An Honest Review of the 2026 Versailles Grand Masked Ball
- - Allie
- Jul 21
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
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Please Continue for the 2026 Versailles Grand Masked Ball Review
The "Ball of the Apocalypse"
Oh man, guys...
Where do I start...
This year's ball experience has been a doozy.
Just to be clear, this is a first time for me.
It is NOT usually like this!
It began with ticket sales on December 4th, 2025.
A Little Positivity
Before we get into the bad... Let's start off with something a little more cheery!
Here are some positive reviews from 2026 attendees:
Victoria J.
"The ball itself, incredible. Seeing everyone’s outfits. Everyone was full send, bought into “the act”. The dance performances. The ladies on stilts who came up into the Fantastique area and danced with us. Meandering around the dark gardens under the moonlight when we needed to cool off from the hot ballroom.
This event captures the essence/soul of what a real all-night party would have felt like centuries ago. Also liked having one last taste of an after party in the gardens in the morning."
Marleen J
"It was our first time, and we absolutely loved it! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. It was great chatting with people, and the atmosphere was fantastic. We were amazed by everything we saw."
Sage L. L.
"The ball is just a magical experience. Everything about it, from the costumes to meeting new people. There were so many hurdles this year (Serenade Royale canceled, the fireworks and fountain shows canceled, and not being able to walk the gardens ), but we made the best out of it.
Even without all the other events, the ball was still 100% worth it.
I definitely recommend meeting up with fellow ball goers beforehand. You may lose them throughout the night, but it was so fun getting to know everyone."
Now to Start from the Beginning
Ticket sales lately have been insane due to viral videos promoting this event (and not always in a good way). With most tickets selling out in the first hour or so. This year, Versailles added a twist with what we were told was a cyber attack.
What ended up happening was you had to be paying attention to their Instagram, see their story with a separate link for a new ticket sales site, head there, and buy your ticket.
The only reason many of us got tickets was that I was notified of this through the many channels I operate for the ball, and we were able to quickly pivot to the new site and get in. Even then, not everyone in my group was able to secure tickets.
Complete chaos.
And I don't know what Versailles can do to fix it.
That's not my expertise...
Ticket Price Increase
Not only were ticket sales chaotic, but Versailles also decided to almost double the prices of the ticket packages! Stating that they were covering "increasing costs."
With price increases, you would think that the money would go into preserving the integrity, entertainment, decor, and services the ball provides.
However, according to many, this was not the case.
Champagne bottles were served in plastic pitchers, the cushioned lounge in VIP was replaced, and seating was blocked off due to L'Oréal and their sponsorship area/booth, among other notable changes.
Please note! I am not saying the ball isn't worth attending; I'm simply trying to help manage your expectations and be a bit realistic about the situation. It's still a magical once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Palace of Versailles!
I had the time of my life in 2025, and I plan to go back next year.
I'm just hoping Versailles makes some improvements in the future.
I can't say whether or not the chaos of the ball this year caused any of this, but until Versailles improves its customer service and overall ball experience, I will only be recommending Simple tickets (unless one needs dedicated seating areas and food).
Ticket Sales Continued
As previously stated, ticket sales have more recently been plagued by website errors and crashes. I am unsure whether this is due to the quality of their sites or to the sheer number of people worldwide trying to attend this ball.
Thousands of people from around the world are logging in online at the same time to fight for a spot at this ball, and it shows.
Please Note:
For those who do not know, ticket sales are generally held around the end of November or the beginning of December.
Ticket prices for the 2026 VGMB were:
Simple 240€ | VIP 440€ | Fantastique 770€
Let's Talk Costumes
I'd like to take a moment to clarify for many of you what kind of an event this is, because social media influencers, a certain celebrity, and others have done quite a lot of harm to this event since it went viral.
While this is a fun, less formal event than the Fêtes Galantes held in May, it is still a Baroque-themed ball held at the Palace of Versailles. Many who attended this year seemed to be confused.
It is not a rave.
It is not a fantasy ball.
It is not a Halloween costume party.
Simply because there is a DJ and they have historically played house and rave-like music does not make this event a casual rave where you are not expected to be in costume.
You are still expected to wear a Baroque/Rococo-style costume with room for fun, modern embellishments and changes, but please PLEASE don't head to the lingerie aisle to create your costume or a cheap Halloween store.
If your budget only allows for a cheaper costume, I highly encourage you to buy one for $100/200 and then spend the months leading up to the ball altering it and adding embellishments such as flowers, rhinestones, lace, ruffles, bows, etc!
You can absolutely take a cheaper gown and turn it into something special!
