See a concert at the Accor Hotel Arena in Paris, you won’t regret it
The cold December breeze tousled my hair as I emerged from the Bercy station of the Paris metro. Commuters, kids, buskers, and fellow concert-goers swirled around me. In the near distance, I could see the famous grass walls, the shining lights, and the gathering crowd.
There it was.
The Accor Hotel Arena. THE arena in Paris, and the site of a bucket-list event for me: seeing the DJ duo Justice live in concert.
Now, if I could just find the right entrance…
Intro to the Accor Hotel Arena
The Accor Hotel Arena (or simply Accor Arena) is perhaps Paris’ most famous music venue, even if it’s not the most historic. It’s hosted Daft Punk, Olympic Games, go-kart racing, and League of Legends finals. A multipurpose venue, it often changes its purpose week to week!
Located in Bercy (it was once called the Bercy Arena), it sits along the River Seine on the right bank. It’s a bit of a jaunt southeast from the Louvre and central Paris, but it’s a pretty easy trip to make, especially when you’re seeing something amazing.
For me, seeing Justice live was a dream come true. It had always been a bucket-list event, so when they announced their most recent tour, I grabbed tickets as soon as they were available for their Paris dates. Seeing my favorite band in their hometown—what could be better?
Since the Accor Hotel Arena is on the smaller side (seating 7,000 to 20,300, depending on the event), you’ll want to buy tickets as soon as they’re available for the show you want to see.
Finding Shows
Whether you’re planning your trip around a once-in-a-lifetime event or just seeing what’s on while you’re passing through Paris, booking tickets is straightforward. The Accor Arena website is the best way to check the schedule and buy tickets.
If you’re seeing a specific artist, make sure to keep up with their own announcements, especially if they’re likely to sell out!
I about had a heart attack when their first Accor Arena show sold out. I was devestated! Luckily, less than 24 hours later, they announced a SECOND show, and I managed to snag the coveted floor tickets I’d been dreaming of—just in time, as this show sold out too!
We arrived a bit earlier than intended, but it gave us a chance to get a good spot for the openers
Choosing and Buying Tickets
The ticket-buying process is simple, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind when purchasing your seats or general admission standing room spots.
The Accor Arena’s layout can be a bit confusing, so here’s a helpful guide:
I wanted to be on the floor for this concert, since a band like Justice demands that you stand, cheer, and dance with fellow fans unencumbered by seats. This meant opting for “Fossé” tickets (meaning “ditch” or “gap”), which are essentially the floor or pit seats.
If you prefer to sit, or if you’re attending a hockey or basketball game (where being on the floor could get you kicked out), you’ll want to get tickets in the “Gradin” lower section or the “Balcon” upper section.
The row numbers can be confusing: In the Balcon, rows go from 1 to 93 (with 93 being the highest), while in the Gradin, rows range from 1 to 28 (with 28 being closest to the floor).
Don’t worry, though! You’ll see a seat map when booking, so you’ll know exactly where you’re sitting. Just keep in mind the row orientations to avoid confusion when you head to the show.
Buying Your Tickets for the Accor Arena
When you’ve chosen your seat, it’s time to buy! Note that the website will likely default to French, but you can easily change the language or use your browser to translate.
The process is similar to other ticket sites, and I was particularly impressed by how low the fees were—almost non-existent! This was a welcome change from typical American ticket sites where taxes and fees can double the price of your tickets. You’ll only be charged a small tax and handling fee.
Be sure to use a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. If you’re booking in advance, this won’t be an issue, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re booking while overseas.
Booking your trip around your Accor Hotel Arena experience
Already in France and planning to attend an event at the Accor Hotel Arena? Skip this section!
For those still planning, here’s my tip: One of my favorite ways to plan a trip is to choose a major event like a concert or sporting event and let that be the guiding factor for the rest of the trip. It’s how we decided on our timeline for our last two trips to Paris, and it makes the journey feel purposeful!
A couple of things to keep in mind:
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Leave adequate time: Arrive in Paris with enough time to settle in and relax before the event—ideally days in advance or early in the morning.
