It's one of the capital's best-loved historic districts, a place of rich, lively culture and a party zone also known as the gay district of Paris. Spread over the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris, the Marais is home to some of the capital's best-known museums and art venues.
Musée Carnavalet, Musée Cognacq-Jay, Maison de Victor Hugo, Musée national Picasso, Musée de la magie, Mémorial de la Shoah, Maison européenne de la photographie, Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson... It's hard to find a place with a livelier artistic life!
The Marais district is ideal for fun, strolling and culture, whatever the time of year. Still not sure what to do when you find yourself in this part of Paris? Here's a small selection ofexhibitions to see in the Marais right now.
This guide is updated regularly, according to the programming of local museums and art venues. Check back here for new exhibitions.
Zeus, a masterpiece by artisans: the exhibition on the Olympic horse at the Museum of Arts and Crafts
Zeus, the striking metallic horse that surged across the Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony, now takes center stage in an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts. The display runs from December 17, 2025, to March 29, 2026. [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]
A double fashion showcase at the Dior Gallery and the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation in Paris – our photos
The Dior Gallery will open its doors from November 20, 2025, to May 3, 2026, for a groundbreaking exhibition showcasing over a hundred pieces collected by Azzedine Alaïa. This display is part of a dual exhibition, extended at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation from December 1, 2025, to May 24, 2026, highlighting the dialogue between Dior and Alaïa and revealing the Tunisian designer’s admiration for the New Look. [Read more]
Victor Hugo, decorator: the exhibition on a little-known facet of the poet at Maison Victor Hugo
What if Victor Hugo had followed his first calling? From November 13, 2025 to April 26, 2026, a new exhibition reveals a little-known aspect of the writer's life: his passion for decorating, which we trace through his many creations, from Paris to Guernsey. [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]
La Volpina: Kourtney Roy's photo exhibition at the Les filles du calvaire gallery
The Les Filles du Calvaire gallery is hosting La Volpina, Kourtney Roy's new exhibition in Paris, from November 6 to December 20, 2025. A visual immersion between self-portrait, Italian cinema, and marginal urban landscapes. [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]
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]
La Licorne, l'Étoile et la Lune: the Lamarche-Ovize exhibition at the Musée de la Chasse
The Florentine and Alexandre Lamarche-Ovize duo take over the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature with "La Licorne, l'Étoile et la Lune", an immersive exhibition combining art, dream habitat and dream landscapes, on view from October 14, 2025 to March 8, 2026. [Read more]
Flops?! Dare, fail, innovate: the funny exhibition unveiled at the Musée des Arts et Métiers
The Musée des Arts et Métiers takes a look at failure and its necessity in the world of invention, with the amusing exhibition "Flops. Oser, rater, innover", presented from October 14, 2025 to May 17, 2026. [Read more]
The Musée des Arts et Métiers: a historical journey through the greatest inventions
The Musée des Arts et Métiers is the kind of fun, family-friendly museum we love. Come and discover the world's greatest technical and technological inventions, housed in a historic monument. [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]
Underground: Raymond Pettibon's ironic exhibition at the Musée Picasso - our photos
The Musée Picasso Paris presents Underground, an exhibition devoted to Raymond Pettibon, from October 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026. Seventy drawings and fanzines reveal his ironic, subversive universe. [Read more]
Musée Picasso in Paris: prices, access, opening hours... All you need to know about the Paris museum
If you're a fan of Picasso's work, head to the Musée Picasso to discover the museum's permanent collections, as well as numerous exhibitions on the artist's world. History, access, opening hours, prices... We tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful Parisian museum! [Read more]
Exhibition The irony of history: Philip Guston caricatures the United States at the Musée Picasso
The Musée Picasso welcomes Philip Guston, an American artist who depicts the United States of the 70s and 80s with humor and irony. The exhibition The Irony of History runs from October 14, 2025 to March 1, 2026. [Read more]
Berlinde De Bruyckere: her "Need" exhibition at Galleria Continua - our photos
This autumn, Galleria Continua opens its doors to Berlinde De Bruyckere. The Belgian artist, a major figure in contemporary art, presents "Need", a solo exhibition exploring the vulnerability and fragility of the body. An artistic event to be discovered free of charge from October 10 to December 30, 2025. [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]
Les gens de Paris, 1926-1936: the historical exhibition at the Musée Carnavalet is unveiled
What if you could find your great-grandparents in the streets of Paris? The exhibition Les Gens de Paris 1926-1936 at the Musée Carnavalet delves into unpublished census records to reveal the Parisians of the interwar period. From October 8, 2025 to February 8, 2026. [Read more]
Denise Bellon: A wandering eye at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme
Sponsored - Come to the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme to discover the exhibition dedicated to Denise Bellon. This first major retrospective rediscovers a free and committed photographer, a pioneer of photojournalism in France and a fellow traveler of the Surrealists. [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]
The Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris, a collector's museum in the heart of the Marais district
The Musée Cognacq-Jay, located in the Marais district of Paris, boasts a fine collection of 18th-century works evocative of the Age of Enlightenment, acquired between 1900 and 1927 by Ernest Cognacq. It's a free historical plunge! [Read more]
Correspondances, an exhibition mixing contemporary art and 18th-century works at the Musée Cognacq-Jay
Contemporary artist Agnès Thurnauer takes up residence at the Musée Cognacq-Jay, engaging in an unprecedented dialogue between 18th-century works and her modern creations. The exhibition Correspondances runs from October 2, 2025 to February 8, 2026. [Read more]
Visit the towers of Notre-Dame de Paris: reopening with a new itinerary
