Image: Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles has announced the return of its seasonal 'Les Grandes Eaux et les Jardins Musicaux' program for 2026, opening the gardens and groves to visitors from 1 April to 1 November. The event brings together the site's musical garden walks and fountain displays, with baroque music and water features presented across the Gardens and Groves of Versailles during the spring and summer months.
According to the château, the musical fountain performances will run on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 April to 1 November, with additional Tuesday performances from 5 May to 30 June. The 'Jardins musicaux' are scheduled for Tuesdays through Fridays from 1 April to 30 October, offering a promenade through the French formal gardens without water displays in some areas. The website also notes that the groves are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with music from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the daytime program.
The 2026 season also includes 'Grandes Eaux nocturnes', billed as evening fountain events held on Saturday nights from 6 June to 19 September, along with a special evening on 14 July. The palace says the nocturnal shows will feature illuminated gardens and water effects at dusk, and adds that, because of drought conditions, fireworks are reduced for the nighttime presentations.
Versailles is presenting the program as part of the wider visitor experience across the domain, and is directing visitors to use the château's free app for navigation, audio guides and information about sculptures. The site also encourages advance online ticket purchase to avoid queues, and lists several ticket options that cover the whole domain or specific access to the gardens, including combined tickets for the gardens and the Domaine de Trianon.
The 'Passeport' ticket gives access to the Château with a timed reservation, the gardens, the Domaine de Trianon and the park, while the 'Les Grandes Eaux Musicales' ticket is for entry to the gardens only. A separate 'Les Jardins Musicaux' ticket is also available for visitors who want access only to the gardens during the weekday musical program. The palace notes that some admission categories, including children under six and selected cardholders, may enter the gardens free of charge on musical days.
Versailles' 2026 calendar places the program within one of the estate's most recognizable heritage settings, where the garden design, fountains and music are staged as a recurring seasonal attraction. The palace says the musical fountains include Neptune and the Mirror Basin, and outlines scheduled water displays throughout the day, with special afternoon timings on weekends and Tuesdays. The season runs through 1 November 2026 at the Gardens and Groves of Versailles in Versailles, France.
