Happy New Year! January is here, a new year has begun, and we're off again for 12 months of art and culture, visits and discoveries in the capital's museums and galleries. A new year also means new exhibitions, and we can't wait to discover what this month has in store for us.
But be warned: this guide doesn't list just any exhibitions. Here you'll find our selection of the most unexpected, interesting and entertaining free exhibitions in Paris and theParis region. These are the cultural highlights for all those who, like us, have made good resolutions this January 1st.
More outings, more culture, less spending: it's possible! So check out this selection of free exhibitions, and take advantage of these great events without any qualms. Which exhibition will you choose first?
"Rêveries de pierres" at the École des Arts Joailliers: an exhibition of a precious collection of stones
Sponsored - Are you in search of a truly original, poetic, and deeply mesmerizing exhibition? From November 6, 2025, to March 29, 2026, the École des Arts Joailliers, in partnership with the Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, invites you to explore "Dreams of Stones: Poetry and Minerals of Roger Caillois," right in the heart of Paris’s 9th arrondissement. This event offers a rare opportunity to marvel at 200 extraordinary minerals, accompanied by never-before-seen texts from one of the most distinctive thinkers of the 20th century. Additionally, entry is free with prior reservation (link below). [Read more]
Chiorama Exhibition: An immersive experience at the Renault® parade on the Champs-Elysées
Sponsored - From November 8, 2025, to April 5, 2026, the Renault® showcase transforms into an immersive, emotional experience centered around the iconic Renault Clio. Featuring a display of legendary models, artistic programming, and fun interactive activities, Cliorama offers a lively celebration of love, culture, and design. This is a must-visit event for car enthusiasts, photography buffs, and culture lovers alike. [Read more]
Paris: Wes Anderson recreates Joseph Cornell’s studio at the Gagosian Gallery
This winter, American filmmaker Wes Anderson is transforming the Gagosian Gallery on rue de Castiglione into a meticulously recreated homage to Joseph Cornell’s New York studio. The legendary artist, a visionary and pioneer of assemblage art, is brought vividly to life through Anderson's detailed reimagining. [Read more]
I Love Sushi: A Free Exhibition in Paris Celebrates Japan's Iconic Cuisine
In 2026, sushi takes center stage at the Japan Cultural Center in Paris! From January 20 to April 11, the Japanese cultural center is hosting a unique, free exhibition dedicated to this iconic element of Japanese cuisine. [Read more]
ZEUS, the metallic Olympic horse, on display for free at the Musée des Arts et Métiers
Zeus, the mechanical horse that stole hearts at the Olympic Games, has taken a seat on the forecourt of the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. This towering steel sculpture is open to the public and free to visit from December 17, 2025, to January 10, 2026. [Read more]
Grand Palais: Free Exhibition Celebrates 200 Years of Le Figaro, Offering an Immersive Journey Through the Newspaper’s History
Under the nave of the Grand Palais, a three-day celebration unfolds with an XXL festival marking "1826-2026: 200 Years of Freedom." This free exhibition offers a journey through two centuries of images, archives, and discussions—an immersive experience to rediscover 200 years of rich and inspiring history. [Read more]
Mini Me: Our snapshots from the JonOne "100% Groovy Baby" exhibition at the Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery
The Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery hosts Mini Me, the vibrant solo exhibition by JonOne, offering a psychedelic journey where graffiti, small-scale works, and seventies groovery collide in a striking visual explosion. The exhibition runs from December 11, 2025, to January 11, 2026 — a must-visit chance to dive into the colorful universe of the artist. [Read more]
Beyond Our Horizons: From Tokyo to Paris, the New Free Exhibition at the Galerie du 19M in January
Beyond Our Horizons lands in Paris: from January 29 to April 26, 2026, the Galerie du 19M showcases French artisans alongside Japanese creators, weaving their stories together. After captivating 75,000 visitors in Tokyo, this exhibition offers a journey where tradition and innovation intersect in every detail. Embroideries, molds, feathers, and metals become bridges connecting different cultures and craftsmanship. [Read more]
