15 exhibitions to discover with children right now in Paris

Museums are not just for grown-ups! Yes, there is no age to appreciate art: the proof is in these exhibitions that will delight children and their parents/guardians/grandparents, in Paris and the Ile-de-France region.

Children are curious, passionate, creative little creatures, always ready to discover new worlds: and Paris museums and galleries have understood this well, with the many family exhibitions that open every season. Playful, interactive and creative, they give the little ones the chance to touch, listen, experiment and (more often than not) enjoy a real experience in Parisian cultural venues.

Whether with Mum, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa or Auntie, on Wednesday afternoons, during the school vacations or at weekends: kid-friendly exhibitions let you spend some fun family time with your little ones, who often find the permanent collections or standard temporary exhibitions too serious and not interactive enough. For toddlers (including babies under 2) as well as older children (and sometimes pre-teens and teens), these unusual exhibitions are a must! And most of the time, admission for under-25s is free!

So here's our selection of the most eagerly awaited family exhibitions of the moment!

Family-friendly exhibitions to check out as a family right now:

Le Paradox Museum Paris unveils five new immersive experiences alongside a Hans & Gretel Café
Paradox Museum offers nearly a hundred immersive experiences—from trompe-l'œil illusions and optical tricks to sensory overhauls—that await visitors in Paris. Get ready to be tricked and to snap surreal photos. Five new interactive installations have just been added to the journey, making it the perfect time to challenge your senses! And as a bonus, a brand-new, ultra-delicious café, Hans & Gretel, is ready to tempt you. [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]

We are (still) here : street art takes over the Petit Palais in a free exhibition this summer
After a first edition in 2024, the We are here exhibition is back at the Petit Palais: enjoy a rich urban-art journey right in the heart of the Fine Arts Museum. The exhibition is free to visit from June 20 to September 20, 2026. [Read more]

Van Gogh, Starry Night: the immersive exhibition lands this summer at the Atelier des Lumières
First shown in 2019, the Atelier des Lumières invites us back into Van Gogh’s world for an immersive exhibition open three days a week from July 3 to September 13. Wander through Van Gogh’s finest paintings, rediscovering the genius that was misunderstood in his own time. [Read more]

Cité des sciences: Critical thinking, the exhibition that unsettles our certainties — our photos
The Cité des sciences hosts the exhibition Critical Thinking, a journey designed to help children and adults question their certainties and the way they reason, running from July 7 to August 29, 2026. [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]

Heritage in Resistance: From Timbuktu to Odessa, an Exhibition at the City of Architecture.
Sponsored - In Paris, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine presents the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance : de Tombouctou à Odessa, running from May 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, a look at heritage in wartime, where destruction, safeguarding, and rebuilding come into play. [Read more]

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]

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]

ZEUS, the iconic metal horse from the Olympics, on display for free at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris
Zeus, the mechanical horse from the Olympic Games that captured everyone's hearts, has now arrived at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. The towering steel colossus is open to the public free of charge from December 17, 2025, to January 10, 2027. [Read more]

Genki-nobori banners fill the sky over the Hôtel de la Marine: a colorful, free installation this summer
A colorful, poetic installation transforms the courtyard of the Hôtel de la Marine: Japanese artist Susumu Shingu and child artists present the Genki-nobori, from June 26 to August 24, 2026. [Read more]

The Little Prince, an immersive odyssey: a poetic family journey back to the Atelier des Lumières
During the peak summer holidays, from July 3 to September 13, 2026, dive back into Saint-Exupéry's iconic work and embark on a magical, immersive journey alongside the Little Prince at the Atelier des Lumières. [Read more]

Imaginary Maps: A Playful Exhibition to Explore New Worlds at the François-Mitterrand Library
From March 24 to July 19, 2026, the BnF François-Mitterrand is offering a rare immersion into cartography and its imaginary territories, through more than 200 works, for a journey to the frontiers of reality and fiction. [Read more]

Renoir and Love: A Landmark Retrospective at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris – Reviews and Photos
When love becomes light, Renoir turns it into art. With the exhibition "Renoir et l'amour" (March 17 - July 19, 2026), the Musée d'Orsay brings together his major masterpieces for a retrospective as modern as it is tender, in collaboration with the National Gallery in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. [Read more]

Colors Festival returns to Paris with the street-art exhibition Colors Ligth, spanning 700 m², featuring the photos
The Colors Festival returns to Paris after a three-year hiatus and sets up in the 15th arrondissement with Colors Light, a new immersive exhibition exploring blacklight and urban art, opening from April 16 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]

Annette Messager at the Museum of Hunting and Nature: An Exhibition Exploring the Relationship Between Animals and Humans
The Museum of Hunting and Nature in Paris is presenting a groundbreaking exhibition by artist Annette Messager, focused on animal imagery and its artistic reimagining. Running from April 14 to September 20, 2026, the show is titled "A Swallow Doesn't Make Spring." It features a mix of installations, hybrid artworks, and iconic pieces that engage in a compelling dialogue with the museum's existing collections. [Read more]

With such a great program, there's no risk of children getting bored, and parents too! Don't hesitate to come back and consult this page, which is regularly updated, for a wealth of ideas for outings and discoveries throughout the year.