They led exceptional lives, revolutionized their fields, changed history or produced masterpieces admired by generations of visitors... They deserve to be in the spotlight, at the heart of an exhibition dedicated to their lives and careers.
These individuals - artists, politicians, geniuses - are honored by museums and art galleries, through a never-before-seen retrospective. These exhibitions enable us to learn more about the great figures who have had such a major impact on our lives and on art.
So it's decided, we're off to discover one of these beautiful retrospective exhibitions! Yes, but which one? To find out, all you have to do is choose the one that most appeals to you, from our selection below. We've rounded up the top retrospective exhibitions to see right now and in the weeks to come in Paris and the Paris region.
This guide is updated regularly, according to the programs of museums and art venues in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Don't hesitate to come back to this page often to find out what's new!
Pop Art Car 2.0: a free exhibition blending pop art, design and digital culture on the Champs-Élysées
Sponsored - From September 24, 2026 to January 31, 2027, pop art car 2.0 takes over Renault’s showcase on the Champs-Élysées, at 53 Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. With a mix of historical works, never-before-seen digital pieces and automobiles, this free exhibition brings together artists Sébastien Preschoux, Popay, Victor Vasarely and Julio Le Parc. Not to mention the all-new show car, the Renault 8 Gordini Concept, unveiled in a world premiere. [Read more]
Jeanne’s Paintings: A Landscape and Flower Exhibition at the Vert Galant Gallery
La galerie du Vert Galant, in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, presents "Jeanne's Paintings," a show by artist Jeanne Marcel devoted to landscapes, flowers, and beach scenes, running from October 23 to 30, 2026. The program includes 25 canvases and a curated selection of 70 watercolors. [Read more]
Rafael Pavarotti, Photographer: the fashion photography exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs — our photos
Fashion photography takes over the Musée des Arts Décoratifs with an exhibition devoted to Rafael Pavarotti. From October 2, 2026, to May 2, 2027, more than 200 color prints trace the Brazilian photographer's career for the first time in France and engage with the museum's photography collections. [Read more]
PENN & FASHION: the exhibition that traces 60 years of fashion through Irving Penn's lens — our photos
Irving Penn makes his mark at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie with PENN & FASHION, running from September 30, 2026 to January 17, 2027. Spanning more than six decades of images, the exhibition shows how his eye reshaped the rules of fashion photography, from Dior and Balenciaga to Issey Miyake, Chanel, and John Galliano. [Read more]
Look, 40 years of fashion at the museum: the Musée des Arts Décoratifs retrospective exhibition — our photos
At the Museum of Decorative Arts, the 40th anniversary of the Museum of Fashion is celebrated with "Look: 40 Years of Fashion at the Museum," a must-see fashion exhibition. Forty iconic ensembles take the runway in the nave's central space, surrounded by sketches, patterns, and embroidery, showcasing four decades of style and craftsmanship. [Read more]
Belmondo, the Magnificent: the Cinémathèque honors the icon of French cinema
Bébel shines at the Cinémathèque française: Jean-Paul Belmondo is the focus of a major retrospective running from October 7, 2026 to January 31, 2027. [Read more]
Monet, Painting Time: our photos from the blockbuster exhibition at the Orangerie Museum
Light and the seasons set the rhythm for "Monet, Painting Time," the Claude Monet exhibition at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, running from September 30, 2026 to January 25, 2027. From landscapes to Water Lilies, the itinerary traces his quest to capture time on canvas. [Read more]
At 19M, this free fashion exhibition unveils the secrets behind Maison Michel’s hats.
Behind a beret, a boater, or a capeline lie hours of work and skills handed down through generations. From September 23 to December 13, 2026, the 19M will host a free exhibition dedicated to Maison Michel, inviting the public to discover the behind-the-scenes of hatmaking. [Read more]
Cézanne and Us at the Grand Palais: our photos from the blockbuster exhibition
Le Grand Palais hosts Cezanne and Us, a major retrospective conceived with the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d'Orsay and the Orangerie. Bringing together 174 masterpieces and numerous works by key figures of modern art, the show traces the imprint of the Aix-en-Provence artist from September 23, 2026 to January 17, 2027. [Read more]
Simone Fattal and Her Mythologies: A Retrospective Exhibition at Paris's Museum of Modern Art
The MAM Paris presents "Cities at the Bottom of a Lake," the first Paris-based monographic exhibition dedicated to Simone Fattal. From September 18, 2026 to January 24, 2027, visitors can admire the paintings, ceramics, collages, and books that span more than five decades of her work. [Read more]
Exhibition: Kerry James Marshall — a storytelling painter to discover at the Paris Museum of Modern Art
The American artist Kerry James Marshall is in the spotlight at the Museum of Modern Art: his exhibition "The Histories" examines the place of African Americans in U.S. history. A major exhibition not to be missed, running from September 18, 2026 to January 24, 2027. [Read more]
Eva Gonzalès exhibition at the Petit Palais: our photos from the retrospective
The Petit Palais presents Eva Gonzalès’s first major retrospective, in Paris’s 8th arrondissement. Nearly 100 works by Manet’s sole pupil are on view until January 24, 2027, and we take you there in photos. [Read more]
Andy Warhol at the Musée du Luxembourg: a surprising exhibition of the artist's overlooked works.
