December can be a stressful month. Exams, annual reviews, the end of courses or goals to achieve, parties to organize... In all this whirlwind of activity, it's easy to lose your footing! So take a breath and stop. Give yourself a break, a moment out of time, and lose yourself in the region's museums.
Whether in Paris or the surrounding départements, in major museums, small galleries or châteaux, there's always an exhibition to please. It's impossible to remain indifferent to this wide-ranging program: there's something for everyone! Whether you like cinema, music, animals, painting, the mystical arts, history, sculpture, travel... There's a lid for every pot, and an exhibition for every visitor.
Heads up: December 2026 is shaping up to be a busy month, with a lineup of extraordinary exhibitions coming one after the other. You'll need to make some tough choices and skip a few outings — despite your burning curiosity, you won’t be able to see everything. Or will you?
All right, here's a challenge for you: check out our selection of exhibitions to see this December, and get ready for a museum marathon, so you have a chance of seeing them all! If your schedule is a little tighter, we recommend you start with the must-sees.
AURA INVALIDES, the must-see sound and light show in Paris
Looking for a unique nocturnal experience in Paris? Ready to be amazed and embark on a timeless journey to a legendary heritage site? Come and discover AURA INVALIDES, a sound and light show at the iconic Dôme des Invalides as night falls. A magical moment in the heart of the Dome, sure to delight young and old alike. [Read more]
Dalí x Rubinstein, Illusions croisées: an original dialogue in the heart of Montmartre
Sponsored - Located in Montmartre, the mecca of Parisian artistic creation, Dalí Paris has been home to the largest private collection dedicated to Salvador Dalí for over thirty years. More than 300 works, brought together by collector and gallery owner Beniamino Levi, reveal the rich universe of the master of surrealism. Sculptures, engravings, oil paintings, drawings, and watercolors testify to the richness of his inspirations, from science to alchemy, through Antiquity, the Renaissance, and religion. [Read more]
Back to school: educational museums to do with children in Paris
It's back to school for the kids. Would you like to accompany your little ones back to school in a fun way? If so, here's our selection of educational museums in Paris, where you can have fun learning lots of things, even with children! [Read more]
Paradox Museum Paris unveils 5 new immersive experiences and a Hans & Gretel Café
Paradox Museum, with almost a hundred interactive installations, offers a captivating journey through trompe-l'œil, optical illusions, and sensory surprises right in the heart of Paris. You'll love being fooled and capturing surreal photos along the way. Five brand-new immersive experiences have been added to the exhibit, so now's the perfect time to challenge your senses! As a bonus, indulge in the brand-new, irresistibly tasty Cafe Hans & Gretel, ready to delight your palate. This December, immerse yourself in the holiday festivities at Paradox Museum with XMAS MINDLIGHT, a dazzling, magical Christmas light experience you won't want to miss! [Read more]
La Cité des Enfants, for discovering and understanding the world around us, ages 5 to 10
The Cité des enfants at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is the Parisian place par excellence for learning and experimentation. For 5-10 year-olds, children discover the world around them using their five senses. [Read more]
Transparence, the first exhibition of the new Palais des Enfants, at the Palais de la Découverte
It's a date we've all been waiting for: the Palais de la Découverte, which has been closed for renovation work for several years, will finally reopen its doors in 2025, with a brand new area dedicated to families, the Palais des enfants. An exhibition on the theme of Transparency is presented for the inauguration. [Read more]
A new exhibition space opens at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (93)
From June 24, 2025, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace will be offering an enriched tour, including a new exhibition space. [Read more]
The Hangar Y's contemporary open-air exhibition is back! An artistic stroll in the green
The Hangar Y, which conceals a 10-hectare natural area planted with trees, offers a year-round open-air art walk, free on weekdays and €3 with access to the Hangar on weekends. Since April 28, 2025, new works have been added to the circuit. From Erwin Wurm and Lionel Sabatte to Pauline Tralongo and Odile Decq, it's time for an unusual, unplugged stroll through the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine. [Read more]
Le Bouillon Kids, a fun, family-friendly cultural venue with games room, at Les Ateliers Gaîté
Right in the heart of the Ateliers Gaîtés, in the Montparnasse district, Bouillon Kids offers children the chance to discover a rather special exhibition space, with play areas included in the tour. [Read more]
