Going to the Royal Versailles Ball 2026?
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Here’s our guide on having the best time at the 2026 Royal Versailles Ball.
What is the Royal Versailles Ball?
Following the success of the Inaugural Royal Versailles Ball in 2022, the Ball is back for 2026. It’s still attended by invitation only and a very rare chance to go reeling in one of the world’s most famous venues. Combined with a few days in and around Paris with friends, the Ball should be a very special night.
The Royal Versailles Ball is a private, invitation-only white tie charity ball held at the Palace of Versailles. It celebrates the 1855 state visits between Queen Victoria and Napoleon III, which did a great deal to repair Anglo-French relations and set the two nations on the road to the Entente Cordiale. The 2026 Ball takes place on Saturday 23rd May, with proceeds going to The King's Foundation, Room to Read, and the Fondation Franco-Britannique de Sillery.
In 2022, guests were given private tours of the state apartments before making their way through the gardens to the Orangerie for dinner, accompanied by a full orchestra. A fireworks display was followed by the Paris and District Pipe Band marching in, and then reeling until the small hours. The evening closed, as it should, with God Save the King, La Marseillaise, and Auld Lang Syne. This year's reeling will be in the hands of Supergrouse, one of the most exciting bands currently playing the circuit and well known to most regular reelers.
It is a very rare chance to go reeling in one of the world’s most famous venues. Combined with a few days in and around Paris with friends, the Ball should be a very special affair. Treat it accordingly.
Where should I stay before the Royal Versailles Ball?
We recommend staying in Versailles, at least for the night of the ball. Most hotels are a short walk from the Palace. Versailles is a compact, affluent suburb of Paris with its own market square close to the Palace entrance, and it repays a little time spent in it. You are more likely to visit Paris again than Versailles, so make the most of being there.
If you want to stay in Versailles there are many options. We stayed in the Hotel des Lys last time. It exceeded expectations and was excellently located. It has private car parking too for guests combining the ball with some wine shopping.
If you’re lucky enough to be a member of a club with reciprocal arrangements in Paris, it is worth checking those options. You might find yourself staying in buildings of quite extraordinary beauty and meet some interesting people.
Should I take the Eurostar or fly to Versailles?
The answer to this question depends on where you’re starting your journey. However, if you have the choice we’d recommend the Eurostar. It’s supremely easy and you end right at Gare du Nord station, which is exactly where you want to be to catch a quick train out to Versailles.
Whichever way you get to Paris, remember that the EU introduced a new Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025. This requires biometric enrolment systems for non-EU visitors which can cause delays. Even if you’re already enrolled, allow an extra 30 minutes for slower moving queues.
Whichever option you choose, enjoy trying to spot fellow Ball-goers in the queue.
Getting to Versailles
Versailles by taxi
If you are staying in central Paris, an Uber to Versailles takes around 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. It is worth booking your return journey in advance. Reeling balls end when the programme ends, which means most guests leave at the same moment, and taxis disappear fast.
Versailles by train
Getting to Versailles by train is really easy, so don’t let the idea of unfamiliar trains put you off.
From Gare du Nord, there are several options that use the RER (Paris’ high speed suburban train system). You’ll most likely want Versailles Château Rive Gauche station. You’ll be there in 45 minutes. The trains have air conditioning and phone signal.
Top tip: to buy a ticket head down the escalators at Gare Du Nord. Then look for the RER ticket machines there - separate to the ones upstairs. You buy a reusable paper Navigo pass (like an Oyster card) and load journey onto it. Make sure the ticket machine does not say Top Up only above it when getting a pass.
Easier than frustratedly downloading several travel apps after a 2.5 hour train journey.
Visiting Paris for the day
If you do add a day to see Paris before the Ball, there are countless things to do and even more things written about them. We’ll add just a very few suggestions of our own.
- The Musée d'Orsay for the Impressionists. Give it a full morning.
- Walk along the Seine to Notre-Dame, now fully restored after the 2019 fire.
- Berthillon on the Île Saint-Louis for ice cream that justifies the queue.
Should I visit Versailles before the ball?
The Palace of Versailles is one of the great architectural and artistic triumphs of the world and deserves a visit. If you’ve never been before, we strongly recommend spending a full day there. Even then, there is so much to see that you cannot even see it all in just one day. If your plan is just to visit when you attend the Ball you’ll only see a fraction of it.
Top tip: Entry tickets often sell out on busy summer days so buy yours in advance. If they've sold out you can often find some by buying a tour run by a third party operator. That said, tour guides can rush through, self-guided with the official Versailles app is probably the best option for most people if you can.
Also, grab an ice cream from the cafe in the grounds and then hire a rowing boat if you have time. It's 16€ for half an hour of fun in full view of the Palace and grounds. Fit for a king.
Where should I eat in Versailles?
If you want to have a great meal the night before the ball with your party, book Le Bœuf a la Mode in Versailles. We went several years ago for the last Royal Versailles Ball weekend. The Île Flottante was a towering triumph of French food.
If you’re craving a classic French lunch the morning after the ball to recover, the Crêperie des 2 Portes delivered in spades on galettes (savoury) and crêpes (sweet). Wash them down with some cidre for the full experience.
Arriving at the Royal Versailles Ball
Try to arrive a little early and take some time with your party before going in. In White Tie, a ballgown, or a kilt and doublet, you are part of a centuries-old tradition of ball-goers at one of the world's most famous buildings. It is worth pausing to register that before the evening carries you away.
Revel in the moment. Please be considerate of fellow guests and try not to photo bomb them too much! Enjoy walking around the grounds and take it all in.
An evening like this deserves to be remembered properly. If you haven't already, it might be the moment to start a Ballroom Diary
Travelling to the Ball?
Don't arrive the night before the ball having forgotten something important! Check out our packing lists for:
If you are planning to wear a tartan sash, our guide to wearing one correctly is here.