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Respect your energy levels: If you’re like me, you’ll go all-in at a concert. That’s great, but maybe don’t schedule any early activities the next day! Give yourself time to relax and recover. You might even want to plan a chill day in Paris’ parks or take a long, lazy lunch when you feel up to it.
Whatever you choose, if an event at the Accor Hotel Arena catches your eye, don’t hesitate! Too often, we stick to the typical tourist track, missing out on incredible experiences just a few miles away.
Tickets on the floor? You’ll need to take a walk around to the backside of the Accor Arena
Getting to the Accor Hotel Arena from central Paris
Accor Arena is a bit of a jaunt from central Paris where you’re likely staying, but it’s not too hard to get to. Lines 6 and 14 service the Bercy station, which is right in front of the Accor Arena. It couldn’t be easier! You might need to transfer once, but overall, it’s a simple journey. Just keep an eye out for the Bercy stop and follow the signs to the arena exit.
It’s also a good idea to download the Navigo app on your phone, as physical cards are becoming rare and paper tickets are almost non-existent. You’ll need this to pay for your trip—no turnstile-hopping here!
On the way there, you’ll ride with fellow fans, commuters, students, and—gasp—pickpockets. But stay confident and smart on public transit and you’ll have no problems. If you need a refresher on staying safe, I’ve got you covered right here.
Getting In
Once you exit the metro, you’ll find yourself at the foot of the Accor Hotel Arena. You made it! Now, how to get inside?
The entry process is simple, especially if you know where you’re going. Look for the word “ENTRÉE” on your ticket—it’ll tell you the exact entrance you should use.
If you’re sitting in a regular seat, you can enter through the grand hall after breezing through security. For larger events, security might be set up before the doors, away from the ticket takers, as it was for Justice’s sold-out show. Your seated ticket will also list a PORTE number on it, which are all labeled around the exterior and interior of the building to help you find your way.
If you’re on the floor (FOSSÉ), head to the side entrance, “Entrée Fossé et Orchestre,” just left of the grand hall. It can be a bit tricky to find, though.
On our visit, barriers kept us from walking easily to the Fossé entrance, so we had to walk down Rue de Bercy for a block or so, turn right after the Ibis Styles Hotel, and loop through Parc de Bercy before we could access the Fossé entrance.
Long story short, check your ticket for entry details! If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask a staff member. A friendly “Bon soir” will get you on the right path.
Pro Tip: get a beer and a snack, but avoid the coat check unless you love waiting in line.
Food, Drink, and Amenities
Once inside, the standing-room section has a merch area, coat check, bathrooms, and a concession stand. Oh, and you’ll walk through a cloud of cigarette smoke as you pass through the smoking area.
Earplugs are also sold at the venue, which are highly recommended for your hearing protection! You can always bring your own, but if you forget, you can buy them on-site.
Food and drink options are limited, so I’d recommend eating beforehand. There were hot dogs and popcorn, but not much else. The beer option was Heineken Silver, which wasn’t bad, and there were a few mixed drinks as well.
The seated areas offer more options, including elevated hot dogs, burgers, pizza, and some vegetarian offerings. Drinks are better, too, with a Heineken bar and even a Moët & Chandon Champagne bar—because, of course, Paris.
For high-end seats, there may be a special hospitality area with even better options, but that’s not my scene. You’ll have to check the Accor Arena website for more info.
Justice put on a concert for the ages.
The Show
If there’s one thing Paris and France takes seriously, it’s the arts. Well there’s many things they take seriously but their love of the arts is WAY up there. So of course, your musical experience at the smallest venue up to the largest arena will almost always be outstanding.
And at the Accor Hotel Arena, you’re in for a treat.
Even the openers, an all star lineup of Ed Banger Records DJs, were well received and sounded fantastic. You bet I was there early to see Busy P, Myd and Sebastian themselves get the already raucous crowd hyped up.
Once the headliner came on, the energy was palpable. It seemed like Justice’s stage was meant to tour the world, but tailor made to put on an epic concert in the Accor Arena. It is their home venue after all.
