Les Halles, the Pont-Neuf, the Pont des Arts, the department stores and rue de Rivoli, the Tuileries Gardens, Place Vendôme, the Louvre, the Conciergerie, the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée en Herbe... Paris's 1st arrondissement is packed with beautiful spots, must-sees and activities of all kinds.
You could spend an entire day here, between shopping, restaurants and cafés, outdoor walks and cultural outings... But what can you do in the 1st arrondissement if you loveart and culture?
Dear friends, if you're an art lover, you won't be bored in central Paris: it's home to some of the capital's finest museums, as well as numerous art venues and galleries. Here's a selection ofexhibitions to see in Paris's 1st arrondissement right now, and a sneak preview of those coming soon to local museums.
The Paris Museum of Illusions, this summer's must-see outing!
Sponsored - The Museum of Illusions, located in Paris’s 1st arrondissement in the Châtelet–Les Halles district, will welcome you with family or friends. Get ready for a unique, thrilling experience as you dive into the captivating world of illusion, where all your senses will be turned upside down... Take advantage of the summer and the holidays to discover all these mind-bending illusions. [Read more]
Did you know? You can take art history courses at the Louvre in Paris.
In Paris, the École du Louvre offers the general public art history courses, open to non-students, in the heart of the Louvre Palace each year, from September to June. The museum also hosts free lectures on occasion. A perfect way to become an authority on art history! [Read more]
Lydie Arickx unveils a monumental work in the nave of Saint-Eustache Church — our photos
This summer, French painter and sculptor Lydie Arickx takes over Paris’s Saint-Eustache Church with a monumental work titled "Le Souffle." Mark your calendar from July 10 to September 29, 2026, to see this suspended installation rising seven meters above the nave’s central bay. [Read more]
Fragile Beauty: Elton John's Photo Collection on Display at the Jeu de Paume — Our Photos
The Jeu de Paume unveils a curated selection of photographs from Elton John and David Furnish’s collections. The exhibition is open from June 12 to September 27, 2026. [Read more]
Jeu de Paume: the art center dedicated to photography and images in Paris
On the border between the Tuileries Gardens and the Place de la Concorde, the Jeu de Paume art center celebrates images from the 19th century to the present day, with a rich and diverse program. [Read more]
Madeleine de Sinéty, A Life: The Retrospective Exhibition at the Jeu de Paume — Our Photos
The Jeu de Paume is presenting a retrospective of Madeleine de Sinéty's work, a photographer who captured rural daily life. The exhibition "Une vie" is on view from June 12 to September 27, 2026. [Read more]
Fujiko Nakaya unveils an unusual and contemplative fog sculpture at the Bourse de Commerce
This summer, the Rotonde of the Bourse de Commerce in Paris hosts one of the renowned fog sculptures by Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya. Visit until September 14, 2026 to experience this unusual, contemplative installation that makes visitors appear and vanish within a thick white cloud of water vapor! [Read more]
Roma, City of Light: the free photo exhibition to see this summer outdoors in Paris
The Roma, City of Light exhibition offers a portrait of the Italian capital through cinema’s seventh art, and examines its role as a backdrop in film. The free exhibit runs from July 2 to 6, 2026 at the Arènes de Lutèce, then continues until August 30 along the banks of the Seine. [Read more]
Musée du Louvre: discover the artistic and tourist heart of the capital
The Musée du Louvre, one of the capital's must-see museums, promotes French and European culture through its many masterpieces on display, as evidenced by the 8 million visitors a year who come to contemplate the smile of the Mona Lisa or the fervor of Liberty Guiding the People. A place steeped in history, where art has been flourishing for two centuries already, to discover if you're staying in Paris! [Read more]
Primordial Water: the Louvre’s exhibition exploring Mesopotamian myths — our photos
The Louvre Museum in Paris presents The Primordial Water, an exhibition on water in ancient Mesopotamia, running from May 20, 2026 to March 15, 2027. Archaeological artifacts, myths, and irrigation show how this resource shaped the region’s earliest societies. [Read more]
Fashion in all its majesty: the Haute Couture exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs unfolds — our photos
The Decorative Arts Museum hosts Fashion in Majesty: Haute Couture and Tradition at the Thai court from May 13 to November 1, 2026. Through more than a hundred outfits, accessories, and textile pieces drawn from the royal family's collections, the exhibition shows how Queen Sirikit modernized Thai ceremonial dress while preserving its traditional codes, notably through her collaboration with Pierre Balmain and Maison Lesage. [Read more]