A General Overview of the Schedule
This is generally how the night goes for many:
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Many attend the Serenade inside the palace, which allows you to wear costumes inside the Hall of Mirrors and other rooms. It is important to note that this is a completely separate ticket that can be purchased on the side after purchasing your ticket(s) to the ball.
8:30 - 11:00 pm
You will attend a fountains show held outside in the palace gardens. Here you can wander the gardens, take photos, listen to orchestral music, and see the various ornate fountains around Versailles in all their glory.
11:30 - 5:30 am
You will then head to the ball that is held in the Orangerie and the surrounding gardens. This is where you will find various shows held on a stage throughout the night, a DJ playing what is usually house music, drink & food stands, photo opportunities, areas to hang out outside, and more.
5:30 - 8:00 am
You will then head to a separate section of the gardens for an "after party," where another DJ will be playing music, and pastries/croissants will be offered, along with juice/coffee.
Prepare for the Weather & Any Other Disasters
Since it is often warm in June, please choose cooler materials for your outfits, hydrate, and plan ahead for the heat.
This past year, there were record-breaking temperatures in Europe during the week the ball was supposed to take place. It was truly awful, as many faced the reality of little to no air conditioning (a shock to many) and numerous disruptions to their travel.
Museums cut their hours, attractions shut down, activities such as fireworks were canceled, and France even tried banning alcohol during specific times. I felt so awful for all of those attending the ball this year, as so much of the magic was stolen from you.
First, the Serenade was canceled due to the heat. Then, the fountains & fireworks show were canceled due to a thunderstorm that swept through Versailles (that was crazy unfortunate). And through all this, Versailles dropped the ball on communication and ensuring everyone knew what was going on in real time (both attendees and staff).
As I said before, the lack of communication and a full plan for inclement weather made things quite chaotic.
Many were standing outside the Orangerie at around 7/8 pm, with winds whipping all around, wondering whether they would be let in before the storm let loose or if their costumes, makeup, and hair would be ruined.
No one can 100% predict the weather, but we can plan for it.
Luckily, I had most of y'all in my WhatsApp Community Chat, so we were able to rapidly relay updates and information as to what was going on.
I can't sugarcoat it.
It sucked.
Many were dismayed and frustrated.
And for good reason.
For those who aren't local, you spent thousands of dollars, your vacation time, and hours of effort on your costumes, only to be met with sweat, confusion, and half of the magic stolen from you.
It's understandable that many of you are upset and sad, but I'm also glad to see the numerous stories from those of you who persevered and still had a fantastic time!
Versailles Has a Bit of Work to Do
Overall, I would say Versailles Spectacles has quite a bit of work to do on preparation for future events, including backup plans, coordination, and communication, as well as on the event itself.
According to those who have attended this ball for years, the new organizer seems to have room for improvement all around (see my Facebook group for responses to my yearly survey).
That being said, I am looking forward to next year and what it brings!
I plan to personally attend again with my beau, and I'm considering a Sun King and Sun Queen theme to our costumes! If you would like to join as celestial bodies (or anything similar), please do so!
Here's to putting this apocalyptic adventure of a ball behind us and moving on to 2027!
An Introduction to the Versailles Grand Masked Ball
If you are new to the scene and would like a more personalized and in-depth chat about the ball itself and what we can do to help you through ticket sales, preparing for the ball, and the day of the ball itself, please join me for a live Zoom session in August!
11:00 am (California)
2:00 pm EST (North Carolina)
8:00 pm (France)
Simply email me at info@allieinwanderland.com to join!
WhatsApp Chat & Guides
For those looking to attend this year, I can't stress enough how helpful my guides and WhatsApp Chat are!
I know you're like... "sure, you just want me to buy your products."
Well... yes... BUT I put significant time and effort into these products!
The WhatsApp Chat is a real-time resource that provides instantaneous updates during ticket sales, lets you ask questions at any time within the community, meet other ball-goers, and stay up to date on the latest activities & happenings.
When you purchase my Ultimate Package, you will receive access to the WhatsApp Chat as well as guides for the Versailles Grand Masked Ball and Paris (Navigation, Major Attractions, Minor Attractions). And that's not all! I have also included the option to book a one-on-one consultation with me to discuss the ball!
This is your one-way ticket to a seamless ball experience (weather permitting).
Ticket Sales & Announcements
Stay tuned for the ticket sales announcement and more on my following social media sites:
You can also learn more about me and my travels here as well:
The best way to contact me is through my email:
The VGMB and all Versailles events are held through Versailles Spectacles.
You can find their site links below:
Thank you for being here!
Life is short. Live it well.
Alisa R. | Allie in Wanderland
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