What to Do in Nice on September 12 and 13, 2026: Events, Exhibitions and Shows

The weekend of Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026, in Nice promises to be particularly lively and varied. The French Riviera city is hosting an impressive mix of international sporting events, art exhibitions, photography, theatre, classical music, seaside evenings and wellness activities.

The undisputed highlight of the weekend will be the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, bringing some of the world’s best triathletes to the streets and seafront of Nice. At the same time, visitors looking for culture can choose from a wide range of exhibitions, from the fascinating relationship between art and science explored through Leonardo da Vinci to exhibitions dedicated to Chagall, Matisse, Yves Saint Laurent and contemporary photography.

For those looking for an entertaining evening, Nice’s theatre programme includes several comedies and improvisation shows, while La Vela beach will host a themed summer evening overlooking the Mediterranean.

Saturday, September 12: Nice in the spotlight with the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

Saturday, September 12 will be dominated by international sport with the IRONMAN France Nice 70.3 World Championship, taking place on September 12 and 13, 2026. The heart of the event is the Promenade des Anglais, while the swimming section starts from the Ponchettes beach in the Baie des Anges.

The race consists of 1.9 km of swimming in the Mediterranean, 90 km of cycling and 21.1 km of running. The cycling course heads inland and includes the climb to the Col de Vence, while the running course takes place along the Promenade des Anglais. September 12 is dedicated to the women’s race, while the men’s race takes place on Sunday, September 13. The official event listing confirms the two-day schedule but does not provide a single official starting time, so spectators should check the latest organisational updates before heading to the course.

The IRONMAN is also a great opportunity to experience Nice from a different perspective, with the seafront and several parts of the city becoming part of the race route. Visitors arriving by car should take into account possible traffic restrictions and road closures associated with the event.

Art and culture: a Saturday with Leonardo, Chagall and Matisse

For those who prefer spending the weekend exploring museums, September 12 is one of the final opportunities to see several of Nice’s major temporary exhibitions of summer 2026.

At the Halle de la Découverte at Gare du Sud, 35 avenue Malaussena, the exhibition “Léonard de Vinci – A la croisée des arts et des sciences” explores the world of the Italian genius through models, 3D videos and reproductions of paintings and drawings. The exhibition is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm and admission is free. The exhibition highlights Leonardo’s extraordinary multidisciplinary approach as an artist, engineer, architect and scholar of nature.

At the Musée national Marc Chagall, avenue du Docteur Ménard, visitors can see “Chagall à l’œuvre – Un prêt d’exception au musée”, an exhibition made possible by an important loan from the Musée national d’Art moderne – Centre Pompidou. The second chapter of the exhibition, running until September 21, 2026, brings together studies, maquettes, ceramics, sculptures and collages illustrating the extraordinary diversity of Chagall’s artistic research. On Saturday, September 12, the museum is open from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2:30 pm to 6 pm. Admission is €12 for adults.

In Cimiez, the Musée Matisse, 164 avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, hosts “Henri Matisse – Yves Saint Laurent. Le beau, la mode et le bonheur”. The exhibition brings together two major figures of 20th-century French culture, exploring how Matisse and Yves Saint Laurent both challenged the traditional boundaries between fine art and applied arts. On Saturday, September 12, the exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm, with a standard admission price of €12.

Photography enthusiasts can head to the Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre, 1 place Pierre Gautier, for the Mathieu Forget Exhibition, dedicated to the artist’s photographic research and his exploration of movement. The exhibition is open on Saturday, September 12 from 10 am to 6 pm and remains on view until September 27.

From paper Japan to contemporary art

The weekend is also a good opportunity to discover some of Nice’s less conventional exhibition spaces.

At the Musée des Arts Asiatiques, 405 Promenade des Anglais, the exhibition “Mortimer and Paper Japan” brings together the world of Blake and Mortimer with the museum’s Asian art collections. Original comic-book pages, sketches, archive documents, Japanese prints and a remarkable samurai robot specially created for the exhibition form a fascinating journey into Edgar P. Jacobs’ relationship with Japan. On Saturday and Sunday, the exhibition is open from 10 am to 5 pm, with free admission.

In the Old Town, at the Palais Lascaris, 15 rue Droite, visitors can discover “Coun – Libera l’Art au Palais Lascaris”, dedicated to artist Coun. The exhibition can be visited on Saturday, September 12 from 10 am to 6 pm, with admission costing €5.

At Villa Arson, 20 avenue Stéphen Liégeard, visitors can explore two contemporary exhibitions: “Staring at the Sun”, featuring the work of Villa Arson’s 2026 graduates, and “Là où le jour cède” by Dany Albiach. Both exhibitions are open on Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 6 pm, with free admission. The first addresses tensions, contradictions and paradoxes in today’s world, while the second offers a more intimate reflection on time, memory and disappearance.

