Should You Go to the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles? Everything You Need to Know

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Grand Masked Ball of Versailles Dates and Times

In 2025, the ball was on June 21 from 11:30 am until dawn, when they continued the party in the gardens with breakfast.

However, stay tuned for 2026 dates!

12 Tips For Attending the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles

Here are some essential (and ridiculously useful tips) for attending the Versailles Ball!

1. Subscribe to the Chateau de Versailles Spectacles Email.

The Chateau de Versailles Spectacles page is going to be your lifeline. Not only is it where you’ll purchase tickets, but it has tips on where to rent costumes!

And you’re going to want to subscribe to their email list. Why? Because they will announce when the tickets drop for the next ball. 

This is especially important to know, as they don’t drop tickets at the same time every year. In prior years, they dropped tickets in January or February. Last year, they dropped tickets in November. 

You need to know the exact time/date of the ticket release as it sells out within the hour. You can’t just on a whim decide to book it a week after tickets drop because they’ll very likely be sold out. 

Note: You can also subscribe to Le Grand Bal Masqué Facebook Group or even the unofficial Grand Masked Ball Facebook Group too. The unofficial page did have people selling resale tickets and more information about that. It also had lots of people asking/answering questions about attending and what to expect.

2. Grand Masked Ball Ticket Prices.

There are 3 ticket tiers when it comes to going to the ball. All ticket tiers include entrance to the ball and access to the Night Fountains Show and Fireworks beforehand. All tickets also include access to the garden off of the Orangerie as well as a free cloakroom.

Here are what each ticket offers:

• Simple Ticket: The items mentioned above, plus food and drinks for a fee. 
• VIP Ticket: VIP area with its own free buffet, dedicated bathroom, and additional seating. It also includes 2 glasses of Champagne. 
• Fantastique Ticket: Dedicated area with its own free buffet and reserved table, unlimited Champagne, a car park, and dedicated cloakroom.

Here are the prices for each ticket:

• Simple Ticket: €140
• VIP Ticket: €250
• Fantastique Ticket: €550

Personally, I think the simple ticket is completely fine, as it is cheaper and you can save the money for more food and drinks. The VIP buffet was good, but the food was gone pretty quickly in the night and by no means was it enough to be a full meal. It was nice having a dedicated seating area and bathroom, but not sure if it’s worth the extra money. 

The regular bathroom for everyone wasn’t terribly crowded other than at the start of the ball. 

3. Their Cashless Bracelets System.

This is something I wasn’t aware of until a few days before the ball, so I figured I’d let you know ahead of time. And I’ll be honest, I really hope they change this because it’s kind of ridiculous. 

When you enter the ball, you’ll have to go to an area and get a bracelet to load money on so that you can make food/drink purchases. You can use a credit card to load the bracelet. 

Then, you use that to make purchases throughout the night. They’ll scan your bracelet to pay. You can also reload your bracelet if you need to. The line for this is super long at the start of the night, but then it’s not an issue as the night goes on.

Here is the thing though, they do refund the leftover money, but you have to 1) request a refund (by a certain date-usually within a couple of weeks after the ball) and 2) have an IBAN number from your bank to get it back. You’ll need to keep your bracelet as there is a code on the back metal part to enter for your refund request.

However, rather than just refunding it back to your credit card automatically or allowing you to enter your credit card for a refund on that, you need an IBAN number. 

If you live in France or Europe or anywhere where banks give you an IBAN number, then great! You can likely get your money back. 

HOWEVER, if you’re an American with an American bank account, you don’t have an IBAN number as we don’t do those here for bank transfers to American bank accounts. Instead, we use SWIFT numbers and then you enter your bank account number. 

But the refund request doesn’t accept that. So…as far as I know, I have money sitting out there on that wristband that I probably won’t get back. 

So if you don’t have an IBAN, my advice is to only load exactly what you think you’ll eat/drink or load maybe €50 at a time and just reload as you need to. That way, you’re not out much by the end of the night because as far as we know, you’re not seeing that money again if you’re an American. 

Some sample prices in 2025 were:

• Water: €5
• Beer (Heineken): €10
• Champagne: €15 + €1 deposit on the cup so keep your cups!
• Hot dog: €7

Pro-tip: Keep an eye out when they’re charging you! I had someone try to charge me €35 for 2 glasses of Champagne and I even brought the cups back. I corrected her and she changed it. 

4. Where to Get Costumes for the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles.

This is where the Versailles Spectacles website was helpful, as it did include information on where to rent costumes both in Paris and in Versailles. 

