If you're a fan ofcontemporary art, then you're probably constantly on the lookout for great exhibitions, whether in museums or art galleries, to (re)discover the works oftalented artists past and present. From renowned talents to rising stars and little-known artists, here's a selection of hot exhibitions to quench your thirst for culture.
Between group exhibitions, cartes blanches, retrospectives and fairs, you'll find in this guide the exhibitions of the moment, but also those to come, so that you can make a note of the dates in your diaries. All these cultural events are waiting for you, and some of them are even an opportunity to acquire a work of art for your home!
Please note that this guide is updated regularly as we make new discoveries and announcements, so be sure to keep this page handy so you don't miss out on any of the great contemporary art exhibitions to come in Paris and the Île-de-France region!
So, are you ready? Let's get ready for the contemporary art exhibitions awaiting you in the capital!
Heritage in Resistance: The Cité de l’architecture Exhibition at Trocadéro
Sponsored - In Paris, the City of Architecture and Heritage is hosting the exhibition Heritages in Resistance: From Timbuktu to Odessa, running from May 20, 2026, to January 11, 2027. The exhibit offers a compelling look at cultural heritage in times of conflict, highlighting stories of destruction, preservation, and rebuilding. [Read more]
Ne Pas Toucher: a free, interactive, and socially engaged exhibition lands in the Marais
"Ne Pas Toucher", it's the paradoxical exhibition awaiting you in the heart of Paris from May 21 to 24, 2026. Here, several interactive works are free to discover, in an engaged artistic approach. Here's how it works. [Read more]
Coastal Bodies: Camille Guichard's exhibition at the Rachel Hardouin Gallery
The Rachel Hardouin Gallery highlights Camille Guichard with Corps littoral, her first solo exhibition in Paris, running May 21 to June 21, 2026. Blending contemporary photography, poetic texts, bodies and the coastline, the artist examines our relationship with the living world. [Read more]
Hilma af Klint at the Grand Palais: an exhibition weaving together spiritualism, the occult, and abstraction
Hilma af Klint, the Swedish visionary artist and a pioneer of abstraction, anchors a groundbreaking show at the Grand Palais, in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, from May 6 to August 30, 2026. Her mystic works, nourished by Spiritism and the occult, are unveiled in France for the first time in a curatorial journey that brings together almost the entire body of the Temple Paintings cycle, her magnum opus. [Read more]
SHEROES.1: A Bold Collective Exhibition at L’Aiguillage in Paris
Sponsored - The L’Aiguillage cultural space hosts SHEROES.1, a multimedia collective exhibition centered on women who have been rendered invisible, running from March 28 to May 5, 2026, as part of International Women's Rights Day.
A closing-night reception will be held on May 5 from 6:30 p.m., with video screenings starting at 8 p.m. [Read more]
Forest Tales: Lélia Demoisy's exhibition at Domaine de Chamarande
Lélia Demoisy presents Tales from the Forests, a contemporary art exhibition at the Domaine départemental de Chamarande in the Essonne department, running from May 10 to August 30, 2026. The exhibition journey traverses the forest, living beings, and the memory of materials through sculptures and installations. [Read more]
“Trading in the Unknown” : the exhibition marking the new edition of the Reiffers Initiatives Prize
Sponsored - Discover the fifth edition of the Reiffers Initiatives Prize with the exhibition "Trafficking the Unknown," which spotlights the French emerging scene. A must-see in contemporary art, the exhibition brings together each year, since 2021, a curated selection of artists chosen by the Reiffers Initiatives artistic committee. Admission is free and open to everyone. [Read more]
Open-air exhibition of Theodoulos Gregoriou's sculptures in the Faubourg Saint-Honoré district
Faubourg Saint-Honoré is rewritten as an open-air gallery with a free, outdoor exhibition in Paris, where time is carved in layered strata. From April 28 to July 27, 2026, the sculptures by Cypriot artist Theodoulos Gregoriou for "Cyprus on Faubourg Saint-Honoré" invite memory and contemporary creation to converse in the heart of the 1st arrondissement, between reinvented ruins and today’s sculptural language. [Read more]
Zipcy in Paris: our photos from the exhibition The Sweet Fortress at the Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery
The Korean artist Zipcy makes her solo debut in France with La Forteresse Douce, on view at the Goldshteyn-Saatort Gallery in Paris from April 24 to June 4, 2026. The exhibition centers on hanji paper, natural pigments, and the intimate, presented through the sensitive universe of this South Korean artist. [Read more]
Soulages–Hartung Exhibition in Paris: Elective Affinities at Perrotin Gallery
In Paris, the Perrotin gallery is dedicating an exhibition to Pierre Soulages and Hans Hartung, titled Soulages-Hartung: Elective Affinities, from April 25 to May 30, 2026. This artistic gathering brings together works, archives, an unpublished interview and studio tools to illuminate the connections, differences and shared inquiries of the two major postwar abstraction painters. [Read more]
A free exhibition dedicated to Korean digital art, housed in the heart of a former boiler room!
