Events in Nice on September 26 and 27, 2026: What to Do This Weekend

The weekend of September 26 and 27, 2026 in Nice promises a particularly rich programme of events. The Côte d’Azur city says goodbye to summer with a calendar combining major exhibitions, contemporary photography, theatre, comedy, concerts, DJ sets and the major sporting event Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB. The weekend is made even more interesting by several exhibitions reaching their conclusion during these days, offering visitors one of the last opportunities to see them before they close.

For anyone wondering what to do in Nice on September 26 and 27, 2026, there are plenty of options: from culture and evening entertainment to outdoor activities and events along the Promenade des Anglais.

Saturday, September 26: a day of art, theatre and music

Saturday can begin with photography and contemporary art. Exposition Mathieu Forget is still open at the Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre, 1 place Pierre Gautier, and can be visited on Saturday, September 26, from 10 am to 6 pm. Dedicated to photography, the exhibition closes on Sunday, September 27, making this weekend one of the final opportunities to discover the artist’s project.

Photography lovers can also visit the Festival L’Image Satellite 2026, running from September 19 to October 10. The heart of the festival is located at 109 – Pôle de cultures contemporaines, 89 route de Turin, where the event explores contemporary photography and territories through documentary work, experimentation and artistic research. Admission is free and the festival is scheduled to be open every day.

At Villa Arson, 20 avenue Stéphen Liégeard, September 26 is also an opportunity to visit two exhibitions closing on Sunday, September 27: “Staring at the Sun” and “Là où le jour cède” by Dany Albiach. Both can be visited from 2 pm to 6 pm, with free admission. Staring at the Sun brings together works by Villa Arson’s 2026 graduates and explores painting, installation, performance, video, photography and music. Dany Albiach’s exhibition focuses instead on memory, intimacy, time and fragility through drawing and screen printing.

For visitors interested in history and culture, the major exhibition “Africa Pop” is still on display at the Musée International d’Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky – Château Sainte-Hélène, avenue de Fabron. On Saturday, September 26, it is open from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm, with admission costing €5. The exhibition brings African textiles, particularly wax fabrics, into dialogue with everyday objects, exploring cultures, identities and, above all, the voices of African women through textile art.

Another exhibition to include in your plans is “Henri Matisse – Yves Saint Laurent. Le beau, la mode et le bonheur”, at the Musée Matisse, 164 avenue des Arènes de Cimiez. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, with a standard admission price of €12, the exhibition explores the relationship between two major figures of 20th-century French culture and their connections with colour, fashion, painting and applied arts. The exhibition closes on September 28, making the September 26–27 weekend one of the final opportunities to see it.

At the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret, 33 avenue des Baumettes, visitors can also discover “De la scène à la toile. Artistes et mondaines de la Belle Époque”, an exhibition exploring the relationship between entertainment, portraiture, fashion and society in Belle Époque Nice. The exhibition runs until April 4, 2027, and the official calendar indicates that it is open during the weekend.

Theatre takes centre stage on the afternoon of September 26

At 4 pm, the Théâtre Bellecour, 14 rue Trachel, presents “Princesses en détresse”, a show suitable for families as well. The story starts from traditional fairy tales but turns them upside down: Rayponce decides to free Snow White, Cinderella, Jasmine and the other princesses from the roles in which they have been trapped. With songs, comedy, adventures and twists, the show offers an ironic and modern reinterpretation of classic fairy tales. Tickets start at €10.95.

Two hours later, at 6 pm, also at the Théâtre Bellecour, “Burlingue” takes the stage. This surreal comedy turns a trivial argument between two office colleagues into an all-out war. It all begins with a simple eraser, but the conflict gradually becomes a grotesque confrontation in which the two characters increasingly take on the characteristics of clowns, children and monsters. Tickets are priced from €18.50. The show is scheduled for both Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 at 6 pm.

For those looking for more personal comedy, Elies Zoghlami – Altremie takes place at 8:30 pm at the Théâtre de la Cité, 3 rue Paganini. The title combines the concepts of altruism and procrastination and becomes the starting point for a one-man show about the artist’s personal journey, his experience in the hospital environment and his relationships with family, friends and partners. Tickets start at €25.90.

Also at 8:30 pm, but at the Théâtre Lino Ventura, 168 boulevard de l’Ariane, Yaël Naïm takes the stage. The singer returns with a concert combining pop, folk and intimate atmospheres, alternating well-known songs with new compositions. The September 26 concert starts at 8:30 pm, with tickets from €23.10.

