Architecture Days 2026: themed routes and family tours at MAC VAL in Val-de-Marne (94)

MAC VAL is taking part in the new edition of Architecture Days and invites curious visitors to thematic tours on 17 and 18 October 2026, to better understand and appreciate its distinctive architecture.

The MAC VAL museum in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, is dedicated to contemporary art. Its permanent collections are packed with paintings, sculptures, photographs and installations of all kinds, testifying to the richness and diversity of this art form. Located within easy reach of the metro and streetcar, this little-known museum should appeal not only to lovers ofcontemporary art, but also to all those curious enough to discover art and the world in a different way.

This cultural institution regularly takes part in major public events, such as the Night of Museums or Heritage Days. This autumn, the museum also offers a special program. On 17 and 18 October 2026, MAC VAL will participate in the National Architecture Days.

The aim of this French event is to bringarchitecture to the general public. It's an opportunity to showcase the different professions available in this field, the great achievements and architectural treasures of the region, as well as the artistic, social and technical aspects of architecture.

During the Journées de l'architecture, several museums, schools and places of interest are offering tours and events for visitors. In Paris and the Île-de-France region, dozens of sites are organizing special events during this themed weekend. Reservations are recommended!

MAC VAL's program for Architecture Days 2026:

Saturday, October 17

11h15 - 12h15 et 16h - 17h
Workshop “Mini MAC VAL”
Using a wooden setting, young visitors and their parents discover the museum’s works and create their own exhibition, their “ideal museum”!
Adults and children from 6 years old
Registration on the day at the museum reception, subject to availability.
14h
Architecture Tour
MAC VAL’s label “Architecture contemporaine remarquable” frames and traces a brief history of modern architecture. Its vestibule, nave, patio and its openness to the outside (parvis and sculpture park) make the museum a compact hub of architecture. A guided route that explores light and materials and invites a fresh look at the museum through its building’s history.
All audiences from 11 years old
Duration: 1h
Reservation recommended until the Friday prior 12h: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23; then on the day, subject to availability.
15h
Family Tour
An active, playful exploration of the exhibition from the collection “Le genre idéal”. Step by step, young visitors and their companions discover the paintings, drawings and XXL installations of the show.
Adults and children from 4 years old
Duration: 45 minutes
Reservation recommended until the Friday prior 12h: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23; then on the day, subject to availability.
16h
Photographic walk through “Le genre idéal”
A photographic journey through the 5 genres of art history: still life, landscape, genre painting, portrait and history painting. A discovery visit to the essential works from MAC VAL’s collection.
All audiences from 11 years old
Duration: 1h
Reservation recommended until the Friday prior 12h: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23, then on the day, subject to availability.
16h30
Architectural Visit
MAC VAL’s label “Architecture contemporaine remarquable” frames and traces a brief history of modern architecture. Its vestibule, nave, patio and exterior opening (parvis and sculpture park) make the museum a concentrated showcase of architecture. A guided route to understand light and materials and to rediscover the museum through the history of its built environment.
Adults and children from 11 years old
Duration: 1h
Reservation recommended until the Friday prior 12h: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23, then on the day, subject to availability.

Sunday, October 18, 2026

2:00 PM
Architecture Tour
MAC VAL, proudly holding the label “Remarkable Contemporary Architecture,” traces a concise story of modern architecture. Its foyer, nave, patio and outward opening ( forecourt and sculpture park ) make the museum a compact showcase of architectural design. A guided route that reveals how light and materials shape spaces, inviting visitors to see the museum anew through its built history.
Adults and children 11 and up
Duration: 1 hour
Reservation recommended by the prior Friday at noon: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23; later the same day subject to availability.
3:00 PM
“Archi as a Family” Tour
Explore the museum and its spaces (inside and out) with young visitors and their companions. Let yourself be guided by the gentle slope, explore light (zenithal, diffuse…), touch the materials (concrete, glass…), and wander the garden and sculptures…
Adults and children from 4 years old
Duration: 45 minutes
Reservation recommended by the prior Friday at noon: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23; on the day, subject to availability.
4:00 PM
Dance Conference “The Ideal Gender?”
What if gender hierarchies intersected with the journeys of women who challenged conventions to “build a new future”? This performance lecture offers a dancing voyage that reimagines the museum’s architecture while engaging with the works in the exhibition “The Ideal Gender.” Audiences are invited to an artistic immersion that blends historical references, pop culture, and empowerment. Dance lecture with Iris Medeiros, choreographer and lecturer at MAC VAL.
Adults and children 11 and up
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Reservation recommended by the prior Friday at noon: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23; the day of, subject to availability.
4:30 PM
Visit “The Keys to Contemporary Art”
Painting, drawing, sculpture… contemporary art unfolds before your eyes. A distinctive stroll where each work helps decode contemporary art through a few guiding keys: materials, space, scale…
Adults and children 11 and up
Duration: 1 hour
Reservation recommended by the prior Friday at noon: reservation@macval.fr or 01 43 91 64 23; on the day, subject to availability.