The Fiminco Foundation and the Korean Cultural Center present "Illumination," a digital art exhibition you can explore for free until June 21, 2026. Located within easy reach of the metro in Romainville, it reveals three monumental installations alongside interactive works. [Read more]
Lee Mingwei at Perrotin Gallery in Paris: an exhibition exploring connection, gesture, and ritual
Perrotin Gallery in Paris presents a show by artist Lee Mingwei, titled "When Beauty Appears," running from April 25 to May 30, 2026. A contemporary art exhibition rooted in ritual, exchange, and the visitor's experience. [Read more]
Susumu Kamijo exhibits at the Perrotin Gallery in Paris: a gentle interlude between flowers and animals.
Perrotin Paris gallery presents a new exhibition devoted to Susumu Kamijo, featuring When I Think of You in Spring, running from April 25 to May 30, 2026. A deep dive into contemporary painting built from flowers, animals, and pared-back forms. [Read more]
The Circle of Parisian Artists returns to the Parc Floral in Paris: over 500 works to discover.
Sponsored - The Circle of Parisian Artists is staging its 24th annual exhibition in the heart of Paris's Parc Floral, a stunning natural setting that invites artistic discovery. This must-attend event celebrates the richness and diversity of contemporary creation, bringing together more than 130 artists and showcasing over 500 works from May 4 to May 31, 2026. [Read more]
The Cherqui Foundation: the kinetic art museum just outside Paris!
Sponsored - The Cherqui Foundation is a genuine museum housing a private collection of 5,000 optical and kinetic artworks that opens to the public. The grandson of collector Jean Cherqui leads guided tours at the heart of his grandfather’s vast collection. Discover the upcoming dates! The museum is open during the Spring holidays! [Read more]
Beyond Our Horizons: From Tokyo to Paris, the free exhibition at Galerie du 19M extended
Beyond our Horizons lands in Paris: from January 29 to May 10, 2026, Galerie du 19M brings French artisans and Japanese creators onto the same thread. After delighting 75,000 visitors in Tokyo, the exhibition invites a journey where tradition and audacity intersect at every gesture. Embroidery, casts, feathers and metals become bridges between cultures and the arts and crafts. [Read more]
Annette Messager at the Museum of Hunting and Nature: An Exhibition Exploring the Relationship Between Animals and Humans
The Museum of Hunting and Nature in Paris is presenting a groundbreaking exhibition by artist Annette Messager, focused on animal imagery and its artistic reimagining. Running from April 14 to September 20, 2026, the show is titled "A Swallow Doesn't Make Spring." It features a mix of installations, hybrid artworks, and iconic pieces that engage in a compelling dialogue with the museum's existing collections. [Read more]
Ghost at La Lison Gallery: our photos from the exhibition Before the Ashes
La Lison Gallery hosts from April 9 to May 16, 2026 "Avant les cendres," a solo exhibition by the artist Fantôme focused on black, line, textures, and abstraction, in a dialogue between visual arts and tattooing. Through layering, strokes, and dark matter, the artist reveals a pared-down universe. [Read more]
Inkarna: our photos from Yosra Mojtahedi's exhibition at Maubuisson Abbey
L’Abbaye de Maubuisson, in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, Val-d’Oise, presents from 12 April to 30 August 2026 the contemporary art exhibition Inkarna, the metamorphoses of the sacred, curated by Yosra Mojtahedi with Elsa Guillaume and Magdalena Abakanowicz. In this journey, the sacred, the body, matter and the transformations of the living engage in dialogue within a heritage site dedicated to contemporary creation. [Read more]
Brion Gysin, the last museum: the original retrospective exhibition at the Paris Museum of Modern Art
The Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is staging the first Paris-based retrospective devoted to the artist Brion Gysin. On view from April 10 to July 12, 2026. [Read more]
In Paris, the Picasso Museum is dedicating an exhibition to Henry Taylor — our photos
In Paris, the Picasso-Paris Museum is presenting an exhibition devoted to Henry Taylor running from April 8 to September 6, 2026. Through portraits and a number of works, the American artist probes collective memory and brings his painting into dialogue with Picasso’s work. Conceptualized with the artist, the parcours unfolds through the museum’s galleries. [Read more]
Pauline Curnier Jardin at the Palais de Tokyo: an exhibition about myths and bodies — our photos