This is great if you’re living in the area or visiting ahead of time! They even had suggestions for other areas in France too if you’re coming from other areas. 

I was visiting Paris in February with one of my friends who also attended the ball with me, so we ended up going to Sommier et Fils in Paris and trying on dresses for both ourselves and 2 other friends attending the ball as we’re similar sizes. We then reserved 4 dresses, which was great!

Sommier et Fils is a fantastic costume shop and the brothers who work there are so nice! We worked with Stefan and he was so kind, spoke English, and helped us customize the dresses based on our heights.

They also had dresses in a variety of sizes as the group of 5 of us came in a wide range of sizes too. I will say though, while dress hunting in Paris, if you’re above an American size 10, options are a little more limited. So going early helps.

We did see people the week of trying on and getting dresses for the ball. However, just know that this is risky if you aren’t a smaller size as many are taken by that point. 

Dress rentals were around €138-158 per dress at Sommier et Fils. Note that dress shops typically charge a deposit so that you return the dress.

Sommier et Fils was €500 which was taken off as soon as you returned the dress (even if there are some tears/stains), the deposit is mostly for if you don’t return it.

Other options:

• Etsy. We actually had one friend purchase a dress off of Etsy and sent in her measurements to get a custom fit. It was about $300+ for her to do this. 
• Amazon. Some people we met purchased their dresses off of Amazon too for like $150! 
• Rent at home. You can also rent at home, depending on your rental agreement. We met a woman from Houston who rented a gown there and packed it with her.

Just know that if you do bring your gown, it can be heavy. 

5. You will need a mask.

It is called the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles, meaning this is a masquerade ball. So a mask is mandatory for entrance. Some dress rental shops in/around Paris do also rent or sell masks, or you can purchase masks ahead of time.

I ended up purchasing a mask while I was in Venice earlier this year. It fit my dress perfectly so I got it!

You can also purchase masks off of Amazon too. 

I will say that while I loved my mask, because it was a little heavier, it slipped down my face a lot and I had to keep retying it. Also, as the strings were glued to the mask, they eventually fell off and I had to find another way to make it tie. 

I recommend actually purchasing a lightweight fabric mask like this one or getting a mask on a stick to make life a little easier.

6. This isn’t the only ball at Versailles. This one is an all-night EDM rave ball. If that isn’t your style, there are others to choose from! 

Versailles Spectacles actually hosts quite a few events throughout the year, and the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles, while popular, isn’t the only one!

I do want to warn you, because while most people are wearing 18th century attire and masks, the music is not going to be traditional 18th century music. 

In fact, the Grand Masked Ball is an all-night EDM rave with dancing and dance performances throughout the night. It doesn’t even start until 11:30 pm and goes until dawn where there is an after party in the gardens as well as breakfast. 

It is also located in the Orangerie next to the palace, rather than in the palace and/or Hall of Mirrors.

I actually think this captures the spirit of what the original balls at Versailles were like complete with revelry, dancing until dawn etc. 

However, if that is NOT something you’re interested in, there are other balls at Versailles to attend as well. 

The other notable ball at Versailles is the Fetes Galantes. 

This is the ball that takes place INSIDE of Versailles where there is traditional Baroque dancing and music. You can even get dance lessons in the Hall of Mirrors. 

It goes from 6:30 pm (depending on your ticket) until midnight. This captures more of the tradition of what the actual people at Versailles would have danced and listened to during a ball. 

This takes place in June as well. 

Another ball option is the Ball of the Century.

This happened last year (TBD yet if happening this year). But this is a ball in the palace with a 1920s theme in December!

7. Want to go inside of Versailles before the ball? You can purchase the Evening Serenade Ticket!

While the Grand Masked Ball does take place on the grounds of Versailles, and you do have access to the gardens for the Night Fountains Show and Fireworks beforehand, you actually can’t just go into the palace.

This means no wandering around the Hall of Mirrors in your 18th century attire.

UNLESS

You also purchase the Royal Serenade ticket to Versailles ahead of time. 

This takes place throughout the summer on Saturday evenings (which is when the ball takes place). This ticket includes entrance to Versailles and you get to witness opera singing in the chapel and traditional music and dancers in the Hall of Mirrors! 

That in itself is really cool, but on the night of the ball, it means you can also go in your dresses! It was epic wandering through the halls of Versailles in my traditional outfit.

This costs €32. 

100% this additional ticket was worth it!