La Cité de l'Histoire, our test of the immersive French History experience at La Défense
Ready to plunge into the great History of France? The first Cité de l'Histoire is opening its doors in La Défense's Grande Arche, with a fun, immersive tour of our shared past. [Read more]
Science Experiences, the concept between museum and theme park at Bercy Village
Science Expériences is a unique concept combining museum and amusement park to bring science to life for children. With scientific experiments, virtual reality and video mapping, it uses the latest technologies to bring science to life for children... [Read more]
The Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay is transformed into a cultural restaurant with terrace (78)
Alert friends, the famous little Moulin des Vaux de Cernay in the Vallée de Chevreuse in the Yvelines (78), is being revived and transformed into a cultural restaurant that combines a place to eat, have a drink and relax in the sun with a cultural gallery where you can enjoy ephemeral exhibitions in a place steeped in history. [Read more]
The Cité de l'Histoire: a fun way for families to discover history
Sponsored - Plunge into the heart of the most fascinating periods in human history with immersive shows and technological animations that will delight young and old alike. Relive the great moments of the past, meet the emblematic figures of French history and create unforgettable memories together! Three main animations await you, in a space entirely designed for family amazement, offering a journey through the most emotionally rich eras. [Read more]
Le Rambolitrain, model train museum in Rambouillet (78)
In Rambouillet, in the Yvelines department, Rambolitrain boasts a unique collection of toy trains, whether miniature or life-size. History, scale models and guided tours: welcome to the temple of the toy train! [Read more]
Maison Poincaré: we visited the very first mathematics museum in Paris
The Maison Poincaré, nestled in the heart of Paris's Latin Quarter, invites you to discover the capital's very first mathematics museum from September 30, 2023. Inspired by the world's greatest science museums, this unique venue promises to illuminate the history, influence and wonders of mathematics for all the curious! We tell you all about it! [Read more]
MIDAN, a naive art museum nestled in a country house in Vicq (78)
The Musée international d'art naïf d'île-de-France (MIDAN) is located in Vicq, a small town in the Yvelines department of France, a cultural venue dedicated to a little-known yet very rich artistic movement. [Read more]
Mission spatiale, the new permanent exhibition in the stars at the Cité des sciences
Take a trip into space from October 23, 2023 at the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, with a new permanent exhibition on the conquest of space. [Read more]
The Durfort Mammoth at the Paris Natural History Museum, restored!
(Re)discover at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, the newly restored "Mammouth de Durfort", an icon of paleontology on display since 1898. [Read more]
Bio-inspired, the new permanent exhibition at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Look out, here it is: the new permanent exhibition that will fascinate us to no end. "Bio-inspired" takes up residence at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie from September 18, 2020. A great introduction to talking about the environment and sustainable solutions with children and grown-ups alike. [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]
Exhibition "Cézanne and Us" at the Grand Palais: Dive into the Legacy of the Father of Modern Art
The Grand Palais is hosting a major exhibition dedicated to Paul Cézanne, titled Cézanne and Us, running from September 23, 2026, to January 17, 2027. This outside-the-venue exhibit has been developed in partnership with the Musée d'Orsay. [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]
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]
The Warhol Line: An Exhibition Showcasing Andy Warhol’s Forgotten Works at the Luxembourg Museum
The Luxembourg Museum delves into Andy Warhol's sketches in a groundbreaking exhibition running from September 16, 2026, to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
Robert Capa: the must-see exhibition dedicated to the photographer at the Musée de la Libération de Paris
Discover the exhibition dedicated to Robert Capa at the Musée de la Libération de Paris, an immersive journey designed with Magnum Photos to understand the art of war photojournalism. A visual exploration of history to be experienced from February 18 to December 20, 2026. [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 new History Gallery at the Château de Versailles to celebrate 400 years - photos
