About a year before I first attended the Versailles Grand Masked Ball, one of my friends had just super casually mentioned, in between bites at lunch, that she’d heard about an event where you get to wear period costumes and party at the Palace of Versailles. My immediate response was: WE. ARE. GOING. TO. THIS.
Turns out, the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles was even more awesome/exciting/unhinged than I ever could have imagined. This was, hands down, one of the top experiences of my life. It was every bit worth the expense and preparation involved and I can’t wait to do it again.
If you’d like to experience the Grand Masked Ball at Versailles too, this guide covers everything you need to know. Enjoy!
In French, this event is officially known as Le Grand Bal Masqué.
What is the Versailles Grand Masked Ball?
So what even is the Versailles Grand Masked Ball? Indeed, it is a grand masquerade ball at the Palace of Versailles, but that simple explanation doesn’t do it much justice. What the name omits is that it’s also an all-night EDM rave where period attire is mandatory. There are Cirque Du Soleil-type performances and shirtless hotties and you have free rein of the palace’s Orangerie and gardens.
After seeing my videos from the ball on Instagram, one of my friends described the experience perfectly. She said: It’s like one of those action movies where they’re chasing people through a city and they end up in some freaky-ass nightclub where everyone’s wearing strange costumes and masks and the whole thing feels like a hallucination. And she’s not wrong.
For the best idea of what this event is like, check out the official “aftermovie” from 2025 here.
This event is a must on my Paris bucket list. See all the others in that link.
Where is the Versailles Grand Masked Ball?
This seems obvious but, yes, the Grand Masked Ball takes place at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France. Specifically, the event is held inside the Orangerie.
The Orangerie is an extension of the Palace’s grand gardens. It was built in the late 1600s, back when it was customary to shower your king with orange trees (sure). Versailles’s Orangerie thus became a sort of mega-shelter for the trees in the winter, but also where King Louis XIV could entertain his fancy guests. (OK but you get to party where Louis XIV partied! How awesome is that?)
Access to the Orangerie isn’t included with every ticket to Versailles; you need to purchase a special all-access pass to see it. I’d visited and toured the palace before, but was never allowed to visit the Orangerie, so this was a special bonus!
When is the Versailles Grand Masked Ball?
The Grand Masked Ball at Versailles takes place in the summer, typically on a Saturday in June. In 2025, it took place on Saturday, June 21. I’ll update this post with the 2026 date once it’s released.
More specifically, the event typically begins at 11:30pm and ends around 6:00am. However, your ticket allows you entry into the palace gardens as early at 8:30pm (for food, drinks, fireworks, photos, and just general vibes).
Grand Masked Ball timeline of events
For more on what to expect from the Versailles Grand Masked Ball, I’ve put together this timeline:
How to dress for the Versailles Grand Masked Ball
One of my favorite things about the Grand Masked Ball is that proper period attire is mandatory. (I’m one of those people who will give 110% to literally any theme, so I absolutely couldn’t wait for this one.) Official rules state:
With those stipulations in mind, you’re free to be as creative as you can possibly be with your outfit. And we saw some insanely imaginative creations.
Outfit inspiration
To get some ideas and inspiration for your Grand Masked Ball outfits, I recommend scouring places like the official Grand Bal Masqué Facebook page, the photo albums in this Grand Masked Ball FB group, and Instagram. You’ll find more incredible photos and ideas than you’ll know what to do with.
You should also, absolutely, without a doubt, watch Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006) featuring Kirsten Dunst.
Is there a theme?
So is there an annual theme for the Versailles Grand Masked Ball? Yes and no. First of all, the main theme is 18th-century Baroque and that’s really all you need to know. However, they do announce a “theme” for the event each year, though it really only matters for the production.
In 2025, the theme was “Animal is the Future” (whatever that means) but they didn’t even announce it until June 5, so it’s not like anyone had time to incorporate it into their outfits or anything. Ironically, our small group all had either butterflies or birds in our hair, so there you go.
Rather, it’s more a theme for how the event’s production will go in terms of music, costumes, performances, and general vibe.
