The INSEAD Summer Ball 2024

Summer Symphony

A thousand stars fill the summer sky,
tonight, my friends, the Château belongs to you and I.
And here we are, back after few years, mingling and dancing,
Can you hear the sound of the music?

And now our hands celebrate a summer symphony.

The symphony of a summer night.
The echo of this night will last forevermore.

But when morning comes and you go away,
I'll close my eyes and I'll still hear the music play.
The symphony of a summer night
will last until the end of time.
The symphony of a summer night.

Saturday, 8 June 2024
10:00 pm - 03:30 am

The Château de Fontainebleau holds special meaning for INSEAD. It was here, in a wing of this 12th century Château that INSEAD was born half a century ago. Due to this link with the Château, the INSEAD Summer Ball will be held in the magnificent rooms that are not normally open to the general public.

The INSEAD Summer Ball is one of the oldest INSEAD traditions. Initially held annually on the last weekend of May, it has now been moved to June and timed to coincide with the Alumni Reunion Weekend for the 5, 10 & 15 years. Expect DJs and performances and music to suit all tastes. The Summer Ball is a unique event for all members of the wider INSEAD community: alumni, current students, staff, faculty, friends and families.

MBA classes of '19J&D, '14J&D and '09J&D will reconnect with their former classmates. Join us for a weekend of social & networking events, faculty lectures and updates on the school.

The pictures of the amazing INSEAD Summer Ball 2024 are now available online!

To download a high resolution version or order prints of photos that were taken on request :

Summer Ball Reportage (Techno Marquee)
Summer Ball Portraits (Salle des Colonnes)
Password: SB2024

Please be aware that these pictures will only be available during 2 months until the end of August.

Leave the forest behind you, and under the moon and the stars, enter the dream to find your escape.
The mirage becomes reality as you pass through the royal gateway.

Cour d’Honneur

Explore the illusions before you enter in the Cour d’Honneur. Is it really the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase dating back to the reign of Louis XIII, where Napoleon stepped down from when he bade a final farewell to his Old Guard and went into exile in 1814?

10:00 pm - 12:00 am Main entry into the Château and Ball.
Dont miss the Selfie Point for an oh-so-instagramable shot with the Château. #INSEADball
Official photographers will be located in the Techno Marquee as well as in the Salle des Colonnes from 22:30 to 01:00. (please follow the signs and queue in the dedicated lanes)

03:30 am Don’t miss the Survivors’ photo

Galerie des Cerfs 

Take a rest and be royally looked after in the Galerie des Cerfs, a majestic room decorated in Henry IV’s time with bird’s eye view pictures of the royal châteaux and their hunting grounds. This vast gallery is also adorned with bronze statues cast by Francesco Primaticcio for François I at Fontainebleau.

10:00 pm – 03:30 am
Enjoy a sumptuous and exquisite stand-up dinner and experience the hospitality of the oasis.

Cour Ovale 

Dance your cares away at the Cour Ovale where a special techno marquee will be mounted and transformed into a vibrating discotheque.

10:00 pm - 11:35 pm      Pump up the volume with DJ Paco!

11:35 pm - 12:10 am      Pangea reunited on stage for the 3rd time (MBA'09J class)

12.10 am - 02:30 am      Be electrified by the enigmatic tunes of Bro2Bro, a DJ duo (Gui Issa MBA'09J and his brother)

02:30 am - 03:30 am      Put your hands up in the air with the vibes of DJ Paco

Salle des Colonnes 

Refresh yourself and relax at the Salle des Colonnes, a beautiful room which was originally the royal guests' waiting room for the wedding of the son of King Louis Philippe. Its rich, golden interior blends statuesque twin columns, mirrors and elements of Renaissance style. This room will be your serene chill-out lounge.

10:00 pm – 03:30 am Cool your heels and catch up with old and new friends. A great place to recharge with canapés and drinks

Food & Drink - All rooms

A stand-up dinner created by our Parisian chefs will be served throughout the evening in all the venues. A mixture of cocktail and buffet serving savoury, sweet, hot, cold, vegetarian, cheese platters and amazing desserts. There will be free flow drinks and champagne (including fresh and home-made virgin cocktails, sodas, hot beverages). A panini, soup and pasta buffet will also be available near the end of the evening.

As the Ball starts at 10:00 pm, we recommend that you have a light dinner before you arrive.
Please note that due to security reasons, the Ball will end promptly at 03:30 am. The Survivors photo will be taken under the marquee at 03:30 am sharp.