The History Gallery at the Château de Versailles reopens its doors to celebrate the 400th anniversary of this emblematic monument. Free of charge from September 15 to 17, 2023 for the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), then from September 21 with a ticket, discover a completely redesigned and refurbished gallery, retracing the history of the Château from its construction in 1623 by Louis XIII to the present day. More than 120 works from the Versailles collections, accompanied by a digital device, enable us to understand the creations, transformations and upheavals that have marked the Château. [Read more]
Le 19M, la Manufacture de Mode Chanel: art gallery, creative workshops, café & couture houses
Le 19M, la Manufacture de Mode Chanel, located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, is home to eleven Maisons d'art, as well as a gallery hosting free fashion exhibitions and a café. A must-see! [Read more]
The Hidden Treasures of the Nasrid Alhambra: An Exhibition in the Heart of Granada at the Arab World Institute
From November 24, 2026, to May 16, 2027, the Arab World Institute will take you on a journey to the Alhambra of the Nasrid sultans. Through an immersive experience and the display of extraordinary works of art, the exhibition revives the lost grandeur of Muhammad V's reign. [Read more]
Weddings - Farah: a Unique Cultural Exhibition at the Arab World Institute
The Arab World Institute is inviting us to a celebration— and not just any celebration. Immerse yourself in the world of Maghrebian weddings with an expansive, immersive exhibition opening from September 29, 2026, through January 31, 2027. [Read more]
Les derniers remparts, Carcassonne 1304: an immersive expedition at Bercy Village
Travel back in time and experience history differently with Les derniers remparts, Carcassonne 1304, a virtual reality experience from Excurio, in partnership with the Centre des Monuments nationaux. Available at Eclipso in Bercy Village from April 4, 2025. [Read more]
Le Corbusier in Boulogne: visit the apartment-studio of the famous French architect
The Fondation Le Corbusier offers unique tours of the famous French architect's apartment-studio, located in the Molitor building on the Boulogne-Paris border, to perpetuate the eternal influence of this visionary genius. [Read more]
Switching Tracks at the Paris Refrigeration Museum
Sponsored - Discover L’Aiguillage, nestled within the Frigos of Paris: a vibrant blend of art, craftsmanship, and conviviality. A space rich in history and brimming with innovative artistic experiments. [Read more]
The Museum of Illusions in Paris: the must-visit spot for this winter!
Sponsored - The Museum of Illusions, located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris in the Châtelet les Halles district, welcomes you with family or friends. Come and cool off in its air-conditioned space and get ready for a unique and exciting experience as you dive into the fascinating world of illusion where all your senses will be turned upside down... [Read more]
Dans la Seine: the exhibition at the Crypte archéologique reveals the objects found in the Seine
The Crypte Archéologique presents an exhibition that's as curious as it is amusing, revealing objects found in the Seine, from prehistory to the present day. Visit this unique exhibition from January 31, 2024, to January 4, 2026. [Read more]
Pop Central: the museum of cult cars from vintage films and video games just a stone's throw from Paris
Who hasn't dreamed of getting behind the wheel of the Batmobile or reliving the atmosphere of the arcades of the 90s? In Étréchy (91), the Pop Central Museum awaits you on Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends, for a total immersion in pop culture, with legendary movie cars and vintage arcade machines galore. [Read more]
Musée Grévin in Paris: Luc Plamondon joins the collection of illustrious figures
Discover Luc Plamondon, the iconic lyricist, now immortalized in wax at the Musée Grévin to mark the 25th anniversary of Notre Dame de Paris. [Read more]
Not-to-be-missed art events in Paris over the next few days
Night tours, photo festivals, Heritage Days, street-art events... Whatever the season, art is always in the spotlight in Paris! To make sure you don't miss any of these major cultural events, follow our guide to Parisian art events. [Read more]
Louvre Museum: Experience the free evening opening on Friday, February 6, 2026, the first Friday of the month
This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of every month: the Louvre Museum opens its doors to the public free of charge on the first Friday of each month, after 6 pm. Mark your calendar for the next free evening: February 6, 2026. [Read more]
Free exhibitions to visit in December 2026: top picks in Paris and Île-de-France
Looking for an impressive free exhibition to check out in December 2026? You've come to the right place (or clicked the right link): here’s our curated list of must-see free exhibitions happening in Paris this month. Follow along! [Read more]
Have a wonderful December in Paris museums, and see you next year for new exhibitions!
Dates and Opening Time
From December 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029
Free exhibitions to visit in December 2026: top picks in Paris and Île-de-France