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris presents a monographic exhibition by Pauline Curnier Jardin from April 3 to September 13, 2026. Through installations, films, and performances, the French artist explores rituals, gender, and representations of the body in a sensory journey that brings together major works and recent creations, in collaboration with Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofía. [Read more]
Joseph Grigely at the Palais de Tokyo: an exhibition on cultural accessibility — our photos
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris presents We’re Here – This is where we are, an exhibition by Joseph Grigely to be unveiled from April 3 to September 13, 2026. A deaf artist, Joseph Grigely stages in a museum space that is notoriously hard to access to question architectural accessibility in cultural institutions. Through visual works and a risograph publication, he highlights how spaces are designed and how they are actually traversed by visitors. [Read more]
At the Palais de Tokyo, Cheryl Marie Wade explores crip culture and engaged poetry — our photos
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris presents a group exhibition centered on Cheryl Marie Wade’s poems, running from April 3 to September 13, 2026. A tribute to a key figure of Berkeley’s crip scene, the show unites archives, performances, and installations to give voice to a form of poetry that is at once political and militant, deeply tied to the history of disability. [Read more]
Cathy de Monchaux at the Palais de Tokyo: the retrospective to see in Paris — our photos
The Palais de Tokyo, in Paris, presents the first retrospective in France of British artist Cathy de Monchaux, titled "Studio, Wounds and Battles. Desire is the Reiteration of Hope", running from 3 April to 13 September 2026. The exhibition brings together nearly fifty works and revisits four decades of creation, exploring the body, materials and intimate narratives. [Read more]
Benoît Piéron at the Palais de Tokyo: an exhibition about care and vulnerability — our photos
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris presents an exhibition by Benoît Piéron, titled Vernis à Ombres, running from April 3 to September 13, 2026. Through sculptures and installations inspired by the hospital world, the artist explores care, waiting, and fragility, blending medical forms, sensory experiences, and reflections on vulnerability. [Read more]
Jesse Darling at the Palais de Tokyo: an exhibition balancing memory and forgotten narratives — our photos
The Palais de Tokyo in Paris is presenting an exhibition devoted to British artist Jesse Darling, winner of the 2023 Turner Prize, titled The Ambassadors, on view from April 3 to September 13, 2026. Through large installations crafted from salvaged materials and everyday objects, the artist examines the fragility of the frameworks, reference points, and systems that organize our lives. [Read more]
Lafayette Anticipations in Paris: our photos from the Diego Marcon and Ladji Diaby exhibitions.
In Paris, Lafayette Anticipations presents from April 1 to July 19, 2026 two contemporary art exhibitions dedicated to Diego Marcon and Ladji Diaby. The foundation brings together two distinct artistic approaches, spanning a cinematic universe, emerging creation, image-making, visual narration, and the expression of emotions. [Read more]
Nan Goldin at the Grand Palais: A Landmark Exhibition Celebrating Photography and Film
The Grand Palais hosts This Will Not End Well, the first-ever French retrospective dedicated to Nan Goldin, running from March 18 to June 21, 2026. This immersive exhibition showcases her iconic slideshows, blending photography and cinema, in a curated environment designed to resemble a village of images. [Read more]
Exhibition: ROSSEN MARKOVSKI - The Fish Story at the Bulgarian Cultural Center
Sponsored - Through 25 paintings, the contemporary Bulgarian artist offers an intimate and heartfelt perspective on art. The exhibition runs from March 26 to May 22 at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute. [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]
Chiaroscuro: the Exhibition Exploring Shadow and Light at the Bourse de Commerce - Our Photos
On the occasion of its latest exhibition titled "Chiaroscuro," the Bourse de Commerce transforms into a landscape that is both luminous and dusk-like. Until August 24, 2026, visitors can explore around a hundred works from the Pinault Collection, featuring pieces by Pierre Huyghe, Victor Man, Bill Viola, Laura Lamiel, Jean Dubuffet, Alberto Giacometti, Germaine Richier, as well as Yves Tanguy and Wolfgang Tillmans. [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]
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]
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]
In these halls: contemporary photographer Jo Ractliffe showcases her work at the Jeu de Paume, revealing powerful images.
