Masquerade Balls in London
There is a reason the masquerade ball has survived five hundred years while most party formats come and go. Put a mask on a room full of strangers and something shifts. People talk to each other. The usual London reserve, the thing that stops anyone saying hello in a bar, quietly disappears.
We have been running masquerade balls in London for years, and they are the nights our guests book first and talk about longest.
Our next masquerade ball
The Halloween Bal Masqué, Saturday 31 October, at The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, WC2A 1PL.
Up to 600 masked guests across two ballrooms and a VIP lounge, with interactive performances, a photo booth and dancing until late. VIP guests get a drinks reception from 7pm, plus a private bar and their own DJ. Dress code is black tie or costume, and masks are mandatory.
It is one of the most talked about Halloween events in London and tickets are limited. See the full details and book here.
What actually happens at a masquerade ball
If you have never been to one, the format is simpler than it sounds. You arrive masked. There is a drinks reception, then the ballroom opens. Performances run through the evening, there is dancing, and the mask stays on for as much of the night as you want it to.
The mask is the whole trick. Nobody is being judged on the usual things, so conversations start faster and go further than they would anywhere else. That is why the format works so well for people who are single, and why our balls attract a very different crowd from a standard club night.
A short history
Masquerade balls began as part of the carnival season in fifteenth century Europe, then spread through public festivities and into the private ballrooms of the aristocracy. The appeal has never really changed. Anonymity gives people permission to be a little bolder than usual.
What to wear to a masquerade ball
Black tie or costume, and a mask that genuinely conceals your identity. Beyond that you have room to play, from an understated eye mask to something with feathers and sequins. If you turn up without one, we have a face painter on the night.
We have written a full guide on this, covering outfits for men and women, shoes, accessories and how far to take it: what to wear to a masquerade ball.
Where masquerade balls are held in London
The venue makes the night. Ours run in the sort of buildings that already feel like an occasion before anyone arrives, including The Law Society on Chancery Lane, Dartmouth House in Mayfair and other private clubs and grand halls across central London.
Are masquerade balls good for meeting someone?
They are the best format we run for it. Everyone is dressed up, everyone is slightly out of their normal register, and the mask removes the awkwardness of making the first approach. Our balls sit alongside the rest of our singles events in London, and they are consistently the ones that sell out first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to wear a mask?
Yes. Masks are mandatory at our balls and must conceal your identity. If you arrive without one, our face painter can sort you out on the night.
Can I come on my own?
Yes, and more than half of our guests do. The night is hosted throughout, so you will be introduced to people rather than left standing on your own.
What is the dress code?
Black tie or costume. Most people go formal with a striking mask, but there is plenty of room to be more theatrical if you want to be.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can. Masquerade balls are the first events we sell out, particularly Halloween and New Year.
Is it just for single people?
Our balls are built around meeting people, and the majority of guests are single, but the night works as a party in its own right.
Come to the next one
The Halloween Bal Masqué takes over The Law Society on Saturday 31 October. Six hundred masked guests, two ballrooms, and tickets that go quickly.