A cultural outing idea for Mother's Day—interested? How about discovering a stunning Paris exhibition while you’re at it? Here’s a smart plan to enjoy a wonderful day with Mom and make lasting family memories. Whether you’re aiming for a visit this Sunday, May 31, 2026 or planning a future outing, sharing a few hours together will warm her heart.
So you need to organize an outing to discover a beautiful exhibition in Paris. But how do you choose between all the beautiful cultural events awaiting you in the capital? Luckily, we're here to help! We've put together a great selection ofhot exhibitions for you to discover on Mother's Day in Paris!
Here are the most beautiful exhibitions to discover with Mum on Mother's Day :
Matisse 1941-1954: More evening hours to visit the grand exhibition at the Grand Palais
Le Grand Palais and the Centre Pompidou unveil a fresh look at Matisse, focusing on his final years of life and creation. A retrospective that fans won’t want to miss, on view at the Grand Palais from March 24 to July 26, 2026. Evening openings are available on Wednesday nights starting May 27. [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]
Lafayette, bridging France and America: free exhibit on the Marquis at the National Archives
From April 1 to July 14, 2026, the National Archives will host a free exhibition dedicated to Marquis de Lafayette. Featuring rare documents, caricatures, and related artifacts, this exhibition traces the life of the "hero of two worlds" — a figure equally celebrated in the United States and debated within France, against the backdrop of revolutionary upheavals. [Read more]
Hilma af Klint at the Grand Palais: an exhibition weaving together spiritualism, the occult, and abstraction
Hilma af Klint, the Swedish visionary artist and a pioneer of abstraction, anchors a groundbreaking show at the Grand Palais, in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, from May 6 to August 30, 2026. Her mystic works, nourished by Spiritism and the occult, are unveiled in France for the first time in a curatorial journey that brings together almost the entire body of the Temple Paintings cycle, her magnum opus. [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]
Lélia Demoisy at Domaine de Chamarande: an exhibition exploring forest narratives — our photos
At the Domaine départemental de Chamarande in Essonne, Lélia Demoisy presents a contemporary art exhibition devoted to the forest, to living beings, and to the traces left by matter, running from May 10 to August 30, 2026. With Récits de forêts, the artist unfolds sculptures and installations within a sensitive journey around the memory of woods and landscapes. [Read more]
Bricks of Wonder : the family-friendly exhibition built with construction bricks unfolds in Paris
Artist Dirk Denoyelle unveils works built from construction bricks in a playful, family-friendly exhibition to be explored from May 23 to August 16, 2026 at Espace Champerret in Paris. [Read more]
Just outside Paris, a free exhibition takes up residence in France’s largest cemetery.
Works will take over the largest cemetery in France from May 30 to October 15, 2026, as part of the exhibition Demeure. To discover it, head to the gates of Paris, to the Pantin Parisian Cemetery, just a short metro ride away. [Read more]
Marilyn Monroe, a centenary celebration! The Hollywood icon is in the spotlight in an exhibition at the Cinémathèque.
The Cinémathèque marks the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth with a commemorative exhibition honoring the cinema icon. The star's legacy will be showcased from April 8 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]
Silla: Gold and the Sacred: The historical exhibition of Korea's royal treasures at the Guimet Museum
Explore the history of South Korea with the Guimet Museum's exhibition: it unveils ancient treasures from the Silla Kingdom, in "Silla: Gold and the Sacred," on display from May 20 to August 31, 2026. [Read more]
Galerie Kiff & Marais: A showroom and exhibition space
Sponsored - Join us at the Kiff & Marais Gallery: a hub for exhibitions, events, workshops, and live music. A gallery in the heart of the Marais where a variety of events and group exhibitions are hosted in the 3rd arrondissement! Every Thursday evening, come to the openings at the Kiff & Marais Gallery. From May 27 to 31, discover Art Brut, an exhibition that blends painting, drawing, collage, and sculpture at the Kiff & Marais Gallery. [Read more]
Artists' May 2026: a free urban art trail in Argenteuil.
Take advantage of May’s sun to soak up art in Argenteuil: the city is staging another edition of the Mai des Artistes on May 30–31, 2026. A truly free, must-see art stroll! [Read more]
Common Worlds: the Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum’s Contemporary Photography Festival.
From May 20 to September 20, 2026, the Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum shines a spotlight on contemporary photography for the new edition of its festival, Mondes en commun. [Read more]
Everyone's chasing their cat: the exhibition exploring the many facets of the feline at Fluctuart — our photos
"Everybody’s Searching for Their Cat," that’s the name of the new free exhibition at Fluctuart. Mark your calendars from May 7 to August 23, 2026, to admire works by about ten artists rooted in urban art. For the occasion, Madame, Kraken, Ardif, and Wenna explore the many facets of the feline that fascinates us. [Read more]
This two-part fashion exhibition, a marquee event, has been extended until mid-May 2026 — our photos
Since November 20, 2025, the Dior Gallery has been hosting an entirely new exhibition bringing together more than a hundred pieces from Azzedine Alaïa’s collection. Extended to May 17, 2026, this event echoes a second exhibition presented at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation from December 1, 2025, and on view until June 21, 2026. Together, these two showcases celebrate the captivating dialogue between Dior and Alaïa, while highlighting the Tunisian couturier’s deep admiration for the mythical New Look. [Read more]
The Art and History Museum of Sainte-Anne Hospital showcases the emblematic works by artist-patients.
Did you know? Sainte-Anne Hospital, in Paris's 14th arrondissement, houses a museum of art and history. From April 16 to July 26, 2026, it unveils an exhibition spotlighting the emblematic works by artist-patients, including Aloïse Corbaz, Unica Zürn, Guillaume Pujolle, Maurice Blin, and Caroline Macdonald. [Read more]
The Navy and the painters: a splendid exhibition of maritime paintings at the Navy Museum - photos
The Maritime Museum puts the spotlight on painters who helped shape the history of the French Navy across four centuries, with an exhibition of paintings on view from May 13 to August 2, 2026. [Read more]
Paradise Feathers: An Invitation to Travel to Papua New Guinea, from the Quai Branly
The Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris is hosting the exhibition Feathers of Paradise from May 12 to November 8, 2026. Dedicated to the birds of paradise from New Guinea, this showcase features nearly 190 items—including adornments, paintings, preserved specimens, fashion objects, and illustrated books. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey through five centuries of fascination with these spectacular creatures, weaving together perspectives from art, science, ethnology, and ecology. [Read more]
Here's something for moms with a passion for art and history, or simply a thirst for discovery. Of course, a visit to the Louvre Museum or a château in the Ile de France is just as good an idea. The most important thing is to show her that she's important to you, with, why not, a restaurant or a little cake to share at home.
Dates and Opening Time
On May 31, 2026