Renting vs. buying outfits
One big decision you’ll have to make is whether you want to buy an outfit or rent one. There are pros and cons to each, so let’s discuss.
Renting your outfit
Because this is such a major event, there are several costumers in and around Paris and Versailles that have “quality Baroque costumes” for rent.
Pros: This is going to be cheaper than buying one (estimate around €150+) and you won’t have to pack it in your suitcase to get here.
Cons: You’ll have a more limited selection of outfits to choose from (not every style comes in every size, and the larger the size you need, the slimmer the pickings). You’ll also waste a significant amount of time 1) shopping for outfits and trying them all on, 2) picking up the outfits and trying them on again to make sure they still fit, and 3) returning the outfits after the event. It’ll also be harder to coordinate your outfit with accessories (etc.) since you won’t have the outfit in your possession the whole time.
That said, the four friends I attended the ball with all rented their costumes and seemed mostly happy with them. It was a huge time suck to acquire them and a couple of the girls had issues with their costumes not fitting properly, not being the right length, and even one that fell apart in a few places before the event even started.
Where to rent outfits
If you’d still like to look into renting your outfit for the Grand Masked Ball, here are a few shops to check out:
Confirm this before you pay any deposits, but rentals typically include all the necessary pieces, related accessories, and the pannier (the big hoop underskirt thing)
Buying your outfit
Most people attending the Versailles Grand Masked Ball opt for buying (or even making) their own outfits. I personally bought mine and couldn’t have been happier with that decision.
Pros: You’ll have a much wider selection to choose from and will be able to fit just about any size; you can make sure it fits you perfectly and customize it to your liking; you’ll have it with you during the whole event prep to match accessories, try out hairstyles, etc.; you won’t have to deal with the whole stressful and time-consuming rental process; and you can wear it over and over again.
Cons: This is the more expensive option and you’ll have to pack it and bring it to Paris with you.*
*Even though I paid more for my dress than my friends who rented theirs, it wasn’t all that much more. They paid around €160 ($180) to rent theirs and I bought mine for $350 which I consider a worthwhile spend.
I was able to make sure it fit my exact measurements and could try it on every now and then to try out different accessories. I could customize it how I wanted and I didn’t have to deal with the rental nonsense when I got to Paris. I’ve already worn this dress to two other events this year so I consider that a win.
Also, my dress, though huge, is incredibly lightweight. I packed it in a vacuum packing bag and was able to shrink it down to about an inch thick. The pannier also rolled up into a tight circle which I also vacuum sealed. In other words, packing this entire outfit in my suitcase hardly took up any space at all.
Where to buy outfits
If you’d like to buy your outfit for the Grand Masked Ball, you have tons of options. Some attendees spend well into the thousands for their outfits but that’s simply not feasible for most of us peasants, so here are a few relatively affordable options.
Etsy
There are several options for beautiful Baroque gowns on Etsy, most of which are unique and handmade. Check out shops like:
Pro tip: There’s a lot of AI bullshit on Etsy now. Be sure to avoid any shop where the images are clearly AI-generated, where it shows they’ve only been sellers for a few months, and where the prices seem way too good to be true. (Spoiler alert: They are.)
Amazon
I really hate to say it, but several people bought their outfits from Amazon and they didn’t look terrible. The key here is to use it as a base and then customize it from there to make it a more unique piece.(There are going to be lots of people here with your same outfit otherwise.) Some decent Amazon options include:
Note that these don’t come with the necessary pannier/hoop. You’ll need to purchase one of these separately. Keep in mind you want to get a pannier which consists of two side hoops and not a traditional hoop skirt which goes all the way around. You’ll know the difference when you see it.
Clothing resellers
It also wouldn’t hurt to check your go-to websites for clothing resellers too like Poshmark, Ebay, and FB Marketplace. Don’t forget about your local thrift shops either, especially around Halloween.