One thing I love is that this is a DJ group meant to be played loud. Like LOUD loud. But even though that’s the case, the acoustics in the Accor Arena are top notch so it didn’t come off as just a wall of sound. There was nuance and depth to the performance while it was melting faces.
You’ll often find this to be the case with concerts in the capital, where the volume is high but not over the top into just noise territory. It’s much appreciated, but you’ll still want those ear plugs so you aren’t saying “HUH?” for the rest of your trip.
Justice at the Accor Arena was a bucket list concert, and it OVER delivered! Between the lights and hearing my favorite songs live while dancing along with a massive crowd that was hanging on for dear life, this is a night I’ll never forget.
Nuances of the French Crowd
French crowds have their own unique vibe. For instance, when they’re excited, they shout the slang form of “Oui”: “Ouais!” (pronounced WAAAAYYYYY). It’s the equivalent to Americans shouting “YEAAAAAAHH!” at concerts. It’s one of those cultural similarities that remind us how much we share despite our differences.
Another surprise at the Justice show was how the crowd sang along to songs that don’t even have words. “Genesis” kicked off the concert with the crowd shouting along with the bass, horns and synths louder than the speakers, and it was an unforgettable moment.
French crowds at concerts tend to be polite, even when it’s getting rowdy. While my wife and I were dancing in a REALLY energetic crowd, it never felt overwhelming. Yeah, you’re gonna bump into people but it’s all good. Which extends even to the occasional mosh pit.
Yep, there was a mosh pit at the Justice show, both nights as I understand.
But this being a French crowd, it was a “polite” mosh pit. As the hit Justice song “Stress” reached it’s crescendo, the crowd around us started backing out to the walls, making a ring of empty floor space. Then as soon as that beat dropped, everyone RUSHED back to the middle.
Dancing, running, complete chaos…but still polite! I could see smiling faces, dancing with abandon and I didn’t see a single person hurt or otherwise upset.
One last difference I took note of that gave me a smile featured that long time concert tradition of smoking in the middle of the show. Now, most if not all concert venues in Paris are smoke free indoors. But much like Americans, Parisians aren’t above sneaking in a little something smokeable to enjoy when their favorite song comes on.
But instead of random puffs of marijuana smoke wafting over the crowd, the crowd in Paris was enjoying cigarettes! If you’re sensitive to smoke, be assured that it wasn’t ever too bad, you’ll more than likely just get a whiff of it every now and then.
Give me a French concert crowd any time
Getting Out and Heading Home
After an epic hour and forty-five minutes of French Touch classics, the concert came to an end. We bid our goodbyes to Gaspard and Xavier and made our way out the same way we came in. With barriers removed, the exit was much easier, and we quickly made our way to the Bercy Metro station.
At this point, the crowd was thick, and the train was packed. Since we were tired, we decided to mix things up and ride a couple of stops away from the chaos. Then, we caught an Uber back to the hotel.
I love public transit, but sometimes you’ve got to know when to call it a day. If you’re in a similar situation, I recommend escaping the crowd before booking your ride.
Accor Hotel Arena wrap up
Attending a concert at the Accor Hotel Arena is more than just seeing a show—it’s an experience. From navigating the venue and embracing the energy of the crowd to witnessing an unforgettable performance in one of Paris’ premier arenas, every part of the night adds to the thrill.
If you’re planning a trip to Paris, I can’t recommend enough building an event like this into your itinerary. Whether it’s a band you’ve always wanted to see, a sporting event, or something completely new, experiencing live entertainment in a different country adds a special kind of magic to travel.
For me, seeing Justice in their hometown was a bucket list moment that exceeded every expectation. The music, the lights, the crowd—it was pure euphoria. And with a little planning, you can have your own unforgettable night at the Accor Arena.
So next time you’re in Paris, take a look at what’s playing. Who knows? You might just find yourself dancing in the middle of an electric French crowd, shouting “Ouais!” at the top of your lungs.