The Musée du Luxembourg shines a spotlight on Andy Warhol's drawings in a never-before-seen exhibition running from September 16, 2026 to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
Eternal Tintoretto: the Italian painter in the spotlight at a Jacquemart-André Museum exhibition
Come and admire the masterpieces of Tintoretto, the master of Italian painting, at the Jacquemart-André Museum, in an exclusive exhibition on view from September 11, 2026 to January 24, 2027. [Read more]
The Eye of Paris: Photographer Brassaï Honored in Exhibition at Hangar Y
Discover the poetic works of Brassaï, the quintessential French photographer of the 20th century, with the exhibition “The Eye of Paris,” on view at Hangar Y from October 17, 2026 to February 21, 2027. [Read more]
Parallax: Stan Douglas, the artist at the center of a photography exhibition at the Jeu de Paume
Photography as a way to tell stories and shape reality... Discover Stan Douglas’s work through the Parallax exhibition, on view at the Jeu de Paume from 20 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. [Read more]
Gianni Versace: The retrospective exhibition of the Italian fashion designer at the Maillol Museum — extended
Paris goes glam this summer with the "Gianni Versace Retrospective" at the Maillol Museum, running June 5 to October 31, 2026. Between baroque opulence and an overload of prints, the fashion retrospective promises color and extravagance, true to the legend. [Read more]
Louise Bourgeois Exhibition at the BnF: Drawings, Engravings and Nerves Laid Bare
The BnF Richelieu in Paris presents the exhibition "Louise Bourgeois. Extreme Tension," devoted to the drawings and prints by the Franco-American artist, from October 20, 2026 to February 21, 2027. A landmark gathering of the BnF’s holdings with those of the Centre Pompidou. [Read more]
Villeglé exhibition at Carnavalet: Paris, torn from the streets and urban art
The "Paris à l'arraché" exhibition celebrates Jacques Villeglé's centenary at the Musée Carnavalet, in the Marais, from 14 October 2026 to 14 February 2027. Torn posters, audio archives, and unseen documents trace 70 years of urban art in Paris. [Read more]
Georges Perec at the center of an exhibition at the BnF François-Mitterrand
The writer Georges Perec is at the heart of a show bearing his name, on view at the BnF François Mitterrand from October 13, 2026 to February 14, 2027. Come discover this indispensable 20th‑century author. [Read more]
This 17th-century Spanish painter is finally on display at the Louvre.
The Louvre Museum is devoting a major retrospective to Francisco de Zurbarán, a leading figure in 17th-century Spanish painting. So we’re pulling out the calendar to note this first-ever exhibition, which will be staged in the Napoléon Hall from October 7, 2026 to January 25, 2027. [Read more]
Gustave Fayet at the Louis Vuitton Foundation: Van Gogh, Gauguin and Redon in a landmark exhibition
The Louis Vuitton Foundation is dedicating a major, blockbuster exhibition to Gustave Fayet, a visionary collector and multi-disciplinary creator, from October 9, 2026, to March 8, 2027. [Read more]
Fashion in all its majesty: the Haute Couture exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs unfolds — our photos
The Decorative Arts Museum hosts Fashion in Majesty: Haute Couture and Tradition at the Thai court from May 13 to November 1, 2026. Through more than a hundred outfits, accessories, and textile pieces drawn from the royal family's collections, the exhibition shows how Queen Sirikit modernized Thai ceremonial dress while preserving its traditional codes, notably through her collaboration with Pierre Balmain and Maison Lesage. [Read more]
Robert Capa Exhibition at the Museum of the Liberation of Paris
The Museum of the Liberation of Paris is hosting an exhibition dedicated to Robert Capa, a legendary figure in war photojournalism, in collaboration with Magnum Photos. This immersive journey explores his perspective on 20th-century conflicts and is open from February 18 to December 20, 2026. [Read more]
Mary Cassatt. The Independent Woman: An Impressionist Exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay
From October 6, 2026 to January 31, 2027, the Musée d’Orsay presents Mary Cassatt. "The Independent Woman," a retrospective of nearly 80 paintings, pastels, and prints to mark the centenary of her death. [Read more]
Machine arrière #2, the typewriter: the retro exhibition at the Cité des Sciences - our photos
From November 25, 2025, the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie will be showcasing the typewriter in its "Machine arrière" series. A historical and audio immersion between technical innovations and social struggles. [Read more]
LV Dream by Louis Vuitton: free exhibition, boutique, café and chocolate shop
The famous Maison Louis Vuitton opens LV DREAM, a free exhibition and gift store that also features a café and a chocolate shop in collaboration with Chef Pâtissier Maxime Frédéric of Cheval Blanc Paris. While the exhibition is by reservation only, the boutique and café are open to the public. [Read more]
Perfumes, paintings, and costumes: Fragonard marks its centennial with an exhibition at the Monnaie de Paris
For its centenary, Fragonard leaves Grasse for Paris and takes over the Monnaie de Paris from November 13, 2026 to January 10, 2027. More than 250 works and objects, from perfumes to costumes, trace the house’s history and its know-how in an exhibition to see... and to smell. [Read more]
Billie Holiday, a tainted legend: the jazz icon spotlighted in an exhibition at the Philharmonie
She is part of the pantheon of the greatest American stars: singer Billie Holiday is at the heart of a major exhibition, on view at the Philharmonie de Paris from January 22 to July 11, 2027. [Read more]
Viktor & Rolf: a fashion‑event exhibition set to open at the Musée des Arts décoratifs in 2027
Sculptural gowns, exaggerated volumes, trompe-l'œil and spectacular silhouettes: the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris dedicates its next major retrospective to Viktor & Rolf from January 28 to July 4, 2027. A chance to discover thirty years of haute couture where fashion waltzes with contemporary art. [Read more]
Leonor Fini: the Argentine-born surrealist painter is on display at Paris's Musée d'Art Moderne
Surrealism enthusiasts have a date at the Musée d'art moderne de Paris from March 26 to August 15, 2027 to discover a major exhibition devoted to the Argentine-born painter Leonor Fini. [Read more]
Painters, sculptors, musicians, actors, great figures from French history... There are so many individuals to celebrate! Choose the one that interests you, and come and discover theexhibition dedicated to him or her. Enjoy your visit!