Various and eclectic objects: Song Dong’s free, monumental, and immersive exhibition at Le Bon Marché
For its 11th edition, the January art showcase at Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche pays tribute to Song Dong, the renowned Chinese artist renowned for transforming everyday objects into living memory. From January 10 to February 22, 2026, his free exhibition, "Various and Diverse Objects – 百货 (baihuò)", takes over the store's showcases, features two large-scale installations beneath the glass roof, and immerses visitors in an interactive experience on the second floor. [Read more]
Free night event at the Bourse de Commerce on Saturday, January 3, 2026
Keen to explore the collections at the Bourse de Commerce? Take advantage of the free evening visit this Saturday, January 3, 2026, and experience this must-see art venue in Paris. [Read more]
Exceptional and free Arman exhibition at the 17th arrondissement town hall in Paris
The 17th arrondissement town hall is celebrating Arman, a leading figure of the New Realists, with a free exhibition from December 12, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Bronze sculptures, rare paintings, and a new creation of a French flag pay tribute to this visionary artist, 20 years after his death. [Read more]
Hommage: a collective street art exhibition in Paris featuring Jef Aérosol, Hera, and others - our photos
Street art lovers should head to Paris's 13th arrondissement to discover "Hommage," the new group exhibition at Galerie Mathgoth. From November 27, 2025, to January 10, 2026, visitors can admire around thirty works by a dozen urban artists, including Jef Aérosol, Jace, Bordalo II, Hera, and Kogaone. [Read more]
Urban stroll: Japan sketched by Florent Chavouet at the Maison de la Culture du Japon
The Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris is hosting a small, free exhibition dedicated to the sketches of French illustrator Florent Chavouet. Visit between December 2, 2025, and January 10, 2026, to discover this beautiful illustrated urban stroll. [Read more]
Doris Brynner: the iconic fashion exhibition at Sotheby's Paris
Sotheby's Paris is dedicating an exhibition to Doris Brynner, a figure of 20th-century cosmopolitan elegance, from January 23 to 26, 2026. The exhibition is being held during Haute Couture Fashion Week. [Read more]
Monstrology: a monstrous exhibition of drawings at the Daniel Maghen Gallery
Artist Stan Manoukian and his monsters are in the spotlight at the Daniel Maghen Gallery: come and admire this free exhibition from December 4, 2025, to January 10, 2026. [Read more]
Micronirisme: a free miniature art exhibition at the Pablo Neruda media library in Malakoff
The city of Malakoff transformed into a miniature model... Discover Kristoff Bonnet and his "microscopic" art in a free exhibition at the Pablo Neruda media library, from December 4, 2025, to January 3, 2026. [Read more]
What time owes them: the Advent calendar exhibition, which unveils a new work every day.
A gallery on Rue Audran in Montmartre is hosting "Ce que le temps leur doit" (What Time Owes Them), a collective exhibition where 24 emerging female artists unveil one work each day in an artistic and socially conscious Advent calendar, from December 1, 2025, to January 6, 2026. [Read more]
Rêveries de pierres: the free retrospective exhibition at the Ecole des Arts Joailliers - our photos
The Ecole des Arts Joailliers pays tribute to Roger Caillois, the great writer and collector, with a free exhibition. From November 6, 2025 to March 29, 2026, come and admire "Rêveries de pierres". [Read more]
Flavors of Timeless Tokyo: exhibition on the Japanese capital and cooking workshops in Paris
From November 10, 2025, to January 10, 2026, HIS Paris is transforming its concept store into a vibrant tribute to Tokyo. With a free exhibition by artist Mateusz Urbanowicz, culinary workshops, and objects from Japan, the event immerses the capital in the spirit of Tokyo. [Read more]
Thierry Lefort's California - 20 years of painting: Free retrospective exhibition
Sponsored - How about taking a trip to California without leaving Paris? From December 23, 2025, to January 7, 2026, the Beffroi de Montrouge is hosting "La Californie de Thierry Lefort," a museum-scale exhibition curated by Yoyo Maeght.
