The Paris Postcard: Art, Antiques, and Autumn in Paris

le 10 octobre 2026

Bonjour and welcome to the Paris Postcard, a weekly feature highlighting what’s new, noteworthy, and inviting in the City of Light.

October continues to charm us, with so many opportunities to experience the art, history, music, and culture that make Paris endlessly intriguing. Whether you find yourself beneath the gilded ceilings of the Palais Garnier, exploring a royal château, listening to smooth jazz, or admiring an Impressionist masterpiece, the City of Light continues to inspire. So, let’s jump in.

An Evening at the Palais Garnier

Opening night for the Paris Opera Ballet takes place tonight at the magnificient Palais Garnier. The occasion is marked by a spectacular black-tie, long-dress gala, bringing together ballet enthusiasts and patrons for an evening of dance and celebration. The program includes the Défilé du Ballet, a beloved tradition in which the entire company takes the stage, followed by the Rings of Saturn by choreographer Juliano Nuñes, along with works by Jean-Christophe Maillot and Aszure Barton.

While the gala dinner is sold out, a few standard tickets and discounted tickets children, unemployed, and senior citizens are still available through the Palais Garnier box office. And, you never know, better tickets might be available on site due to last-minute cancellations.

Fontainebleau This Autumn: Three Exhibitions Worth the Trip

For those who share my fascination with French history, a visit to the Château de Fontainebleau should be on the agenda this autumn. Throughout 2026, the château is celebrating Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI to mark the 240th anniversary of the royal couple’s final stay at Fontainebleau, with three special exhibitions.

Opening October 11, Marie-Antoinette et Louis XVI à Fontainebleau. The Splendor and the Good Life explores the private lives and tastes of France’s last royal couple through more than 100 works of art and recreated rooms, including the Queen’s Bedroom and Silver Boudoir. The exhibition runs through January 25, 2027.

Marie-Antoinette: From the Avant-Garde to the Spotlight celebrates the Queen’s enduring influence on fashion through theatrical costumes designed by Christian Lacroix and inspired by eighteenth-century style. The exhibition runs through November 2.

The Panache of the Enlightenment explores how Louis XVI’s court revived the image of Henri IV, remembered as the “Good King” and “Father of the People.” On the eve of the Revolution, his legacy offered a model of benevolent kingship at a time when the French monarchy faced growing challenges.

As if these exhibitions weren’t reason enough to visit, the château and its grounds are beautiful in their own right and well worth exploring. With its magnificent royal apartments, ornate galleries, and gardens steeped in history, Fontainebleau makes for a wonderful day trip from Paris. I highly recommend it.

The Antique Fair at Place Saint-Sulpice

Antique lovers will enjoy the Salon des Antiquaires at Place Saint-Sulpice through October 18. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Église Saint-Sulpice in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the fair is an invitation to browse antiques, furnishings, and objets d’art before settling into one of the neighborhood’s cafés. A lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon in Paris!

Jazz sur Seine: A Little Music in Paris

If jazz is your idea of a perfect evening, mark your calendar for Jazz sur Seine, the annual festival bringing live performances to venues throughout Paris and the Île-de-France.

Featuring an eclectic mix of established musicians and emerging talent, the festival celebrates the region’s vibrant music scene. I absolutely love listening to live jazz in Paris, especially in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the neighborhood that became the heart of the city’s postwar jazz scene. Its historic clubs and intimate cellars recall an era when jazz musicians, writers, and artists gathered on the Left Bank. For me, an evening of live music here remains one of the quintessential pleasures of Paris.

For performance dates, participating venues, and tickets, visit the official Jazz sur Seine website.

Monet at the Musée de l’Orangerie

The Musée de l’Orangerie is celebrating the centenary of Claude Monet’s death with Monet, peindre le temps, on view through January 25, 2027. For anyone who loves Monet, it’s a wonderful opportunity to revisit his work at the museum that is home to his monumental Water Lilies.

The exhibition explores Monet’s relationship with time and his remarkable ability to capture the changing light and atmosphere of a landscape. His paintings invite us to pause and look more closely, appreciating the subtle shifts in color and light that make an ordinary moment extraordinary. At l’Orangerie, where the Water Lilies surround you, this feels especially fitting. There is something quite wonderful about experiencing these paintings in person, taking the time to absorb their beauty rather than simply passing through.

If it’s been a while since your last visit to l’Orangerie, this is a lovely reason to return.

Cézanne et nous at the Grand Palais

At the Grand Palais, Cézanne et nous explores the influence Paul Cézanne had on some of the most celebrated artists of the past century. On view through January 17, 2027, the exhibition brings together nearly 180 works, tracing Cézanne’s legacy from Paul Gauguin and Henri Matisse to Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Joan Mitchell, Bridget Riley, and Peter Doig.

Often described as the father of modern art, Cézanne changed the way artists approached form, color, and composition. Seeing his work alongside that of the artists who followed offers a fascinating look at how his ideas inspired new ways of seeing and interpreting the world.

For anyone who enjoys exploring the history of art, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover Cézanne’s influence and see how his vision helped shape the course of modern art.

Mary Cassatt at the Musée d’Orsay

At the Musée d’Orsay, Mary Cassatt. L’indépendante celebrates the American artist with a retrospective marking the centenary of her death. On view through January 31, 2027, the exhibition explores Cassatt’s life and work, including her decision to build her career in France alongside the Impressionists. I have always loved the way Cassatt’s paintings seem to shimmer with an almost iridescent quality, bringing a particular luminosity to her depictions of women and children. At a time when women artists faced considerable obstacles, she forged her own path, leaving a distinctive mark on Impressionism. This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate both her remarkable talent and her independent spirit.

MES COUPS de CŒUR

This week’s favorites are all about effortless elegance for a weekend in the country, whether you’re strolling the grounds of the Château de Versailles or exploring the countryside of the Loire Valley. A classic Barbour jacket, a cozy sweater, your favorite jeans, and Hunter boots are all you need for a look that is both practical and polished. These are timeless pieces made for crisp autumn walks, country lanes, and leisurely afternoons exploring the French countryside.

Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

#ICYMI

In case you missed it, October 6, 1789: The Day Versailles Changed Forever reflects on the dramatic events of that day, when thousands of Parisians marched to Versailles to confront the monarchy.

For a bit of nostalgia, revisit my September 2008 post, Soirée de Gala. It was an extraordinary evening that I will always remember. Guests included Madame Bernadette Chirac, the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Peter Martins, and Charlotte Moss. The pomp and circumstance was incredible. It was an evening I will never forget.

As always, I hope this week’s postcard has inspired you to explore something new, whether it’s an exhibition that catches your eye, a performance you’d love to see, or a corner of Paris you haven’t yet discovered. There is always something new to experience in this city, and I look forward to sharing more of it with you next week. À bientôt, mes chers amis!