Bal des Débutantes: Answers to All Your Questions
The evening, the invitation, the attire, the stay: everything we are asked about Le Bal, with candid answers — including when the answer is no.
Last updated 6 October 2026 · 3 min read
Le Bal des Débutantes is an annual evening by invitation, organised in Paris at the end of November by Ophélie Renouard since 1994; the next edition takes place on Saturday 28 November 2026, and recent editions have been held at the Shangri-La Paris. The debutantes and their escorts are invited by the organiser: one can neither buy a place nor pay to take part, and TGZ offers no place, no invitation and no application. The debutantes are dressed by couture houses, the escorts wear white tie, and the proceeds go to charitable causes. What can be composed is the invited family's stay: a palace, journeys, hair for the family, dinners, a chauffeur — on a tailored quote.
The evening
Le Bal was created in 1994 by Ophélie Renouard, at the Hôtel de Crillon. Every year at the end of November, some twenty young women from many countries are presented there with their escorts; the opening waltz is danced by the debutantes and their fathers. Recent editions have been held at the Shangri-La Paris.
The next edition takes place on Saturday 28 November 2026. The proceeds go to causes chosen by the organisation, notably in support of children's hospitals.
The invitation
The debutantes and their escorts are invited by the organiser; one can neither buy a ticket nor pay to take part. TGZ Conciergerie, an independent house, offers no place, no invitation and no application, and does not approach the organiser. Our guide How Le Bal des Débutantes Works details how it really works.
The attire
Each debutante is dressed by a couture or haute couture house; the escorts wear white tie; instructions for parents are sent by the organiser. Our guide Bal des Débutantes Dress Code details each outfit.
The stay
The family's stay is composed around the organisation's programme: a Paris palace, a chauffeur for each appointment, hair and make-up for the family, the father's or escort's white tie, family dinners. Our guide Where to Stay for the Bal des Débutantes compares the addresses, and our guide Preparing for the Bal des Débutantes sets out the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Saturday 28 November 2026, the date published by the organisation. The 2025 edition was held on Saturday 29 November 2025.
In Paris. Recent editions have been held at the Shangri-La Paris, 10 avenue d'Iéna, in the 16th arrondissement; the organiser confirms the venue to her guests.
No. The organisation's website states that one can neither buy a ticket to attend Le Bal, nor pay to take part. Any offer of this kind should arouse suspicion.
No. The invitation rests with the organiser alone; we offer neither invitation nor application, and never approach her. If your child is invited, we arrange the family's stay around it.
Some twenty young women, aged roughly sixteen to twenty-two, from many countries, each accompanied by her escort. We cite no names.
Causes chosen by the organisation for each edition, notably in support of children's hospitals: in 2025, ARCFA, linked to the Necker-Enfants malades hospital, and a children's hospital in New York.
It is quoted individually, item by item: the address and number of rooms, the length of stay, the flight, the days of chauffeur, hair and make-up for the family, the tailor, the format of the dinners, the timing of the booking. No item touches the ball itself.
No. TGZ Conciergerie is an independent house, with no affiliation to Le Bal or to Ophélie Renouard, and with no official status.
Take it further
A question that is not here?
Ask us directly: we answer frankly, including when the answer is no, and compose the stay in Paris that suits your family, on a tailored quote and subject to availability.