This exceptional retrospective traces twenty years of painting between Paris and Los Angeles. An artistic journey not to be missed. Admission is free upon reservation, with a gift for each visitor (links below). [Read more]
Colors of Korea: free contemporary art exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris, photos
The Korean Cultural Center unveils the exhibition "Couleurs de Corée, Lumière sur l'art contemporain coréen", on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, from October 24, 2025 to August 29, 2026. This free exhibition presents a unique immersion in Korean art, illustrating the work of 34 artists who blend tradition and innovation through the power of color. [Read more]
Clear skies / troubled waters: our photos of Steffani Jemison's exhibition at Lafayette Anticipations
American artist Steffani Jemison presents "Clear Skies / Troubled Waters" at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris, from October 22, 2025, to February 8, 2026. This immersive exhibition combines sculpture, video, and sensory experimentation to explore movement, gravity, and the perception of the body in space. [Read more]
Sole Crushing by Meriem Bennani: our photos of the immersive installation at Lafayette Anticipations
Meriem Bennani's exhibition "Sole Crushing" will be on display at Lafayette Anticipations in Paris from October 22, 2025, to February 8, 2026. This monumental installation combines contemporary art, performance, and music through an immersive sound work animated by percussive flip-flops. [Read more]
Tarik Kiswanson presents "The Relief", a free exhibition at the Swedish Institute - our photos
This autumn and winter, the Swedish Institute in Paris invites Tarik Kiswanson, winner of the Prix Marcel Duchamp in 2023. On view free of charge from October 23, 2025 to January 11, 2026, this exhibition, entitled "The Relief", unveils a small selection of works by the multi-disciplinary visual artist, "presented for the first time in France". [Read more]
Dans(e) la lumière, season 2: the full program for this artistic edition at the EDF Foundation
The EDF Foundation is organizing a second and new edition of its Dans(e) la lumière event, which combines exhibitions and dance performances. Season 2 runs from November 4, 2025 to January 31, 2026. Find out more about the program. [Read more]
Forgeries and counterfeiters, from the Middle Ages to the present day: the free exhibition at the National Archives
Can you tell the real from the fake? From October 15, 2025 to February 2, 2026, the National Archives and the Banque de France will be testing your critical thinking skills in their new exhibition on famous forgeries from history. [Read more]
Les Ateliers d'art des grands magasins: a free exhibition at the Bibliothèque Forney, Paris
Printemps' Primavera, Bon Marché's Pomone, Galeries Lafayette's La Maîtrise and Grands Magasins du Louvre's Studium Louvre showcase the best of Art Deco to mark the centenary of the 1925 Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes. Furniture, textiles, ceramics, catalogs, posters and photographs can all be discovered at the Bibliothèque Forney in a free exhibition running from November 4, 2025 to February 28, 2026. [Read more]
Gaston Paris - L'équilibre du carré: the free photo exhibition at Roger-Viollet Gallery
Galerie Roger-Viollet is organizing an exhibition on the famous photographer Gaston Paris, free to visit from October 2, 2025 to January 17, 2026. [Read more]
Voir la mer: a free contemporary exhibition at the Maif Social Club - photos
Contemporary artists draw inspiration from the oceans to create original works, sometimes amusing, sometimes disturbing... Come and discover the Voir la mer exhibition, presented at the Maif Social Club from October 11, 2025 to July 25, 2026. [Read more]
FoRTE#7 exhibition: discover young talent at FRAC Île-de-France in Romainville
The FoRTE exhibition returns for a 7th edition at the Frac Île-de-France reserves: the region presents works by the winners of the Fonds régional des talents émergents, from November 19, 2025 to January 11, 2026. [Read more]
Vanessa Paradis, "Paradissime": the tribute exhibition at Galerie de l'Instant
As Vanessa Paradis prepares to return to the stage in 2026, the Galerie de l'Instant in Paris is devoting an exhibition to her. Come and discover the artist's photographs by Paolo Roversi, Ellen von Unwerth and Kate Barry at the "Paradissime" exhibition, on view free of charge from October 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026. [Read more]
Léa's Odyssey: an underwater exhibition at the Pavillon Vendôme in Clichy (92)
From October 15, 2025, Junior artist Fritz Jacquet's exhibition is back, but this time in Clichy, to plunge into the heart of an ocean of paper while discovering this ecosystem from an artistic point of view. [Read more]
The hijacked museum: a fun, free exhibition on the walls of Bercy Village
Painter Pierre-Adrien Sollier takes on art's masterpieces in a "Playmobil ®" version, with the exhibition Le musée détourné, to be discovered free of charge from September 25, 2025 to January 18, 2026 at Bercy Village. [Read more]
Acne Paper Palais Royal: the permanent (art) gallery for the Acne Studios brand opens in Paris
Paris mixes fashion and culture in style! On June 26, 2025, Acne Studios opened its first independent art gallery, Acne Paper Palais Royal, under the arcades of the Palais Royal. An arty new spot in the heart of the 1st arrondissement. [Read more]
Le Serpent des Vœux: take part in an interactive work on calligraphy at the Trà Art gallery
At the Trà Art gallery in Paris's 10th arrondissement, the "Le Serpent des Vœux" exhibition transforms Vietnamese calligraphy into a lively, participatory experience. From June 6, 2025 to February 15, 2026, each visitor is invited to place his or her wish on a work in progress! [Read more]
L'Esquisse, Barbizon's new cultural hotel, both café and free museum
L'Esquisse is a fusion of hotel, café and free museum. We're off to Barbizon, the famous artists' village, to take advantage of this new spot that combines large, charming rooms, a great café by the fireplace and a free museum honoring the artists who have influenced Barbizon around the world. [Read more]
The list of free exhibitions in Paris is updated on an ongoing basis, so you'll always have an exhibition to get your teeth into. Don't hesitate to come back to this page! And happy new year, full of art and good deals.
Dates and Opening Time
From January 1, 2026 to January 31, 2026
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