About my outfit
Regarding my outfit in particular, here are the deets:
My dress
I bought my dress from a dressmaker on Etsy known as MiniDonuts and I’m extremely happy with the end product. She even included two sets of bows and a set of buttons so I can essentially have three separate looks. My package also included the pannier. She has a ton of gorgeous and affordable-ish options.
Undergarments
My more well-endowed friends skipped a bra altogether, but I stuck with my trusty Victoria’s Secret Bombshell that usually only gets worn at Oktoberfest. I also wore a pair of biker shorts underneath my dress. Get some with pockets and you might not even need a purse at all.
Accessories
Because the dress is already a lot, I wanted to keep the accessories minimal. I wore a simple pair of pearl earrings and I made a pearl choker out of ribbon and pearl beads. I decorated my ‘do with these pink butterflies. The bow in my hair came with my dress (because I think it’s supposed to go on the dress, whatever). I also brought along a lace fan, at first just for looks but it was 95°F that day so it became an absolute lifesaver.
My mask
Masks are mandatory at the Versailles Grand Masked Ball so I wanted to get something super lightweight that would be comfortable to wear for hours on end. I ended up getting this lace mask from Etsy and was super happy with it. I made a few custom tweaks and added butterflies to it for a little extra flair.
Shoes
Because I’d be up walking around and dancing for literally 12+ hours, and because my dress was long enough that no one could see, I baroque with the theme (heh) and wore these basic sneakers. Men, you gotta wear heels, hahahahahahaha.
Purse
Not wanting to deal with a bag the whole night, and because my dress was so large that no one could see, I literally wore a small fanny pack under my skirt to hold my phone, chapstick, money and ID, and event ticket. I also attached a phone lanyard to my phone for safekeeping.
What to do with your hair
I really wanted to call this section “Ball Hair” but then thought better of it. Regardless, here are some things to consider for doing your hair for the Grand Masked Ball.
Doing your own hair vs. wearing a wig
Whether or not you want to style your own hair for the event or wear a wig will depend on several factors like: What look are you going for? What’s your current hair situation? Do you have the time and ability to do it yourself? Are you comfortable wearing wigs? You do know it’s almost 100 degrees out there, right?
I’d love to be one of those people. It’d be so much easier to just throw on some huge hair that’s already styled and be done with it. But I’m not. I fidget, I itch, and I would hyperfixate on it for sure. Instead, I opted to fidget, itch, and hyperfixate on my own hair.
This is one event where men have it way harder than women in the style department. As such, wigs are an absolute must for men. You can thank the ghost of Louis XIV for that when you get here.
Wigs for the ball
There are tons of Baroque-style wigs you can get for this event. Most costume rental shops offer them as well. Keep in mind that unless you pay a lot of money for a good one, your wig is probably going to look like, well, a cheap wig. (You know what I’m talking about.) Still, there are things you can do to make them look more natural.
Some decent options from Amazon include:
Also read: How to take a day trip to Giverny from Paris to see Monet’s gardens
I did my own hair
Thankfully, my hair is pretty long and manageable, and I’m not a total dunce when it comes to styling my hair. I opted for a simple updo of teeny tiny curls which thankfully leaves significant room for error.
To create the curls I used this 1/2″ curling iron, then wrapped them around an extra large hair donut. I secured it all with some gold bobby pins and the world’s most cement-like hairspray–Bed Head Masterpiece. I kid you not when I say not a single hair moved all night, which is exactly what I was going for.
It did take me 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the whole look though, and it was literally 95°F inside the apartment we’d rented with no air conditioning, so that was fun. I recreated this look for Halloween a few months later and it only took me 45 minutes, so, do with that what you will.
Or Pay someone else to do it
There’s always the option of booking an appointment at a salon for a professional style, just be sure to book this well in advance since there will be a finite number of hairstylists and appointments available.
Hair inspiration
For fun hair inspiration, I looked through all the sources I mentioned earlier and watched tons of YouTube videos on how to create similar styles. I found these videos to be the most useful (and their titles redundant):
Food & drinks at the Versailles Grand Masked Ball
Because this party goes from 8:30pm to 6:30am, you better believe they’re providing food and drink. Only… curb your enthusiasm here. There will be no shortage of drinks, but while there are opportunities for food, I certainly wouldn’t rely on them.
