Bnf

Richard Wagner at the Palais Garnier: An Exhibition on the Revolutions of the Ring

At the Palais Garnier, Richard Wagner, les révolutions du Ring explores the creation of The Ring of the Nibelung and its legacy. More than a hundred objects shed light on the birth of the cycle, its musical innovations and the challenges of staging it.

Albert Camus at the BnF Richelieu: an exhibition centered on the writer’s manuscripts

The BnF Richelieu is preparing Albert Camus: Preventing the World from Falling Apart. Manuscripts, archives and contemporary works will bring visitors closer to the author of The Stranger and The Plague through the making of his works.

BnF Richelieu, the historic home of the Bibliothèque nationale de France and its museum

The Richelieu site, located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, is the historic birthplace of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which has housed collections of royal documents since 1721. A historic site, recently modernized, accessible to all!

Cinema: How does legal deposit preserve films?

Preserving a film means more than keeping a copy. In France, legal deposit organizes the collection and transfer of works, with one particular challenge: ensuring they can still be viewed when the technology has changed.

The creator of Mimi Cracra takes center stage in an exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

Mimi Cracra, The Crazy Alphabet: discover author and illustrator Agnès Rosenstiehl, whose stories have been part of several generations’ childhoods. The BnF François-Mitterrand is hosting a free retrospective exhibition from November 3, 2026, to January 24, 2027.

BnF’s Japanese photographs: the exhibition tracing the evolution of photographic practice in Japan since 1945.

From September 30, 2026 to January 31, 2027, the BnF François-Mitterrand shines a spotlight on Japanese photography since 1945, showcasing the work of around a hundred artists, both famous and lesser-known. It’s an invitation to discover documentary realism, intimate pieces, and even theatrically staged tableaux by Hiroshi Hamaya, Ken Domon, Shigeo Gochō, Eriko Koga, Shōji Ueda, and Yoshi Takata, Sayuri Ichida, and Koichiro Kurita.

Heritage Days 2026: explore the treasures of the BnF’s various sites in Paris

For Heritage Days, the Bibliothèque nationale de France opens its doors on 19 and 20 September 2026. On the program? A look at the various sites, tours of the restoration workshops, and showcases of numerous documents.

Heritage Days 2026: the BNF’s Richelieu site will open its doors for free this weekend.

The Richelieu site of the National Library of France opens its historic doors for the Heritage Days weekend, September 19–20, 2026.

Louise Bourgeois Exhibition at the BnF: Drawings, Engravings and Nerves Laid Bare

The BnF Richelieu in Paris presents the exhibition "Louise Bourgeois. Extreme Tension," devoted to the drawings and prints by the Franco-American artist, from October 20, 2026 to February 21, 2027. A landmark gathering of the BnF’s holdings with those of the Centre Pompidou.

Canicule: The BNF Richelieu free to access and François-Mitterrand expands its capacity

As a heatwave grips Paris, the capital’s museums and monuments are adapting to welcome visitors as smoothly as possible. Rather than cutting hours, the two sites of the National Library of France are actually increasing capacity to stay cool.

Georges Perec at the center of an exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

The writer Georges Perec is at the heart of a show bearing his name, on view at the BnF François Mitterrand from October 13, 2026 to February 14, 2027. Come discover this indispensable 20th‑century author.

This emblematic library in Paris's 13th arrondissement could be forced to close due to a lack of renovations.

A symbol of Paris's cultural life in the 1990s, the François-Mitterrand site of the National Library of France now faces the wear and tear of its infrastructure. Without major renovations, closures could begin as early as 2029.

Mazarin and the Guardians of the Secret: the National Library of France's new immersive game

As the holidays approach, the National Library of France offers an original way to discover the Richelieu site: an immersive game set in the heart of its iconic spaces.

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.

Easter 2026: An Egg Hunt as an Interactive Treasure Hunt at the Heart of the Richelieu Library

The Richelieu Library of the National Library of France is welcoming families for a playful and cultural Easter egg hunt in its stunning setting. The museum transforms into a treasure map, with the fastest participants rewarded with a delicious chocolate egg!

Barbara: The legendary French singer-songwriter honored in a new exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand

Attention, Barbara fans! Nearly 30 years after her passing, the François-Mitterrand Library (BnF) is celebrating the legendary singer-songwriter with a brand-new exhibition titled "Dis quand reviendras-tu? Barbara et son public". This unique cultural event is free to the public and runs from January 27 to April 5, 2026, in the Donors' Gallery.

Nights of Reading 2026: Evening reading event in the Oval Room at the Richelieu Branch of the National Library of France

What if the story of the universe fit within the walls of a library? During the 2026 Nights of Reading, the BnF Richelieu opens its doors for an immersive journey into the witty and scholarly poetry of Raymond Queneau. Beneath the grand, vaulted ceilings of this historic site, be guided through a reading of “The Little Portable Cosmology” for a literary voyage to the origins of the world—an exploration blending knowledge with imagination.

The BnF François-Mitterand Belvedere: the little-known panorama of Paris, practical information

Perched atop the Tour des Lois of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Belvédère on the François-Mitterrand site offers a spectacular view of Paris. Accessible only on guided tours, it combines architectural discovery, history and an exceptional panorama.

Did you know? In Paris, a forest garden hides in a library

A garden... In a library? Yes, that's the concept of a very famous Parisian library, which boasts a hidden forest right in the heart of Paris.

Did you know? BnF's four towers look like open books

Immense and majestic, the four towers of the François Mitterrand National Library dominate the urban landscape of the 12th and 13th arrondissements. We explain their history.