Contemporary art lovers can also visit “Rouge, le temps se déploie” by Jean-Luc Jehan at Maison Abandonnée [Villa Cameline], 43 avenue Monplaisir. The free exhibition features around forty drawings created through thousands of red dots, exploring the relationship between cosmic immensity, time and matter. On Saturday, September 12, it is open from 3 pm to 6:30 pm.

Exhibitions to discover in Nice’s Old Town

Saturday is also an opportunity to visit two exhibitions hosted by Galerie Lou Babazouk. At Galerie Lou Babazouk 2 – Bunico, 5 rue Benoît Bunico, Ilham Art Exhibition presents works combining painting, precious stones and natural materials in compositions inspired by the harmony of nature. Admission is free and on Saturday, September 12 the gallery is open from 10 am to noon and from 1:30 pm to 7 pm.

Just a short walk away, at Galerie Lou Babazouk 1 – Loge, 8 rue de la Loge, Élodie Avati Exhibition portrays Nice through watercolours and Chinese ink. Light, the sea, rooftops and seagulls become elements of a poetic interpretation of the Riviera city. Admission is also free, with opening hours from 10 am to noon and from 1:30 pm to 7 pm.

At Espace Lympia, 2 quai Entrecasteaux, visitors can see “Quand la terre devient lumière”, dedicated to Lilette and Gilbert Valentin, ceramists, sculptors and painters associated with the artistic scene of Vallauris. Admission is free and the exhibition is open over the weekend from 10 am to 5 pm.

At the Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret, 33 avenue des Baumettes, “De la scène à la toile. Artistes et mondaines de la Belle Époque” explores society, fashion, theatre and the leading figures of the Belle Époque through the museum’s collections. The exhibition runs until April 4, 2027. The official listing confirms that it is open daily, although the precise opening hours for September 12 are not specified in the available programme.

A new exhibition to discover: Bernard Reyboz – Hors norme

The weekend of September 12 and 13 also marks the opening of “Bernard Reyboz – Hors norme” at L’Artistique – Centre d’Arts et de Culture, 27 boulevard Dubouchage.

The free exhibition presents an unconventional artistic universe combining drawing, painting, sculpture, organic forms and humour, with particular emphasis on a series of previously unseen humorous drawings.

On Saturday, September 12, the exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm. It is an interesting opportunity to discover a less conventional side of Nice’s contemporary art scene.

At Galerie Eva Vautier, 2 rue Vernier, “Frédérique Nalbandian – Durée indéterminée” also opens on September 12. Admission is free and the exhibition explores time as an artistic material through the artist’s work with soap and its transformations. On Saturday, September 12, the gallery is open from 2 pm to 7 pm.

Saturday theatre: comedy, fairy tales and improvisation

Saturday afternoon can continue at the Théâtre Bellecour, 14 rue Trachel, with “Princesses en détresse”, scheduled for 4 pm. The comedy reinterprets traditional fairy tales with a humorous twist: Rayponce decides to free Snow White, Cinderella, Jasmine and the other princesses from the roles into which they have been confined. The show combines humour, songs and adventure and is particularly suitable for families. Tickets start at €10.95.

The same Théâtre Bellecour hosts “Burlingue” at 6 pm, a surreal comedy set in an office where a simple dispute over a rubber eraser becomes the trigger for an increasingly absurd conflict between two colleagues. The show turns everyday workplace life into a grotesque physical comedy. Tickets start at €18.50.

At 7:19 pm, the Théâtre Nice Saleya, 5 rue de la Poissonnerie, presents “Une semaine… Pas plus !”, a comedy centred on Paul’s attempt to break up with Sophie. To achieve his goal, he involves his best friend in a plan which, through lies, jealousy and unexpected situations, quickly becomes increasingly complicated. Tickets start at €15.50.

The theatrical programme continues at 9 pm at Théâtre l’Alphabet, 19 rue Delille, with “Toi qui es psy”, a comedy set in the office of Dr Jécoute, where a succession of unusual patients and eccentric characters promises an evening of laughter. Tickets start at €11.95.

For those who prefer improvisational theatre, Café-Théâtre Le Bouff’Scène, 2 rue Caissotti, hosts “Les Toucont’fé dans Catch d’impro” at 9 pm. The performers compete in a theatrical wrestling-style improvisation battle without a fixed script, while the audience helps determine the winner by choosing the winning duo. Tickets start at around €12.95.