Drinks at the ball
Before the ball begins, there will be drink tents open in the gardens around 8:30pm for the fountains and fireworks events. Inside the ball, there are several bars scattered around the venue–up front near the DJ, back in the VIP areas, next to the coat check, and outside in the gardens.
These bars sell champagne, beer, water, soda, Red Bull, tea, and juices. If you get the VIP ticket, that also includes two glasses of champagne. The Fantastique ticket includes unlimited champagne all night.
Food at the ball
The refreshments tent in the garden also sells snacks and sandwiches during the fountains and fireworks show, and I highly recommend eating at this point. Food will be scarce for the rest of the night.
Inside the ball, there are a couple of places you can buy small snacks and even hot dogs and Belgian waffles, but they do run out. I tried desperately to get a hot dog around 4am and they were sold out. I begged the man for even just a hot dog bun (of which they had tons leftover for some reason). That mf’er let them eat cake-d me and charged me €7 for an EMPTY HOT DOG BUN. But at least it was food. (It’s clear I’m just a peasant in queen’s clothing. After all, I did write a post about McDonald’s macarons.)
With the VIP and Fantastique tickets, you also get access to the “buffet.” But unless you’re standing around inside the VIP area just waiting, there’s no way to know when the food comes out. And it’s only ONE ROUND of finger foods. By the time we even noticed the buffet table, it was all crumbs and a few crusty old tuna tartars. Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of hungry men?
Out in the Ballroom Grove at sunrise, they also offer coffee and croissants for breakfast. Again, you have to be one of the first people out there or else, in the words of Sir Willy Wonka, YOU GET NOTHING. YOU LOSE. GOOD DAY SIR. I wolfed down a pain au chocolat and some of the nastiest coffee this side of the Bastille.
How to pay for your food & drinks
The Versailles Grand Masked Ball utilizes a cashless bracelet system. After entering the venue at the start of the ball, there’s a tent out in the gardens where you’ll be able to load money onto a bracelet. Then, when you want to buy food or drinks, you’ll scan your bracelet and that’s that.
You can load as much money as you want onto your bracelet, just don’t go overboard. They do advertise that you can get whatever money is leftover on your bracelet refunded after the event, but there’s a catch (naturally). Allegedly, all you have to do is scan the code and enter your bracelet ID and bank info. However, this only works if you have a European bank account.
You can add money your bracelet throughout the night, so I’d recommend doing so in smaller increments. (Some of our friends lost a lot of money by adding too much up front and not being able to get the refund.)
Food & drink costs
Price lists will be posted at the bars and snack stands, but as an example, in 2025 we paid:
Pay attention! When you make a purchase, the staff will type it into their little scanner machine and you hold your wrist up to it to scan. When this happens, be sure to look at the amount they’re charging you before you scan. Several times the person charged me (and everyone else) more than what the stuff costs, because most of the time you just scan without looking. It’s intentional and it’s bullshit, but just be aware.
How to Get Tickets to the Grand Masked Ball
Tickets for the Versailles Grand Masked Ball typically go on sale sometime in late fall, though the exact date isn’t announced until sometime shortly before. (Subscribe to their email list at the bottom of this page to know when it happens.) For the 2025 ball, ticket sales opened on November 20, 2024.
Tickets for the ball are ONLY sold on the official Versailles events ticket page: chateauversailles-spectacles.fr. Please be aware of the many scammers trying to sell fake tickets to this event on other platforms.
Pro tip: Creating an account on the Versailles Spectacles page now so you’ll be ready to queue when the time comes. I’ve never attempted to buy tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, but my friends who have said getting tickets for the Versailles ball triggered their Eras Tour PTSD. That’s all I’m saying.
I was the ticket buyer for my group of five planning to attend the ball. Tickets went on sale at 8:00 that morning, and by 8:15 I’d snagged the last 5 VIP tickets. This event sells out quickly so bring your game face!