The Jeu de Paume is hosting an exhibition showcasing the work of photographer Jo Ractliffe. Discover the striking images of "En ces lieux" from January 30 to May 24, 2026. [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]
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]
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]
General Exhibition: the Fondation Cartier recounts 40 years of exhibitions for its reopening
The Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain is reopening its doors in a new location in the heart of Paris with a new exhibition: from October 25, 2025, to August 23, 2026, discover the General Exhibition. [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]
L'Étoffe des Rêves, the exhibition at Halle Saint-Pierre
From September 12, 2025 to July 31, 2026, La Halle Saint Pierre presents "L'étoffe des rêves", a groundbreaking exhibition featuring 36 artists and over 300 textile works ranging from art brut to surrealism and poetic experimentation. [Read more]
Benin, back and forth: the exhibition at the Musée Albert-Kahn
The Musée départemental Albert-Kahn, Boulogne-Billancourt, invites you to discover the exhibition "Bénin, aller-retour", from October 14, 2025 to June 14, 2026. An immersive dive into the heart of historic Dahomey, featuring rare photographs, ethnographic films and the work of contemporary artists. [Read more]
The Hangar Y's contemporary open-air exhibition is back! An artistic stroll in the green
The Hangar Y, which conceals a 10-hectare natural area planted with trees, offers a year-round open-air art walk, free on weekdays and €3 with access to the Hangar on weekends. Since April 28, 2025, new works have been added to the circuit. From Erwin Wurm and Lionel Sabatte to Pauline Tralongo and Odile Decq, it's time for an unusual, unplugged stroll through the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine. [Read more]
The Musée de la Sculpture en plein air: a free art walk in the heart of Paris
Have you heard of the Musée de la Sculpture en plein air? Located in the Square Tino Rossi in the 5th arrondissement, this small museum offers a free cultural stroll along the banks of the Seine, in a magnificent bucolic setting. [Read more]
Leandro Erlich: The Grand Palais hosts a retrospective celebrating the work of the Argentine artist
This summer, the Grand Palais is showcasing a retrospective dedicated to Leandro Erlich! From June 2 to September 6, 2026, visitors can explore the world of this Argentine artist, renowned for his installations that challenge our perceptions and distort our sense of space in public environments. [Read more]
Fujiko Nakaya: Her Fog Sculpture Unveiled This Summer at the Bourse de Commerce
This summer, the Rotonde at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris will host one of the renowned fog sculptures by Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya. From June 4 to September 20, 2026, visitors can experience this captivating installation, where a thick white cloud of water vapor will appear and vanish, enveloping and revealing guests in an enchanting mist. [Read more]
Origins: an exhibition that probes discrimination at the Museum of the History of Immigration
Contemporary art challenges racism and discrimination in a groundbreaking exhibition on display at the National Museum of the History of Immigration, from June 5 to August 23, 2026. [Read more]
We, star shivers: a multisensory exhibition this summer at the Grand Palais
The artist Laure Prouvost blends art and science in an installation that heightens our senses. Discover the exhibition We, Star Shivers, running from June 10 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]
French artist Camille Vivier in the spotlight at the European House of Photography
The European House of Photography devotes a major retrospective to French photographer Camille Vivier, a figure in contemporary photography as arresting as she is powerful. The exhibition runs from June 10 to September 13, 2026. [Read more]
I saw: Jenny Holzer’s luminous exhibition that makes words come alive at the Orsay Museum this fall
Words Take Over the Orsay Museum, Transforming the Space into a Luminous Stage. From October 20, 2026, to February 21, 2027, the exhibition "I Have Seen" by Jenny Holzer invites visitors to explore a dialogue between letters, political texts, and literary writings alongside the museum's iconic collections. Through projections, LED installations, and engravings, the exhibit immerses visitors in a captivating experience where past and present resonate anew, offering a fresh perspective. [Read more]