Brahms and Shostakovich at the Nice Opera House

For an evening of classical music, the appointment is at 6 pm on Saturday, September 12, at the Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur, 4/6 rue Saint-François de Paule, with “Brahms / Shostakovich”.

The concert features violinist Sayaka Shoji and conductor Lionel Bringuier, bringing together Brahms’ lyricism and virtuosity with Shostakovich’s dramatic intensity. The concert is one of the opening events of the Opera’s new symphonic season. Tickets range from €10 to €34.

Saturday night at La Vela: a White Party on the Promenade des Anglais

Those looking to end the day in a more festive atmosphere can head to Plage La Vela, 58 Promenade des Anglais, where one of the venue’s “Soirées de l’été – La Vela” events will take place on Saturday, September 12.

The evening is a White Party, with an all-white dress code and a distinctly summery atmosphere by the sea. The official listing does not provide a precise starting time or ticket price, so visitors are advised to check directly with the venue and book in advance.

Sunday, September 13: sport, wellness and theatre

Sunday morning offers another opportunity to experience Nice through sport. At 9:30 am, the first edition of “La Saint-Andréenne – Coursa deï Babi” gets underway, a running event organised by Nice Métropole Athlétisme in partnership with the Mairie de Saint-André de la Roche.

The programme includes a 5 km race at 9:30 am, a 5 km walk at 9:35 am, children’s races at 10:30 am, and a charity walk/run at 11 am. The event listing gives the location as 06300 Nice, while visitors should consult the organisers for practical information and registration details.

Also on Sunday, but at a much slower pace, the Château de Crémat, 442 chemin de Crémat, hosts the Journée Bien-Être 2026 from 9 am to 6 pm. The event brings together sport, relaxation, spirituality and activities focused on personal wellbeing. The programme includes yoga, Pilates, breathwork, dance, HIIT and conferences and masterclasses covering nutrition, beauty, astrology, skincare and make-up.

The outdoor areas, exhibitors’ village and food trucks are accessible free of charge, while the €35 Day Pass provides access to more than 60 activities throughout the day. It is one of the weekend’s most interesting events for anyone looking for a relaxing experience away from the pace of central Nice.

Sunday afternoon: comedy and dark humour

The theatre programme continues on Sunday. At 6 pm, the Théâtre Bellecour, 14 rue Trachel, presents “Burlingue”, featuring the surreal duel between two colleagues who turn a trivial office dispute into an increasingly grotesque battle. Tickets start at €18.50.

At the same time, at Théâtre l’Alphabet, 19 rue Delille, “Réveillon à la morgue” offers a dose of dark humour. Jean-Pierre Martinez’s comedy begins on New Year’s Eve, when an employee at a forensic institute discovers that drawer number 99 is open and that the person who was supposed to be inside has disappeared. Tickets start at €11.95.

Exhibitions to visit on Sunday, September 13

Those who prefer a cultural Sunday can take advantage of Nice’s museums and galleries. Africa Pop, at the Musée International d’Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky, is open from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm, with admission costing €5. The exhibition uses textiles, particularly colourful wax fabrics, and everyday objects to explore African cultures and traditions through an immersive installation.

At the Musée Matisse, the Matisse–Yves Saint Laurent exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm, while the Mathieu Forget exhibition at the Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre follows the same opening hours.

At Villa Arson, both Staring at the Sun and Là où le jour cède are open from 2 pm to 6 pm, with free admission.

For a more intimate experience, the exhibitions by Ilham Art and Élodie Avati at Galerie Lou Babazouk are also open on Sunday from 10 am to noon and from 1:30 pm to 7 pm, with free admission.

Finally, “Mortimer and Paper Japan” at the Musée des Arts Asiatiques is open on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, also with free admission.

September 12–13, 2026: a perfect weekend to discover Nice

The weekend of September 12 and 13, 2026, in Nice offers a particularly attractive balance between major events and more intimate cultural experiences. The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship brings the energy of an international sporting competition to the city, while museums and galleries offer an exceptionally rich cultural programme ranging from contemporary art and photography to Leonardo da Vinci, Chagall, Matisse and Yves Saint Laurent.

The city also offers an unusually varied theatre programme, combining comedies, family entertainment and improvisation, alongside the Brahms and Shostakovich concert at the Opera House and the White Party at La Vela overlooking the Mediterranean.

For anyone visiting Nice for the weekend, the best approach is to plan the itinerary around opening times and distances. Some exhibitions are concentrated in the Old Town, while others require travelling towards Cimiez, Fabron or the Allianz Riviera area. The result can be a wonderfully varied weekend combining sea, sport, art, culture, entertainment and wellness in one of the French Riviera’s most vibrant cities.