Admire them all: Pokémon take center stage in a playful and nostalgic exhibition at the Musée en Herbe
The Musée en Herbe marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with an exhibition that is as artistic as it is playful, on view from April 16 to September 6, 2026. [Read more]
Chiaroscuro: the Exhibition Exploring Shadow and Light at the Bourse de Commerce - Our Photos
On the occasion of its latest exhibition titled "Chiaroscuro," the Bourse de Commerce transforms into a landscape that is both luminous and dusk-like. Until August 24, 2026, visitors can explore around a hundred works from the Pinault Collection, featuring pieces by Pierre Huyghe, Victor Man, Bill Viola, Laura Lamiel, Jean Dubuffet, Alberto Giacometti, Germaine Richier, as well as Yves Tanguy and Wolfgang Tillmans. [Read more]
The Cartier Foundation: a showcase for contemporary art right in the heart of Paris
Located on Place du Palais-Royal, facing the Louvre Museum, the Cartier Foundation celebrates contemporary art in all its diversity through a dynamic and varied program of exhibitions and events. [Read more]
Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris: programming, opening hours, history... All you need to know
The Musée de l'Orangerie is famous for Monet's Water Lilies. But the museum holds many other treasures... Here's everything you need to know to visit. [Read more]
Gallery of the Five Continents: opening of a new exhibition space at the Louvre Museum
From December 3, 2025, the Gallery of the Five Continents will be open to visitors at the Louvre Museum, offering an opportunity to admire works from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, in a journey that reveals the diversity and dialogue of human creativity across the globe. [Read more]
General Exhibition: the Fondation Cartier recounts 40 years of exhibitions for its reopening
The Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain is reopening its doors in a new location in the heart of Paris with a new exhibition: from October 25, 2025, to August 23, 2026, discover the General Exhibition. [Read more]
Bourse de Commerce in Paris: discover this contemporary art center and the Pinault collection
Located in the heart of the capital, in the Halles district, the Bourse de Commerce and the Pinault Collection offer a wonderful stroll through contemporary works of art. Here's everything you need to know before visiting this art center. [Read more]
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the must-see Parisian museum dedicated to design and fashion
Just a stone's throw from the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre Pyramid, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs occupies the Rohan and Marsan wings of the Palais du Louvre, with permanent collections and temporary exhibitions that are a must-see for all Paris design enthusiasts. [Read more]
The Bourse de Commerce by night: an evening of contemporary art every Friday night
Every Friday evening, until 9pm, the Bourse de Commerce, temple of contemporary art, welcomes you for a nocturne through the exhibitions and installations of the moment. [Read more]
Acne Paper Palais Royal: the permanent (art) gallery for the Acne Studios brand opens in Paris
Paris mixes fashion and culture in style! On June 26, 2025, Acne Studios opened its first independent art gallery, Acne Paper Palais Royal, under the arcades of the Palais Royal. An arty new spot in the heart of the 1st arrondissement. [Read more]
59 Rivoli, the free artists' squat on rue de Rivoli in Paris
As you walk up the Rue de Rivoli, one building stands out for its colorful decorations, which stand out among the ashlar buildings. Welcome to 59 Rivoli, an artistic squat with free exhibitions. [Read more]
The Louvre by night: two evenings of art every Wednesday and Friday!
In your busy week, treat yourself to a moment of magic: the Musée du Louvre opens at night every Wednesday and Friday evening. The permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of the world's most beautiful museum await you! [Read more]
LV Dream by Louis Vuitton: free exhibition, boutique, café and chocolate shop
The famous Maison Louis Vuitton opens LV DREAM, a free exhibition and gift store that also features a café and a chocolate shop in collaboration with Chef Pâtissier Maxime Frédéric of Cheval Blanc Paris. While the exhibition is by reservation only, the boutique and café are open to the public. [Read more]
The Musée en Herbe, a child-sized cultural venue in the Marais district of Paris
In the Marais district of Paris, the Musée en Herbe offers the youngest visitors a chance to discover art, through fun, interactive exhibitions for young and old alike, aged 3 to 103. [Read more]
Louvre Museum: Must-see masterpieces
The Louvre Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world, and houses some of the most famous works. Here are the must-sees on your next visit. [Read more]
The Musée de l'Illusion in Paris: a multi-sensory journey that will make you lose your head!