Note: This is open to the public too. And when you’re dressed in traditional 18th century attire, you tend to become a bit of a tourist attraction. When we approached Versailles, we had several people ask to take photos with us. 

8. Wear comfortable shoes.

This is an all-night affair and if you’re visiting for the Serenade beforehand, you may just be on your feet for 12 hours straight. 

Yes, there are places to sit in the gardens and even at the ball, but you’re going to be up and dancing a lot. Save your feet and wear comfortable shoes. 

The dresses are long enough to cover your shoes for the most part! I ended up wearing my sneakers, and I’m so glad that I did!

For men, some wore traditional shoes, but I saw a guy who dressed up his sneakers to look traditional. That was honestly brilliant!

9. For the ladies-wearing bike shorts under your dress is a game changer. 

Don’t want to carry a purse all night? Just wear bike shorts under your dress! The dresses are easy to lift up, so you can get bike shorts with pockets to store things! Plus, it’ll save you some discomfort if your thighs rub together when you’re walking around and dancing all night!

10. Packing list for the Grand Masked Ball of Versailles.

Aside from what you’re wearing (dress/18th century attire, mask, shoes, bike shorts) here are a few other things to pack:

• Phone on a chain. That way, you don’t have to hold your phone but it’s close by for photos and videos!
• Extra battery pack. This is helpful for charging your phone.
• Fan. You can either bring a traditional fan to go with your costume or a mini electric fan to keep you cool as the Orangerie isn’t air conditioned. However, at night when the sun is down it isn’t super hot.
• Any additional makeup/chapstick.
• Keys.
• Personal items (pads, tampons, hand sanitizer, etc. as necessary). 

11. Bathrooms.

I’ve had many questions about the bathroom situation…and rightfully so. Nobody is trying to go pee in an 18th century ball gown in a porta potty.

While I did see some porta potties in the garden area next to the Orangerie, thankfully, inside the Orangerie are real toilets.

Okay, they are more like mobile/temporary toilets, but they look like real bathrooms with a real flushing toilet, real sinks, etc. 

As far as going to the toilet in the dress, it really isn’t terrible. Just hike it up and go! You have to hold onto it, but it’s not bad. It is nothing compared to peeing while wearing a tight wedding dress!

12. You can hire a photographer to get photos in the gardens!

There are photographers you can hire ahead of time to take photos of you in the gardens! We paid around €100 per person to share a photographer between the 5 of us. You can find photographers on the unofficial Versailles Grand Masked Ball Facebook page.

Check out my TikTok with tips for the Versailles Ball here!

@worldwidehoneymoon 5 helpful tips for attending the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles! Be sure to save this for next year! #versailles #versaillesspectacles #grandmaskedballofversailles #versaillesgrandmaskedball #versaillesball #legrandbalmasque #grandbalmasqué #versaillespalace @Château Versailles Spectacles #CapCut ♬ Carmen Habanera, classical opera(1283412) – perfectpanda

How Much Does It Cost to Attend the Grand Masked Ball of Versailles?

I gave you some prices above like ticket prices, ballgown rentals, etc. However, here is a breakdown for the ball based on my experience there. 

• VIP Ticket for Ball: €250/$294 (again, you could choose the Simple for €140/$165 or Fantastique for €550/$645).
• Costume: €158/$185
• Mask: €30/$35
• Hair/makeup: €17/$20. We did our own hair/makeup, but I did purchase things to put in my hair. I had all the makeup already (thanks Eras Tour lol).
• Fan: €5/$6
• Food/drinks: €100/$118 is probably enough, but this does depend on your ticket. You’ll need less if you have the Fantastique ticket as it includes food in the buffet and unlimited Champagne. Whereas VIP includes 2 glasses of Champagne and a small buffet (not enough for a meal though), and Simple includes no food/drink. I also purchased €19/$22 worth of snacks/glass of Champagne in the garden beforehand. 
• Evening Serenade Ticket: €32/$38
• Photographer: €100/$117
• Transportation: €28/$33 for a shared ride there and €33.50/$40 for a Bolt ride back.
• Flight to Paris round trip: €513/$602 (I used Capital One points and cash to book this so it was cheaper).
• Airbnb in Paris: €2,216/$2600 total, but split between 5 people it was €443/$520 for 5 nights. Not sure where to stay in Paris? Check out my guide on Where to Stay in Paris here!

So, in total, we spent about €1,729 or $2,030 per person for the ball! If you exclude the accommodations and flight, it is about €773 or $910 per person. 

