Grand Palais de Glace 2026: Ice Skating in Paris

Paris is preparing for a winter beneath the moon as Grand Palais de Glace returns for its eighth edition from December 12, 2026, to January 6, 2027. A 2,700 m² ice rink, a suspended moon measuring 16 metres across and activities inspired by HBO’s new Harry Potter series will transform the Nef into a festive destination. The programme also brings together artistic director Cathy Guetta, cashmere house KUJTEN and a new restaurant celebrating Megève’s mountain traditions.

A 16-Metre Moon Above the Grand Palais Ice Rink

The central installation is designed around a monumental moon suspended above the ice. Beneath it, the Nef’s scale and lighting provide the setting for skating across 2,700 m². The moon becomes a focal point within the architecture, while daylight and evening illumination offer different views of the glass-roofed interior. The spectacle is built around the relationship between the rink, the overhead installation and the monument itself.

There is a fitting historical connection here: the Grand Palais opened in May 1900 for the Paris Universal Exhibition, bringing steel, stone and glass together in a building conceived to impress visitors. More than a century later, its winter transformation continues that tradition of large-scale public spectacle. The suspended moon adds a new visual element to a venue whose architecture has long been part of the attraction.

Harry Potter’s New HBO Series Inspires the Festivities

Activities inspired by the forthcoming HBO Original series will take place in the Nef and around the rink. The official English title of its eight-episode first season is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, with a Christmas 2026 debut announced by HBO; the December 25 date is also confirmed by the author’s official website. In France, the series is presented as Harry Potter à l’école des sorciers.

The timing gives the Paris event an unusual rhythm: it opens 13 days before the television premiere and continues into the new year. Visitors arriving before Christmas will encounter the themed programme ahead of the launch, while later guests can visit after the series has begun.

The new leading trio features Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu and Nick Frost play Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape and Rubeus Hagrid, respectively. Francesca Gardiner writes and executive produces the series, while Mark Mylod executive produces and directs multiple episodes.

One revealing casting anecdote adds a human dimension to the spectacle: Dominic McLaughlin auditioned with a poem he had written himself. Reporting on the behind-the-scenes documentary describes a search involving more than 40,000 auditions. That small, personal performance offers a striking counterpart to the scale of the television production now inspiring the Paris festivities.

Cathy Guetta Shapes the Evening Programme

Artistic director Cathy Guetta is developing festive, immersive gatherings intended to transform the Nef after dark. Music and scenography are central to the announced approach, with the venue also confirming DJ sets and lighting effects. The evening format makes the rink part of the entertainment itself, rather than simply providing a backdrop for a separate party.

Le Megève Brings Raclette to the Balcon de l’Horloge

For the first time, the event introduces Le Megève, a restaurant created with the City of Megève on the Balcon de l’Horloge overlooking the ice. Its announced speciality is all-you-can-eat raclette using Raclette de Savoie IGP produced by the Coopérative du Val d’Arly.

A separate entrance from outside allows diners to reach the restaurant without passing through the rink. That distinction broadens its appeal to people who want the view and a meal without skating. The venue confirms external access, while the organiser offers restaurant visits with or without reservations. Around the ice, kiosks will also serve options including tartiflette, waffles, crêpes and hot chocolate.

KUJTEN Adds a Kiss Cam and an Exclusive Design

KUJTEN returns with a Kiss Cam as part of the entertainment programme, including the evening events. Hot chocolate by Yannick Alléno is also announced. The Parisian cashmere house has designed an exclusive print for the dining area and VIP skate-fitting space. It combines the brand’s recognisable bandana motif with architectural lines drawn from the Grand Palais de Glace setting.

Tickets, Sessions and Essential Visitor Information

Booking is exclusively online through the official event website. Sessions run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., with closure at 6 p.m. on December 24 and 31. Adult tickets cost €27 in the morning and €32 in the afternoon; children pay €15 and €18, and visitors aged 65 and over pay €22 and €26. Evening admission is €39, with entry from midnight priced at €27.

Skate hire is included, gloves are compulsory and children under three enter free. Children under 14 must be accompanied by their parents during daytime sessions, and the evening threshold is under 16. Check the entrance instructions on your ticket: the Grand Palais event listing identifies access at 7 Avenue Winston Churchill, while the organiser lists the monument’s address as 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower.

Event Recap

Grand Palais de Glace 2026
Where : Paris, Grand Palais, Nef
When : December 12, 2026–January 6, 2027.
What : Ice skating beneath a giant moon, series-inspired activities, KUJTEN entertainment and festive evenings under the artistic direction of Cathy Guetta.

Synopsis :
Harry Potter isn't anything special—at least, that's what his Aunt Petunia keeps telling him. But when a mysterious acceptance letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives, it opens the doors to a hidden world of magic, friendship, and adventure. Yet behind Hogwarts’ enchanted walls lie dark secrets. Harry will have to find the courage to prove himself against the most formidable wizard of all. Based on J. K. Rowling’s novels about the adventures of the young wizard, Harry Potter.

Harry Potter
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
Showrunners : Francesca Gardiner, Jon Brown
Directed by Mark Mylod, Jessica Hobbs, Lucy Forbes, Benjamin Caron
Starring Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout, Arabella Stanton, John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost
Composer : Hans Zimmer
Executive producers : J. K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, Francesca Gardiner, Mark Mylod, David Heyman
Cinematography : Adriano Goldman, Christophe Nuyens, Mark Patten
Production companies : Brontë Film and Television, Heyday Television, Warner Bros. Television, HBO Entertainment
Network : HBO (United States), HBO Max (globally)

(Source : press release)