Louvre Photo, when the museum inspires photographers: the historic exhibition at the Louvre Museum

The Louvre Photo exhibition, on view from November 4, 2026, to May 3, 2027, highlights the museum’s unique place in the history and art of photography. More than 300 photographs come together to trace this singular history in an exhibition that showcases works from the 1820s to the present day.

The Louvre Museum is one of the world’s most famous art museums: it is home to hundreds of paintings, sculptures, antique furnishings, objets d’art, jewelry, tapestries... It is a truly exceptional setting for these works of art. In an unprecedented exhibition opening in November 2026, the Louvre Museum itself becomes a work of art!

The institution is older than the birth of photography. For two hundred years, the Louvre Museum has inspired generations of professional and amateur photographers alike. Its architecture, its collections, its secrets, its visitors, its backstage areas, its gardens, its place in Paris: the Louvre has been immortalized from every angle, and in every era.

The exhibition Louvre Photo, on view from November 4, 2026, to May 3, 2027, highlights the museum’s distinctive place in the history and art of photography. More than 300 photographs come together to trace this unique history in an exhibition that features works from the 1820s to the present day.

From the early days of the photography, several artists sought to have this new technology recognized as an art form. To that end, some photographers tried to lean on the Louvre’s renown to gain recognition for their work. The exhibition highlights a number of photography’s leading names, including Charles Marville, Pierre Jahan, Robert Polidori...

A lot has happened between the 19th and 21st centuries. The exhibition traces the major historical events that shaped Paris and France, as seen from the Louvre. The Paris Commune, the two world wars, the postwar boom, the arrival of the Louvre Pyramid and the transformations made to the palace during the Second Empire... These two centuries of history take on a new perspective.

But the Museum of the Louvre is also about people and life. Visitors, anonymous or famous. Workers, craftsmen, artists, fashion shows and film shoots, glamorous events, and official visits…

Finally, this exhibition also lets visitors glimpse the evolution of photography and its technologies over the years. From the daguerreotype to smartphones, through film photography, techniques and gear have changed a great deal.

The history of the Louvre Museum is revealed, in part, through these photographs. The museum is no longer just part of the Paris skyline; it comes to life. We discover the people who have cared for it over the decades, its famous and anonymous visitors, the destruction and renovation... The Louvre has a life of its own and changes with every century. This exhibition offers the chance to admire rarely displayed photographs, historic moments and images by renowned artists who were just as fascinated by the museum and its treasures as we are.

For lovers of the Louvre and Paris, this exhibition is a wonderful journey through time. The photographs offer us a fresh perspective on the museum and on the last two centuries of history that have transformed the capital.

The story doesn’t end there... The exhibition reveals two centuries of life at the Louvre, captured through countless cameras. And that life goes on, with ever more cameras documenting the Louvre today. During the exhibition, visitors are invited to photograph the museum and post their work on Instagram using the hashtag #LouvrePhoto. Some images will be selected for inclusion in the exhibition. Seize this chance to have your work exhibited at the Louvre!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.