The Musée de l'Illusion awaits you in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, in the Châtelet les Halles district. Come with friends or family for a unique and exciting experience! Immerse yourself in a fascinating world, where all your senses will be turned upside down... A multi-sensory visit that's a must. [Read more]
Free late-night opening at the Bourse de Commerce: reserve your top pick for Saturday, September 5, 2026
Want to visit the Bourse de Commerce’s collections? Take advantage of the free after-hours opening, held on the first Saturday of every month, to discover this must-see art venue in Paris. The next date to note in your calendar: Saturday, September 5, 2026. [Read more]
Viktor & Rolf: a fashion‑event exhibition set to open at the Musée des Arts décoratifs in 2027
Sculptural gowns, exaggerated volumes, trompe-l'œil and spectacular silhouettes: the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris dedicates its next major retrospective to Viktor & Rolf from January 28 to July 4, 2027. A chance to discover thirty years of haute couture where fashion waltzes with contemporary art. [Read more]
Remember Me: Masterpieces of photography from the Pinault Collection are on display at the Bourse de Commerce.
This fall and winter, the Bourse de Commerce hosts the photographic masterpieces from the Pinault Collection. From October 7, 2026 to January 18, 2027, you can explore around 700 works by more than 70 artists, including Erwin Blumenfeld, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Lee Miller, Irving Penn, Cindy Sherman, and Annie Leibovitz. [Read more]
Parallax: Stan Douglas, the artist at the center of a photography exhibition at the Jeu de Paume
Photography as a way to tell stories and shape reality... Discover Stan Douglas’s work through the Parallax exhibition, on view at the Jeu de Paume from 20 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. [Read more]
Louvre Photo, when the museum inspires photographers: an original exhibition at the Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum presents an unconventional exhibition and staging itself through photography, in a special route to be seen from November 4, 2026 to May 3, 2027. [Read more]
Sculpting Color: Spanish Baroque Sculpture Lands at the Louvre
The Louvre presents a selection of 23 Spanish 17th‑century sculptures loaned by Valladolid’s Museo Nacional de Escultura. The exhibition "Sculpting Color" runs in the Hall Napoléon from October 7, 2026 to January 25, 2027. [Read more]
This 17th-century Spanish painter is finally on display at the Louvre.
The Louvre Museum is devoting a major retrospective to Francisco de Zurbarán, a leading figure in 17th-century Spanish painting. So we’re pulling out the calendar to note this first-ever exhibition, which will be staged in the Napoléon Hall from October 7, 2026 to January 25, 2027. [Read more]
Louvre Museum: the date of the next free late-night opening to experience on the first Friday of the month
Here's the smart move to take advantage of at the start of each month: the Louvre Museum offers free admission to all visitors on the first Friday of every month after 6 p.m. Next date to note: September 4, 2026. [Read more]
Harvest Time: A major exhibition to discover this autumn at the Cartier Foundation
The Cartier Foundation welcomes artist Ibrahim Mahama and his Ghanaian collaborators for a major exhibition running from 22 October 2026 to 28 February 2027. [Read more]
Art Shopping 2026: the autumn edition of the contemporary art fair at the Carrousel du Louvre
The Art Shopping fair is held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, from October 23 to 25, 2026, for its autumn edition. Find out what's on. [Read more]
ORLAN at the Louvre: three free encounters with a leading figure in contemporary art
The Louvre hands the floor to ORLAN for three free "Artist Lessons" on 22 May, 12 June and 25 September 2026. Through images, the body, censorship and the artists' responsibility, this leading figure in contemporary art invites a rereading of the museum's masterpieces in light of today's questions. [Read more]
Monet and Time at the Orangerie Museum: An Exhibition Exploring the Moment, the Duration, and the Water Lilies
At the Orangerie Museum, the exhibition "Monet and Time" delves into how Claude Monet captured moments, the passage of time, and the evolving landscape through his series and the Water Lilies cycle, running from September 30, 2026, to March 29, 2027. [Read more]
Rafael Pavarotti Photographer: A Fashion Photography Exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris
Fashion photography takes over the Museum of Decorative Arts with an exhibition dedicated to Rafael Pavarotti. From September 23, 2026, to February 7, 2027, over 200 vibrant prints will showcase, for the first time in France, the career of the Brazilian photographer and engage in a dialogue with the museum's photographic collections. [Read more]
Look, 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum: A Retrospective Couture Exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts
At the Museum of Decorative Arts, the 40th anniversary of the Museum of Fashion is celebrated with "Look: 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum," a must-see fashion exhibition. Forty iconic ensembles take the runway in the nave's central space, surrounded by sketches, patterns, and embroidery, showcasing four decades of style and craftsmanship. [Read more]
The 1st arrondissement, also known as the Louvre district, is never short ofcultural events and outings ! Whether you live in the area or are just passing through, you'll always find a great exhibition to discover.
