Nice Imperial Days

An annual celebration of Nice's Napoleonic-era heritage held at the Villa Masséna and other historic sites in the city, organized by the City of Nice together with local historical associations including the Souvenir Napoléonien Alpes-Maritimes. The 2026 edition marks the 9th year of the event and features costumed reenactors from Napoleonic living-history groups, military drill demonstrations, an imperial arrival ceremony, period music and dance, and an accompanying historical lecture/performance program at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen.

Free to attend throughout — every listed activity is marked as free entry, and the closing spectacle at the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen is entry-free but first-come, first-served with no reservation. Villa Masséna hosts the Friday-evening opening and the daytime living-history programme; the Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen (65 Promenade des Anglais, 06000 Nice) hosts the historical talks and the closing performance. The organiser does not name a specific tram or bus stop, walking time, or parking facility for either venue — visitors are pointed only to the regional Lignes d'Azur trip planner and a Géovélo cycling-route planner. Hours: Friday 2 October from 17:30 (exhibition opening, evening recital to about 20:00); Saturday 3 October, main activities 10:00–17:00 with an evening ball 17:30–18:00; Sunday 4 October, main activities 10:00–12:00 with the closing spectacle 16:00–17:30.