For the First Time Ever, Paris Le Dîner en Blanc Opens to Public and Will Welcome 30,000 Revelers

We’ve been covering Le Dîner en Blanc (The White Party) since 2010 — and every year, the secret dinner event holds plenty of new surprises. The concept was developed in Paris in 1988, but similar parties are now held across six continents and 80 cities worldwide in very public locations each year. While other cities allow you to sign up for the event, Le Dîner en Blanc Paris has been exclusively invite only — until now.

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the first-ever wait list for the “wildly popular epicurean phenomenon” has opened, and participants from around the world will have a chance to attend the Paris iteration of the event, which takes place on June 3. You can sign up for the waitlist here.

Le Dîner en Blanc Paris 2014. Image by Fabrice Malard

This year, Le Dîner en Blanc Paris is expected to bring together over 20,000 people dressed in all-white, which means that this will also be the world’s largest party to date with thousands of guests sharing a communal meal in one of Paris’ most beautiful landmarks. (Of course, in sticking to tradition, guests, and even the police, won’t know the location until the actual day of the event.)

“We are expecting between 5,000 and 10,000 people from around the world. In total, there will be between 20,000 and 30,000 in attendance,” said François Pasquier, founder and organizer of Le Dîner en Blanc Paris. “There will be some thirty orchestras, as Le Dîner en Blanc includes numerous musicians. For the rest, I can’t give anything else away. The event has to maintain an element of mystery!”

Le Dîner en Blanc Paris 2017. Fabrice Labit

The secrecy and community emphasis are perhaps what make Le Dîner en Blanc one of the most anticipated parties of the year. Since its humble beginnings, it’s exploded in popularity, taking place in some of the most breathtaking locations, including Ponts des Arts, Champs-Élysée and, in honor of its 25th anniversary, in front of the Eiffel Tower and in the garden of Trocadero at Le Louvre. The concept, however, has continued to remain true to its origins: beyond all else, it’s a joyous gathering amongst friends.

For more news on Le Dîner en Blanc de Paris 2018, visit paris.dinerenblanc.com. Also, check out our past coverage of the event here.