Music continues late into the evening on September 26

For an evening of electronic music and musical influences from around the world, “Safar – Zar Electrik” takes place at 7:30 pm at Espace Magnan, 31 rue Louis de Coppet. The project combines Gnawa trance, sub-Saharan African rhythms and electronic music, using traditional instruments alongside electronic machines in a highly rhythmic live performance. Tickets start at €16.

At 8 pm, Boston Bun performs at STOCKFISH, 5 avenue François Mitterrand. The French DJ and producer brings his live project to Nice for an evening devoted to electronic music. Standard admission is listed at €15, with reduced tickets of €5 available for certain categories.

Those who want to stay close to the sea can choose the “Soirées de l’été – La Vela” at Plage La Vela, 58 Promenade des Anglais. On Saturday, September 26, the theme is Disco, creating a festive summer atmosphere by the sea. The official event listing does not provide specific opening hours or prices, so it is advisable to check directly with the venue before attending.

Along the Promenade des Anglais, ZELT is also taking place at Plage Bocca Mar, 15 Promenade des Anglais, with a DJ set from 7 pm to 11:30 pm. The event runs from September 25 to 27. No specific admission price is listed, and table reservations are recommended.

Theatre continues on Sunday, September 27

On Sunday evening at 6 pm, the Théâtre l’Alphabet, 19 rue Delille, presents “6ème sens et chapeau mania”, a comedy centred on the meeting between a journalist and fortune teller who claims to have an infallible sixth sense and a heartbroken, unpredictable Englishwoman. The result is a lively and humorous adventure that also includes moments of tenderness. Tickets start at €11.95.

At the Théâtre de l’Eau Vive, 10 boulevard Carabacel, “Signé Sacha” is also scheduled for Sunday, September 27, at 8 pm. The show brings together three short works by Sacha Guitry, exploring infidelity, temptation and the contradictions of relationships. Tickets start at €15.50.

At 6 pm, the Théâtre Bellecour once again presents “Burlingue”, offering another opportunity to enjoy an afternoon comedy before the evening performance of Signé Sacha.

The major sporting event: Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB

The major sporting event of the weekend is undoubtedly Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB, taking place from September 24 to 27, 2026, across the metropolitan area. The event features four distances and takes runners through some of the most spectacular landscapes between the Mediterranean coast and the mountains.

One of Sunday’s highlights is the Trail Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB – Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat–Nice 20K, starting at 7:30 am on September 27 from Quai Lindbergh in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. The route covers approximately 22 kilometres with 700 metres of positive elevation gain, crossing the Cap-Ferrat peninsula, the Plateau Saint-Michel and the Vinaigrier and Mont Boron parks before reaching the coastal sections leading towards Nice.

For visitors in the city, watching the runners pass through the area is another way to experience Nice from a different perspective, combining sport, scenery and an international atmosphere.

Exhibitions to see before they close

The weekend of September 26 and 27 is particularly interesting for art lovers because several exhibitions are coming to an end during these days.

Alongside Mathieu Forget, Staring at the Sun and Là où le jour cède, all open until September 27, visitors can still see “Africa Pop”, “Quand la terre devient lumière” by Lilette and Gilbert Valentin, and “De la scène à la toile. Artistes et mondaines de la Belle Époque”.

At Palais Lascaris, “Coun – Libera l’Art au Palais Lascaris” continues, while “Mortimer e il Giappone di carta” offers an exhibition devoted to comics and Japanese imagery. The weekend programme also includes “Rouge, le temps se déploie” by Jean-Luc Jehan, “Bernard Reyboz – Hors norme”, “Frédérique Nalbandian – Durée indéterminée”, “L’Automne de l’Image”, “Exposition de Karen Ossona” and “Exposition d’Alan Rodriguez”. These exhibitions are taking place according to the dates listed in the 2026 calendar provided by the Tourist Office.

A special mention goes to “La Vague Qui Vient” by Rémy Saglier, at Galerie Depardieu, 6 rue du docteur Jacques Guidoni. Opened on September 17, the exhibition can also be visited on Saturday, September 26, from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm, with free admission. The gallery is closed on Sundays.

A weekend of culture and entertainment in Nice

The programme for September 26 and 27, 2026 in Nice shows that the city is anything but quiet at the end of summer. Saturday combines exhibitions, photography, theatre and concerts lasting into the evening, while Sunday offers more theatre, DJ sets and, above all, the spectacular trail between Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Nice.

Anyone planning a stay is advised to book theatre performances and concerts in advance, particularly those with limited capacity, and to check opening times directly with venues before visiting. For exhibitions, September 26 and 27 are especially interesting dates because they offer the chance to see several exhibitions during their final days.

In short, if the question is “What can you do in Nice on the weekend of September 26 and 27, 2026?”, the answer includes art, photography, theatre, music, nightlife and sport — a complete way to experience the city as summer gives way to autumn.