Ticket options & costs
There are three ticket levels to choose from for the Versailles Grand Masked Ball. Here’s what they cost in 2025:
All ticket levels include access to the gardens for the Night Fountains Show and fireworks, access to the Ballroom Grove for the breakfast afterparty, and free coat/bag check.
Are the upgraded tickets worth it?
My group got the VIP-level tickets and, in my opinion, the upgrade wasn’t necessary. The dedicated VIP area was nice, but we hardly spent any time in there at all. There are tons of seating options and even places where people were taking naps (amateurs), but we spent the entire night dancing up near the DJ anyway (where there was more than enough room to move around).
Other than the first hour or so after entering the venue, there was never a line for the restrooms or the bar, ever. So having a dedicated bar and restroom wasn’t the perk it initially sounded like. The two included glasses of champagne were great, but that was only a €30 value. And we didn’t get to eat one single thing from the buffet, so that was a waste. Next time I attend this event I’ll just go with the “Simple” ticket.
As for the Fantastique… in no scenario would I ever need a parking spot here so that’s a pointless inclusion. The reserved area for Fantastique is cool and all, but it’s not really for dancing so I probably wouldn’t spend much time in there anyway. And unlimited champagne is a great perk, but I have no desire to drink the necessary 20 glasses it would require to break even.
Add-on event: The Royal Serenade
Another amazing event at Versailles that you can book in addition to the Grand Masked Ball is the Royal Serenade. This is a separate event (with a separate ticket) that you can attend before the Night Fountains show before the ball, and I can’t recommend it enough.
The Royal Serenade lasts about an hour and takes place on Saturday evenings in the summer (with five timeslots to choose from). It consists of a collection of performances inside the palace after all the tourist crowds have left. There’s a fencing bout, a theatrical reception and music concert, and a Baroque dance performance accompanied by musicians from the Royal Orchestra inside the Hall of Mirrors (!!!).
But one of the best parts is that, on select dates, they allow you to attend this event in your Baroque-style costumes. (And the night of the ball is one of them.) So, you get to explore Versailles without all the insane crowds, get treated to some fun performances, and get to take amazing photos inside the palace where everyone is dressed up. Really, this is a must-do.
You must purchase a separate ticket for this event which you can do on this page. (Dates for 2026 haven’t been released yet.)
How much does it cost to attend the Versailles Grand Masked Ball?
How much it costs to attend the Grand Bal Masqué at Versailles depends on a ton of individual factors. Some people spend thousands while others spend the bare minimum. To give you some kind of idea of what things cost, here’s my own personal breakdown of expenses:
So in total I spent around €829 (the equivalent of about $963) to attend the ball. That does not include the cost of flying to and from Europe and my share of the Airbnb we shared in Paris.
Other Versailles events
One major thing to know is that Versailles hosts several traditional costumed-events, so don’t get this one confused with the others or it could get super awkward. There’s a reason I constantly refer to it as the “Versailles Grand Masked Ball.”
Where to stay for the Versailles Grand Masked Ball
When deciding where to stay for the Grand Masked Ball, you have two main choices: stay somewhere in Versailles near the palace or stay in Paris.
Staying in Versailles
There are tons of great hotel options in Versailles, a veritable suburb of Paris. This would put you quite close to the actual Château de Versailles making transportation there and back super quick and easy. (Honestly, I wish we’d done this.) If this sounds great to you, here are some great hotel options to check out:
See all available Versailles hotels here.
Staying in Paris
Since we were all looking to spend time in Paris already and not wanting to switch hotels just for this event, we opted to stay in Paris and commute back and forth to Versailles. If this sounds like the best option for you, check out these hotels:
See all available Paris hotels here.
Pro tip: Though Versailles looks close on the map, it ends up being a good 50-minute ride from Paris, in a dress as big as a car. The drive back in the morning was even worse due to the heat, the fact that we’d all been drinking champagne on empty stomachs all night, and our driver’s nauseating cologne. Next time, I’ll stay in Versailles.
More info for your trip to France
Like this post? Have questions about attending the Grand Masked Ball? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in France!
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