However, the Evening Serenade ticket and photographer are optional, and you could go cheaper with the simple ticket. If you did this, your total can be as low as around €531 or $625 (this doesn’t include flights/accommodations). 

Note this does not include meals, museums, transportation in and around Paris, and other things you wish to do while in Paris! So be sure to budget for that based on how long and what you plan to do in Paris before/after.

Check out my trip to Paris cost guide!

Check out my TikTok video regarding the costs of attending the ball here:

@worldwidehoneymoon How much does it cost to attend the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles (aka Le Grand Bal Masqué)? Let’s talk about it! Prices may vary by year and based on what you’ll spend eating/drinking or even on your dress and hair/makeup. But here are costs from this year! #versaillesspectacles #chateaudeversailles #versailles #versaillesball #versaillesgrandmaskedball #legrandbalmasque #grandmaskedballversailles #grandbalmasque #grandmaskedball #versaillesevents #eveningserenade #maskedball @Château Versailles Spectacles ♬ Carmen Habanera, classical opera(1283412) – perfectpanda

What Does a Day in the Life of Attending the Grand Masked Ball of Versailles Look Like?

Here is what we did leading up to the ball and during the whole event! 

• Brunch at 11:30 am at Hotel Particulier. You’re going to want to sleep in because it’s going to be a long night! So we slept in and reserved a table for brunch at Hotel Particulier in Montmartre because we were staying in nearby Pigalle. It included a glass of Champagne, coffee, and orange juice as well as a 3-course brunch.
• Getting ready at our place from 1:30-5:30 pm.
• There was a reserved driver waiting for us and we left at 5:40 pm.
• Arrived at Versailles at 6:30 pm.
• Finishing hair touches and taking photos/videos until 7:30 pm. We wanted to put in feathers/butterflies and do final makeup adjustments after getting out of the car. 
• Evening Serenade tickets were from around 7:30-8:30 pm. 
• Arrival at the gardens at 8:30 pm.
• Take photographs in the garden with the photographer from 8:30-9 pm. 
• Explore gardens, have snacks, etc. until 10:30/11 pm. 
• Fireworks show in the gardens at 11 pm or so.
• Grand Masked Ball begins at 11:30 pm. By the time we got in, used the toilet, set up our bracelets, etc., it was closer to 12:30-1 am. 
• Dance the night away and wander the garden by the Orangerie until 5:30 am.
• Breakfast in the gardens around 5:30 am.
• Left Versailles around 6:15 am.
• Arrived back in Paris at 7 am.

It was a long and crazy night but SO much fun! It flew by too!

The ball itself was full of fantastic EDM music from 11:30 am until dawn when the party continued in the gardens! They also had various dance and talent performances in the middle of the ball throughout the night including a hula hoop artist, professional dancers, etc. They were really cool to see!

Should You Go to the Versailles Masquerade Ball?

Personally, I’m SO glad that I went and would definitely do it again! Even as someone who hasn’t pulled an all-nighter in well over a decade (and even longer for partying!), it was so worth it. 

In fact, it felt like it went by SO fast! We even did the Serenade, took photos in the gardens, explored, watched the fireworks show, and then danced the night away and explored the garden next to the ball.

I was talking with a friend in the garden and suddenly noticed that it was sunrise! We were being ushered to breakfast and an after party and then it was over. 

It sounds like a super long night (and it is), but it goes by so fast. If this is something you’re interested in doing, I say 100% go for it! 

And if Fetes Galantes or another ball sounds better for you, then try to go to that! I’d love to check out Fetes Galantes one year too! 

I do have some critiques of the ball, namely the cashless bracelet system and a lot of lines at the start between the VIP line, bathrooms, cashless bracelet, etc. I will say the first hour was just getting sorted with those things before getting to enjoy the ball.

But it was still an incredible and unique experience that I won’t forget! 

Would you attend the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles? Let me know in the comments!

Want more Paris travel tips? Check out these guides!

• Ultimate Guide to Visiting Versailles
• Where to Stay in Paris Based On Your Travel Style
• 1 Day in Paris
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• 4 Days in Paris
• 5 Days in Paris
• Paris in a Week
• Paris Autumn Guide
• Best Things to Do in Paris in Summer
• Paris in January
• Solo Travel Guide to Paris
• 45 Hidden Gems of Paris
• 23 Paris Travel Tips For First Timers
• Best Time to Visit Paris
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• Paris Bucket List

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