Looking for great deals in Paris this May? We'll take you on a tour of the free exhibitions that await you in the capital this spring. With Paris's blue skies and mild weather, it's hard not to answer the call of the capital's great outings!
So for those who think that to enjoy the capital's cultural wealth, you have to empty your wallet, we've come up with a great program offree exhibitions to discover this May in Paris. Here you'll find some great ideas for outings andescapades in Paris that will quench your thirst for culture without you having to pay a penny. Yes, it's possible!
But be warned, this guide is updated as we make new discoveries, so if you're regularly on the lookout for free exhibitions to discover in Paris, we recommend you bookmark this page and consult it whenever you're in search of a cultural bargain!
Pop Art Car: Renault®’s New Free Exhibition on the Champs-Élysées
Sponsored - From March 4 to June 9, 2026, the Renault® display on the Champs-Élysées will host Pop Art Car, a free exhibition blending Pop Art, Street Art, and automobiles. Expect stunning show-cars, exclusive artworks, and live performances right in the heart of Paris. As part of this major cultural and artistic event, the car transforms into a pop motif, an object of interpretation, and a source of inspiration. [Read more]
The Belle Époque under Prefect Lépine? : Free Exhibition at the Police Prefecture Museum
Until July 6, 2026, the Police Headquarters Museum is shedding light on Louis Lépine, an essential figure in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. Featuring an exclusive collection of 150 vintage postcards, this free exhibition delves into the media portrayal of the ever-present prefect—ranging from heroic scenes to satirical caricatures. [Read more]
ABC Dictionary: Exploring the Arctic Through Inuit Art — The Contemporary Exhibition at Art Inuit Gallery
Inuit artists share their lives and culture from the Arctic through an artistic alphabet, available for free at the Art Inuit Gallery from March 26 to August 31, 2026. [Read more]
This Paris exhibit turns coffins into art pieces at the Nothing Serious gallery
The Nothing Serious gallery is inviting you to explore a truly unique exhibition featuring unusual coffins and funerary urns, titled From Paa Joe to Paaris, running from February 27 to May 24, 2026. [Read more]
Courage and Honor: A Historic Exhibition at the Legion of Honor Museum in Paris
The Legion of Honor Museum showcases the various badges of bravery awarded to deserving soldiers in a free exhibit running from April 22 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]
Napoleon I’s Last Will: A Special Free Exhibition at the National Archives
This is one of the most legendary documents in French history. Safeguarded under tight security at the National Archives, Napoleon I’s will is being temporarily displayed to the public from March 4th to June 29th, 2026, in Paris. [Read more]
The world brought to life in vibrant hues: classic photographs displayed at the Roger-Viollet Gallery
The Roger-Viollet Gallery unveils a curated selection of 19th-century photographs, hand-colored to enhance their detail, in a free exhibition running from February 26 to June 6, 2026. [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]
Silent Storytellers: Female Sculptors Share Their Journeys in a New Exhibition at Espace Monte-Cristo
The Monte-Cristo Space will host several female sculptors from April 18 to December 13, 2026, offering free access to the exhibition titled "Speakers of Silence." [Read more]
Sebastião Salgado takes center stage in a free photography exhibition at Paris City Hall
Paris City Hall pays tribute to photographer Sebastião Salgado with a major exhibition, which will be open to the public free of charge from February 21 to May 30, 2026. [Read more]
Contrast and indifference: the exhibition that explores the world at the Canadian Cultural Centre
From February 12 to May 16, 2026, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris will showcase the work of four artists driven by a critical consciousness. Titled “Contrast and Indifference,” this exhibition explores the tensions of contemporary society through photographs, videos, and sculptures. [Read more]
All Parts Of Us: Susanna Inglada Exhibits at Drawing Lab in Paris
The Drawing Lab in Paris is hosting the exhibition All Parts Of Us by Susanna Inglada, the recipient of the 2025 Drawing Now Award, from February 13 to May 10, 2026. Through a compelling blend of drawings, installations, and videos, the artist delves into the tensions shaping our modern world, examining the collective gaze and power dynamics at play. [Read more]
Open Shapes: Free Exhibition Showcasing Geometric Abstract Art at the Swedish Institute
Geometric abstract art takes center stage at the Swedish Institute from February 20 to July 19, 2026. Over five months, visitors are invited to explore free of charge "Formes ouvertes", an installation that bridges the works of Olle Bærtling—an essential figure in abstract art—with those of seven talented international artists. [Read more]
Captivating Time: Van Cleef & Arpels' Free Watchmaking Exhibition at the Heritage Gallery
Time is on full display with all its seconds and minutes. At the Galerie du Patrimoine, Van Cleef & Arpels presents a horological showcase titled "Enchanting Time," a free jewelry exhibition running from January 16 to June 1, 2026, in Place Vendôme, Paris. [Read more]
Me and Others: An Exhibition Exploring Our Digital Lives at the EDF Foundation
Contemporary artists are delving into our digital lives and identities through the exhibition Me and Others, showcased free of charge at the EDF Foundation from March 13 to September 27, 2026. [Read more]
Beyond the wall of his - techno parties: free photography exhibition at the Maison Doisneau
The Doisneau House immerses visitors in the world of techno nights with a documentary photography exhibition, open to the public free of charge from March 13 to May 31, 2026. [Read more]
Saint-Cloud in the clouds: Free exhibition and flight simulator at the Avelines Museum
From February 12 to July 5, 2026, the Avelines Museum will take us soaring into the skies with a free exhibition exploring Saint-Cloud's pivotal role in aviation history — featuring historic archives alongside a flight simulator! [Read more]
ZEUS, the iconic metal horse from the Olympics, on display for free at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris
Zeus, the mechanical horse from the Olympic Games that captured everyone's hearts, has now arrived at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. The towering steel colossus is open to the public free of charge from December 17, 2025, to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
Eggstraordinary: chocolatiers and artists celebrate the egg in an exhibition at the Joseph Gallery
Here's a unique exhibition to explore this Easter season. From April 3 to May 3, 2026, at the Joseph Gallery, master pastry chefs, chocolatiers, and artists come together to celebrate the egg and its symbols through the free event Eggxtraordinaire. [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]
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]
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]
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]
A beautiful month of May awaits us in Paris and the Île-de-France region!
Dates and Opening Time
From May 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026
Prices
Free
