Heritage Days 2026 at the Institut de France in Paris: a special opening

The Institut de France is taking part in the 43rd edition of Heritage Days, held on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026. It’s an opportunity to discover one of Paris’s most little-known institutions, steeped in history and tradition, through exceptional tours. Here is the schedule for these open days.

Do you know theInstitut de France? This institution, hidden away in a magnificent building in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is largely unknown to the general public. Yet this society, which brings together the country's scientific, literary and artistic elite, was founded in 1795!

Culture at its best... This is what theInstitut de France has to offer, an establishment whose mission is to provide the five Academies (French, Sciences, Fine Arts, Moral and Political Sciences) with a harmonious framework within which to work on perfecting their respective fields.

Want to learn more? Take advantage of the Journées du Patrimoine to discover this unique institution. On the weekend of Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, the Institut de France opens its doors to the public free of charge, with self-guided tours available.

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Created in 1795, theInstitut de France is housed in the Palais du quai de Conti, which occupies the former Collège des Quatre Nations. Founded between 1662 and 1688 by Cardinal Mazarin, it also manages four research libraries: the Mazarine Library, the Institute Library, the Fondation Dosne-Bibliothèque Thiers Library and the Musée Condé Library in Chantilly.

Find out more about the history of this institution, its architecture, its dome, its grand auditorium and its missions during the Heritage Days open house. You can visit the monument freely, and even meet the academicians who will be signing their books.

Heritage Days 2026 at the Institut de France in Paris: the program

Institute of France Opens Its Doors to the Public
On the occasion of the 43rd European Heritage Days, framed around the themes “Heritage of Photography” and “Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine,” the Institut de France throws open its doors to reveal the full spectrum of historic spaces within its Palais, many of which are normally off-limits to the public.

Visitors will encounter the Mazarine Library and the Institut de France Library, the two chamber halls where the academies convene, and the Coupole, the institution’s most iconic venue and home to the academies it houses: the French Academy, the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, the Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences. The history and daily life of these five academies will be presented through a visiting route that is as immersive as it is intuitive. Dozens of academicians will be on hand to sign their books and to discuss a wide range of topics, reflecting the breadth of their specialties.

The days will also spotlight the Institut’s actions and resources: its podcast platform, boasting thousands of audio programs, and the Institute’s Bookshop, located on the Palais’ forecourt just a stone’s throw from the Coupole. An illuminated calligraphy workshop, led by an official from the Institute, will also enrich the program. For families, a travel-friendly activity booklet will be handed out to children.

At the end of this rich circuit, visitors will be able to head to the Pavillon Comtesse de Caen to discover the exhibition “The Painting on Stage. Olivier Debré.” Paying homage to Olivier Debré (1920–1999), a major figure of lyrical abstraction and a former member of the Painting Section of the Academy, this Parisian retrospective, the first in twenty years, invites a renewed appreciation of the breadth of his work and the distinctive universe of his pictorial language.
Conditions of participation: Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.