Contemporary · Architecture

Grand Palais Éphémère

GL Events Paris

Grand Palais Éphémère was a temporary event hall located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was constructed in 2021 from plans by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and built by GL Events on behalf of Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées and the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Summer Olympics. The structure was intended first as a replacement for the Grand Palais, which had been closed since March 2021 for renovation and modernization. It was also linked to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where it operated under the name Arena Champ-de-Mars. The building covered 10,000 m² and measured 145 meters long, 140 meters wide, and up to 20 meters high. Its ETFE envelope provided thermal insulation. Grand Palais Éphémère was inaugurated on 12 June 2021. Dismantling began in February 2025 and was completed in spring 2025.

Map showing the location of Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris
Location of Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris

Nearby Objects

Temporary Event Hall on the Champ de Mars

The Grand Palais Ephemere was a temporary event hall located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was constructed in 2021 according to plans by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and built by the event company GL Events on behalf of the Reunion des musees nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees and the Organizing Committee of the 2024 Summer Olympics. It initially served as a replacement for the Grand Palais while that building was closed for renovation. During the Paris Olympic Games, it operated under the name Arena Champ-de-Mars. Dismantling began in February 2025 and was completed in spring 2025.

A Temporary Venue for the Olympic Period

The Grand Palais Ephemere was built in connection with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, after the Grand Palais near Avenue des Champs Elysees had been closed since March 2021 for renovation and modernization. Located on the edge of the Champ de Mars, it was designed as a temporary venue for regular events and was also planned as an Olympic venue under the name Arena Champ-de-Mars. The building was inaugurated on 12 June 2021 and was designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Construction, technical operation, and later dismantling were contracted to GL Events.

The name reflects its temporary character, since ephemere means short-lived. The project had a total budget of 40 million euros, which was to be refinanced through rents and payments from the Olympic Committee. Its location on a public green area also drew criticism from Bernard Seydoux, who objected to what he described as the partial privatization of Champ de Mars.

Dismantling had been planned soon after the 2024 Olympics, with parts to be sold and reused sustainably. Deconstruction began in February 2025 and was completed a few weeks later.

Design and Scale

The Grand Palais Ephemere was designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. The building covered an area of 10,000 square meters and measured 145 meters in length and 140 meters in width. It reached a height of up to 20 meters. A notable feature of the design was its ETFE envelope, which was used for both thermal insulation and sound insulation.

Events and Uses at Grand Palais Ephemere

Grand Palais Ephemere served as a multiuse venue for a wide range of cultural, political, and sporting events. It hosted major fairs and exhibitions, including the Art Paris art fair, which drew 56,000 visitors in September 2021, the La Biennale 2021 antiques fair from November 26 to December 5, 2021, and the Pour Paul Celan exhibition from December 16, 2021 to January 11, 2022. That exhibition featured works by Anselm Kiefer, including 19 large-format works selected by curator Chris Dercon, and was presented on the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron as the cultural start of the French EU Council Presidency 2022.

The venue also hosted Paris+ par artBasel from October 2022, the Messe Paris Photo, the annual equestrian tournament Saut Hermes, biannual Chanel fashion shows during Paris Fashion Week, and various art exhibitions, conferences, and gala dinners. In July 2021, it was the site of Emmanuel Macron's speech on COVID-19 measures, and from July 15 to 17, 2021, it hosted the tenth International Wood Construction Forum conference.

Grand Palais Ephemere also played a role in international sport. During the 2024 Olympic Games, it hosted wrestling and judo competitions, and during the 2024 Summer Paralympics, the arena hosted Paralympic wheelchair rugby games.