Journées Impériales 2026 in Nice: Three Days of Napoleon, History and Spectacle

NICE – For an entire weekend, Nice will become a centre of Napoleonic history with the Journées Impériales 2026, taking place from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October. Three days dedicated to the two French Empires will combine historical research, culture, music and reenactment at some of the city’s most emblematic venues.

This year’s theme is “Empires and Coups d’État”, providing a common thread through the political events of the First and Second Empires, as well as the ways in which these historical experiences have been represented, interpreted and transformed over time into collective memory.

Nice and Napoleon: a historic connection

Nice’s role as host of the Journées Impériales is deeply rooted in the city’s historical relationship with the Napoleonic era.

Napoleon Bonaparte stayed in Nice several times and left the city in 1796 to embark on the Italian campaign. Decades later, the Second Empire would play an important role in the city’s urban transformation and economic and tourist development.

A decisive moment came in 1860, with the treaty that established the transfer of Nice and Savoy to France. That same year, Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie visited the city.

The annexation marked the beginning of a new chapter in Nice’s history, setting in motion a period of development that would gradually transform the city into one of the Riviera’s leading international destinations.

The Journées Impériales open at Villa Masséna

The official opening will take place on Friday 2 October at 5:30 pm at Villa Masséna, one of Nice’s key landmarks of Napoleonic heritage.

The opening ceremony will include the signing of an agreement between the City of Nice and the Fondation Napoléon, represented respectively by Mayor Éric Ciotti and President Victor-André Masséna, Prince d’Essling.

The agreement aims to strengthen the promotion and preservation of the Napoleonic collections and heritage housed at Villa Masséna.

The exhibition “L’Empire raconté au peuple” will then open to the public. It explores the popular images through which the imperial era was represented and communicated to the public, contributing to the construction of Napoleonic memory.

The first day will conclude at 7 pm with the concert “Vienne, 1809-1831”, performed by pianist and composer Julien Brocal.

Conferences and debates on Empires and coups d’état

The main historical and academic programme will take place on Saturday 3 October at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen.

At 11 am, historian and journalist Xavier Mauduit will join Arthur Chevallier for a discussion on the French Empires and coups d’état, examining the political developments that shaped the First and Second Empires.

The programme will continue in the afternoon with two round tables. The first will focus on the coups d’état carried out by the Napoleons, while the second will examine attempts and coups directed against them.

The discussions will bring together several scholars and specialists in Napoleonic history, including Patrice Gueniffey, Thierry Lentz, David Chanteranne, Vincent Haegele and Juliette Glikman.

The programme therefore goes beyond the celebration of Napoleonic heritage, offering an opportunity to explore the political and institutional dynamics surrounding the creation and development of the two French Empires.

Balls, costumes and historical reenactments

During the weekend, the Journées Impériales will bring history to life beyond the conference rooms.

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, Villa Masséna and its grounds will become a setting for historical reenactments, featuring balls inspired by the First and Second Empires, period costumes, board games, Napoleonic figurines and dioramas.

Visitors will also be able to attend demonstrations of artistic fencing, military manoeuvres, parades and aubades, creating an immersive atmosphere inspired by the life and imagery of the imperial periods.

Young visitors and families will also have their own activities, including an exhibition of Lego constructions inspired by the Napoleonic era.

A final performance celebrating Imperial France

The event will conclude on Sunday 4 October at 4 pm at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen with “L’Apogée de la France Impériale”, a performance combining history, opera and choreography.

Produced by the Nice and Alpes-Maritimes delegation of Le Souvenir napoléonien, the show will bring the weekend to a close through a combination of historical storytelling and the performing arts.

A journey through Nice’s Napoleonic heritage

The Journées Impériales 2026 offer much more than a historical reenactment. Conferences, exhibitions, music, performances and activities allow visitors to explore the history of the two French Empires from different perspectives, bringing together scholars, enthusiasts, families and curious visitors.

Villa Masséna, in particular, plays a central role in this historical narrative. Its interiors still preserve testimonies, portraits and objects connected with the Napoleonic era, including items associated with Napoleon I, Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie.

For three days, Nice will therefore offer visitors an opportunity to rediscover an important part of its historical identity, bringing together heritage, research and entertainment.

The complete programme for the Journées Impériales 2026 is available through the event’s official channels.