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After a seven-year hiatus, the famously chic Dîner en Blanc is returning to Los Angeles this summer, bringing thousands of guests dressed head-to-toe in white to a secret location for an elaborate, open-air dinner party.
The French-inspired pop-up picnic will take place on Saturday, August 1, at an undisclosed L.A. landmark, where more than 1,500 attendees are expected to dine, drink and dance beneath the stars. Like every edition of the event, the exact location won’t be revealed until guests arrive.
RECOMMENDED: Dîner en Blanc 2016 took over Downtown L.A. in a sea of white
Founded in Paris and now held in more than 120 cities worldwide, Dîner en Blanc has evolved into one of the globe’s most recognizable culinary-social spectacles. Guests provide nearly everything themselves: folding tables, white chairs, white tablecloths, china, stemware and carefully packed gourmet meals. The visual payoff is part elegant banquet, part performance art installation.
This year’s Los Angeles edition adopts the theme “Une Soirée Parisienne – La Belle Époque,” inspired by the lavish Parisian fashion, art and café culture at the turn of the 20th century. Organizers are encouraging attendees to lean into the drama with feathered hats, tailored white suits, elaborate headpieces and other theatrical flourishes.
“Los Angeles is a city known for its creativity, style, and energy, and we are excited to bring Dîner en Blanc back in a way that feels both elegant and uniquely LA,” local hosts Monica Castaneda Romero, Josellyne Del Rosario and Elana Leaf said in a statement.
The event began in Paris in 1988 as a word-of-mouth dinner organized by friends wearing white so they could find one another in a public park. Nearly four decades later, it has ballooned into a massive international phenomenon with almost 2 million people on waitlists worldwide, according to organizers.
Part of the appeal is the mystery. Guests first gather at designated meeting points around the city before volunteers escort them to the final location, which remains secret until the last possible moment. Past Los Angeles editions have unfolded at places like Rodeo Drive and the Music Center.
Once on site, attendees unpack their lavish tablescapes that often include towering candelabras, floral sculptures and extravagant themed décor. At sunset, thousands of guests simultaneously wave white linen napkins to officially begin dinner—a signature moment synonymous with the event.
In keeping with tradition, the evening also comes with strict rules: Everything must be white, guests must leave no trace behind and outside alcohol is prohibited under Los Angeles regulations. Wine and Champagne can be preordered through the event.
In other words, this is the kind of event that rewards pre-planning and a love of rules and ritual. If that sounds like you, know that tickets are released in phases, with organizers currently encouraging hopeful attendees to join the waitlist for when tickets go on sale by clicking here.