These 5 Cities Are Perfect for Your Bridgerton Ball Loving Clients

Tell your Bridgerton-loving clients to get their ballgowns and dance shoes ready, it’s ball season around the world. From Vienna – where the options are endless – to one-offs in several cities, clients who have ever fancied dressing up in period costume and filling up their dance cards can fulfill their fantasies in these five destinations.

Vienna

There’s no ball season like Vienna’s ball season, which sees more than 450 balls held between November and March. It is the city for clients who want a true Bridgerton experience, especially if they’d like to attend more than one ball in a short period of time.

While waltzes and quadrilles are the predominant dances at these balls, there are other options, but in almost all cases formal wear (ball gowns and tuxedos/tails) or costume attire is required.

One of the most in-demand balls is the Opera Ball, held every February. It’s highly stylized and organized with a strict schedule that includes a fanfare, opening procession, opening waltz, two quadrilles, and more. With room for more than 5,000 people, tickets still sell out quickly.

A fun option is the Confectioner’s Ball, (the ZuckerBackerball), which transforms the Hofburg Imperial Palace into a traditional ball with a “sweet” twist every January. Over 3,000 attendees don their finest formal wear to dance the night away and delight in the finest delicacies from bakers and confectioners. Activities include multiple balloon drops, with select balloons filled with vouchers for sweet treats. Attendees can also pre-order a “cake guarantee” to ensure they get to leave with one of the ball’s most delectable souvenirs.

Travel advisors can work with DMCs to create personalized ball packages for their clients. Another option is to book Almanac Palais Vienna’s “A Night at the Ball” package, which, in 2025, included a two-night stay at the hotel, two tickets to one of the city’s most coveted balls, a private classical dance class for two, a gown by a Viennese designer to wear at the ball, a pre-ball dinner, a traditional horse and carriage ride to the ball, and an on-property photo shoot to capture the occasion.

Montreal

Montreal offers a small ball season, featuring three primary choices: the Viennese Ball, the St. Andrew’s Ball, and the MTL Ball.

The belle of Montreal’s ball season is the annual Viennese Ball, organized by the Austrian Society and the Austrian Society Trust Fund. Inspired by Vienna’s well-known balls, the Montreal iteration is formal and traditional. Floor-length gowns for ladies and black tie (tuxedo) or tails (white tie) is required.

Another option is the St. Andrew’s Ball, which has been a Montreal event for more than a century. Full of Scottish tradition and ritual, the ball features pipe bands, haggis, and lots of tartan. The late fall event is black tie and gown only (Scottish formal and military wear are also permitted).

Considerably less formal is the MTL Ball, a benefit event for the Pointe-a-Callière Foundation and the Montreal Museum of Archeology and History held every October.

Venice

Venice’s ball season is a little different than other ball seasons. First, it’s a part of the city’s Carnival season and only happens during the week before Mardi Gras. Second, while formal wear and period costumes are essential, so too are the famous Venetian masks. In fact, tickets to many of the balls include the costume rentals.

There are many choices, some of which are available as part of packages offered by DMCs that will also pay commission. For instance, See Italy Travel provides packages for five of the city’s most sought after balls, including Il Ballo Del Doge (the Doge’s Ball), one of the most exclusive events of Venice’s Carnival.

Others include the Balla Tiepolo (also known as The Grand Ball), which takes place in a 18th century palazzo; the Ca’ Vendramin Ball with its five-course dinner, gambling room, and after-midnight dancing; and The Carnival Extravaganza Ball, where guests can learn the steps to dances from the 1700s and 1800s.

Chicago

Chicago’s Ball Season begins in October and runs through Mardi Gras, offering a small lineup of fewer than 10 options each year. Ballroom Dance Chicago holds six of these events, with each evening starting off with a dance lesson, ranging from the waltz and quadrille to the foxtrot and more. Formal attire is required for most events, with Regency Era costume particularly encouraged for the once-per-year Bridgerton Ball.

Another option is the once-per-year Chicago Austrian Ball held at The Drake.

Paris

Like Chicago, Paris offers a handful of ball events, with the grandest of these actually held outside the city in Versailles.

In Paris, your clients can time their French getaway with one of the Hotel de la Marine’s 18th or 19th century balls, which are held once a month, either on a Friday or Saturday night. Operated by the Carnet de Bals association, each ball is a blend of demonstration and participatory dances. Themes range from the Liberation of Paris in October and the Restoration period in February to Louis XV and XVI in April and the Christmas Ball in December. While demonstrators will be in period costume, it is not required for attendance.

The grand dame of Paris’ ball offerings is the Versailles Masked Ball, which is held each year in June. The over-the-top event features modern dance music, fantastical dance performances, fireworks, and more, is in high demand and tickets sell out quickly every year. Baroque attire – and a mask – are required. Travel advisors can work with a DMC, such as Paris to Versailles, which offers a VIP package that includes tickets to the ball, costume fitting and rental, hair and makeup, transportation, and more.