A free late-night at the Musée d’Orsay: the can't-miss evening of Museums Night 2026

The Musée d'Orsay is taking part in the 22nd edition of the Night of Museums this Saturday, May 23, 2026, with a free, playful after-hours tour centered on the museum's collections. A chance to enjoy an artistic evening at this must-attend cultural event.

Among the capital’s must-see museums, the Musée d'Orsay tops the list. Perched along the Seine in the 7th arrondissement, it’s a stunning destination that you can visit for free and by reservation this Saturday, May 23, 2026, during the 22nd edition of the Nuit des Musées.

For this special event, the Musée d'Orsay invites us to discover its temporary exhibition of the moment, in a festive atmosphere, animated by mediators, lecturers, visual artists...

In addition to these activities, visitors can also enjoy the museum's permanent collections. Notable masterpieces includeGustave Courbet'sOrigin of the World (1866), Edouard Manet's Emile Zola ( 1868) and Le déjeuner sur l'herbe (1863), Vincent van Gogh'sSelf-Portrait (1889),Edgar Degas' Petite danseuse de 14 ans (1865-1881), Gustave Caillebotte 's Les Raboteurs de parquet (1875). .. and many more . And many more. Exceptional works by great French artists, to be seen and seen again without moderation.

What’s on the agenda for the 2026 Night of Museums at the Musée d'Orsay:

Self-guided tour of the Musée d'Orsay's permanent collections
Free access to the permanent collections (some rooms may be closed). The museum stays open from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Last entry at 10:00 p.m. The galleries are cleared by 10:30 p.m.
Participation conditions: Last entry at 10:00 PM. Evacuation of the rooms by 10:30 PM. - Free | Reservation required - https://billetterie.musee-orsay.fr, https://passculture.app/offre/409208857
Hours: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Activity around the 'Frissons' installation — a dance-guided tour
Frissons installation: a dance experience in the town hall

A nocturnal journey in motion

On the occasion of the Night of Museums, the Musée d'Orsay invites you to a sensitive, immersive encounter at the heart of its collections. This dance-led visit invites participants to see the works through movement. Before a selected piece, the body becomes a tool of exploration: gestures, rhythms and movements open a dialogue with the forms, colors and emotions the work evokes.

The experience continues with the installation “Frissons,” showcased in the town hall, where participants are invited to dance inside an immersive space, blending collective vibration with personal expression.

Open to all, this intimate and participatory offering lasts 30 to 45 minutes and requires no prior dance experience.

Registration and start times: Information desk

Schedule: 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.

Free activity
Participation requirements: Open to everyone, this thoughtful and participatory experience lasts 30–45 minutes and requires no prior dance experience. Limited to 20 participants per session. Free
Timings: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 6:30 PM to 7:15 PM, 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM, 8:30 PM to 9:15 PM, 9:30 PM to 10:15 PM
A talk-based tour of the exhibition “Renoir and Love. The Happy Modernity (1865-1885).”
Step into the lively, colorful world of Auguste Renoir’s paintings, with a special focus on flirtation and scenes of seduction and romantic exchange. Under the banner of love, his work offers a fresh, insightful look at both the world and the art itself.

“I know very well that it’s hard to admit that a painting can be great art and still be joyful.” (Auguste Renoir.)

Talks - remarks between 7:00 PM and 10:20 PM
Participation terms: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 7:00 PM to 10:20 PM
Speed-drawing workshops
Find your partner among the other participants, then, in turn, strike a pose so the other person can draw you! Inspired by the sensuous quality of Renoir’s works in “Renoir and Love” and by the spontaneity of “Renoir the Draftsman,” this workshop invites you to explore gaze, line, and connection.

The museum provides the materials.

Location: rear of the nave,

From 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, continuous

Free, no reservation required, subject to availability
Participation guidelines: Equipment provided by the museum. Free of charge, no reservation required, subject to availability. - Free | No reservation
Schedule: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 7:30 PM ⤏ 9:30 PM

Here's a program not to be missed. Note that the Musée d'Orsay is one of the capital's most popular museums, with several thousand people flocking to it during Nuit des Musées, so don't hesitate to come early to enjoy the evening.