The French autumn school holidays in 2026 run from Saturday, October 17th to Monday, November 2nd, across all zones. Two weeks during which Paris transforms into a playground for families. The chestnut trees turn gold, the parks take on the feel of an enchanted forest, the museums bring out their children’s workshops and Halloween festivities pop up across the capital.
Paris in autumn with children is a city to rediscover at their eye level, somewhere between wonder, discovery and shared moments. Here are our favourite outing ideas for a magical family half-term in Paris.
Burning off energy in Parisian parks and gardens
Autumn is perhaps the most beautiful season to enjoy Paris’s great green spaces with children. The colours change, the light is soft, and the playgrounds are far less crowded than in the height of summer.
The Jardin d’Acclimatation, in the Bois de Boulogne, remains a family favourite: rides, workshops, animals and outdoor play areas, all set in woodland that is particularly beautiful in October. The Jardin du Luxembourg charms the little ones with its sailing boats on the pond, its swings and its historic puppet theatre. For families who enjoy urban adventure, the Parc de la Villette offers spectacular play areas and a programme of children’s workshops renewed each season.
And for a more nature-focused outing, the Jardin des Plantes offers a trail between tropical greenhouses, the menagerie and the Grande Galerie de l’Évolution, perfect for filling an entire day.
Discovering child-friendly museums
On rainy days, and there will be some in October, Parisian museums become parents’ best allies. Several of them offer trails and workshops specially designed for young visitors.
The Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, at La Villette, is an unmissable reference with its Cité des Enfants (two trails, for ages 2 to 7 and 5 to 12) and its interactive exhibitions. The Musée en Herbe, in the Marais, offers art exhibitions adapted for children from the age of 3 in a playful and accessible format. The Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle fascinates with its Grande Galerie de l’Évolution and its life-sized dinosaur skeletons.
For families looking for something more intimate, the Musée de la Magie, in the Marais, and the Palais de la Découverte (in its temporary spaces) offer shorter but equally memorable experiences
A gentle thrill: Halloween in Paris with children
At the end of October, Paris gently dresses up in the colours of Halloween. Decorated shop windows, pumpkins on the
markets, activities in parks and museums: the capital offers well-balanced events for children who like a gentle fright without being truly scared.
But for those who want to experience Halloween differently, in a real show setting, with real artists, Paradis Latin offers a family outing like no other.
Mon Premier Cabaret at Paradis Latin: witches, superheroes and a fantastical journey around the world
From October 25th 2026, Paradis Latin reopens the doors of Mon Premier Cabaret, its family show created by Kamel Ouali. A show designed for children from the age of 3, performed by a troupe of 25 artists who dance, sing, surprise and get the whole audience involved.
On the legendary stage of Paris’s oldest cabaret, children embark on a fantastical journey around the world. They encounter superheroes, not-so-scary witches and princesses reimagined by Kamel Ouali, all set to international hits that have children and parents singing along.
For the autumn half-term, this is the kind of outing that stays with a child for years. No screen, no virtual reality headset: a real live show, with real artists, in a real historic venue. And stars in their eyes on the way out.
Paris offers many activities for children during the autumn holidays: parks and gardens (Jardin d’Acclimatation, Luxembourg, Villette), child-friendly museums (Cité des Sciences, Musée en Herbe, Muséum d’Histoire naturelle), Halloween activities and family shows such as Mon Premier Cabaret at Paradis Latin, a cabaret show designed for children from the age of 3.
Mon Premier Cabaret is a family show suitable for children from the age of 3. Created by Kamel Ouali, it blends dance, humour, magic and music in an interactive and participatory format. Performances take place on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays during school holidays, from 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Mon Premier Cabaret offers four seating categories: category 1 at 70 euros, category 2 at 60 euros, category 3 at 50 euros and category 4 at 30 euros. Booking is done directly on the official Paradis Latin website.
