8 free day itineraries that cover top attractions, family-friendly activities and restaurants.
What to do in Paris with kids on a rainy day – options for keeping children entertained and dry in the city.
Join me on Instagram to get more inspiration for things to do and see in Paris.
My Ultimate Guide to Paris with Kids is also packed with family-friendly tips and recommendations on things to see and do in Paris.
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