The towers of Notre-Dame de Paris reopen to the public on September 20, 2025, to coincide with the Journées du Patrimoine. Climb to a height of 69 meters to rediscover one of the capital's most emblematic monuments, thanks to a new, enriched tour. A unique experience at the heart of Parisian heritage. [Read more]
Wish This Was Real: American artist Tyler Mitchell exhibits at MEP
For the first time, photographer Tyler Mitchell is honored in a solo exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Discover his work from October 15, 2025 to January 25, 2026. [Read more]
The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris: an exploration of the human-animal relationship
Nestled in the Marais district of Paris, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature offers a unique insight into hunting, nature and the complex relationship between man and animal. This unusual museum invites visitors to discover an exceptional collection, while encouraging reflection on our relationship with flora and fauna. [Read more]
Victor Hugo's house in Paris, an artistic plunge into the world of the famous author
The Maison de Victor Hugo is tucked away on the Place des Vosges in the heart of Paris. This museum dedicated to France's most famous author lets us discover the apartment where the artist and his family lived. [Read more]
Edward Weston, Modernity Revealed: the retrospective exhibition at the MEP
The Maison Européenne de la Photographie is dedicating an exhibition to Edward Weston, one of the greatest photographic artists of the 20th century. His work is revealed in the exhibition Modernité Révélée, on view from October 15, 2025 to January 25, 2026. [Read more]
Dans la Seine: the exhibition at the Crypte archéologique reveals the objects found in the Seine
The Crypte Archéologique presents an exhibition that's as curious as it is amusing, revealing objects found in the Seine, from prehistory to the present day. Visit this unique exhibition from January 31, 2024, to January 4, 2026. [Read more]
Center Wallonie Bruxelles: programme, exhibitions... all you need to know about the cultural center in Paris
Attention contemporary art lovers! The Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, located in the 4ᵉ arrondissement of Paris, opposite the Centre Pompidou, awaits you to fill up on knowledge. This cultural institution, inaugurated in 1979, highlights the artistic scene of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation through a varied program: visual arts, live performances, cinema and literature. Want to plan a visit? We'll tell you all about it! [Read more]
The Musée de la Magie, a mysterious and fun place in the heart of Paris
Let yourself be surprised by the Musée de la Magie, an unusual cultural and family venue in the Marais district of Paris. [Read more]
Visit an immersive work by Jean Dubuffet in the Centre Pompidou's permanent collections
Among the permanent collections at the Centre Georges Pompidou, there are many works that question our perceptions, taking us into another universe. Such is the case with Jardin d'Hiver, by artist Jean Dubuffet. [Read more]
The Maif Social Club, an inspiring cultural venue on rue de Turenne
On the rue de Turenne in Paris, a hybrid venue awaits cultural visitors and the curious: the Maif Social Club. It's an exhibition space, a library and a place for meetings and conferences. Here, new ideas for a better future are fished out, and children are welcome. [Read more]
The Musée du fromage in Paris is open, and we want to tell you all about it!
The first Musée du fromage has opened its doors in Paris, in the 4ᵉ arrondissement, since this June 13, 2024. A living museum that lets us discover the great French know-how, the making of different cheeses, the history and the many varieties to be discovered all over France. Did you know that there are almost 300 "origine contrôlée" cheeses? You'll have to stay in this world a little longer - and taste it, of course! [Read more]
The Swedish Institute in Paris: Sweden's only cultural center abroad
For a trip to Scandinavia without even leaving the capital, head for the Swedish Institute! Housed in the sublime Hôtel de Marle since 1971, the Nordic cultural center offers a rich and varied program of events all year round, showcasing art, music, design and cinema straight from Sweden. [Read more]
La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the museum of contemporary photography in Paris
Just a stone's throw from the Saint-Paul metro station in the Marais district, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie showcases those who have turned photography into an art form, a political medium and a means of rebelling, documenting and paying homage... We'll take you with us to the heart of the cultural venue dedicated to photography in Paris! [Read more]
Lafayette Anticipations: opening hours, prices... everything you need to know about the contemporary art foundation
For art lovers, the Lafayette Anticipations Foundation awaits you every day of the week to show you its exhibitions and space. Opening times, prices, practical information... we've got it all! [Read more]
Musée Carnavalet, Paris's oldest museum dedicated to the capital's history
The Musée Carnavalet invites you to discover the history of the capital. Discover what awaits you in Paris' oldest museum, which has the advantage of being free... [Read more]
The Shoah Memorial: a place of remembrance in Paris
The Shoah Memorial in Paris opens its doors to us free of charge, inviting us to remember and understand the history of the Jews of France, especially during the Second World War. [Read more]
The Museum of Hunting and Nature in Paris is evolving
The Musée de la Chasse closed its doors in 2019 to carry out expansion work. It also took the opportunity to enrich its collections and review its scenography, in order to question the relationship of Man to living things. Reopening planned for spring 2021. [Read more]
Henry Taylor at the Picasso Museum in Paris: a major exhibition celebrating contemporary American painting
The Picasso-Paris Museum hosts a major exhibition dedicated to Henry Taylor, a key figure in contemporary American painting, exploring themes of portraiture, collective memory, and Picasso’s influence. Open from April 7 to September 6, 2026, the exhibition features a journey curated in collaboration with the artist himself. [Read more]
American Images: Dana Lixenberg explores the American Dream in a photography exhibition at the MEP
Through her striking portraits, photographer Dana Lixenberg challenges the myth of the American Dream. Her exhibition, American Images, is on view at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie from February 11th to May 24th, 2026. [Read more]
Women in Reflection: Appearances and Imaginaries – Exploring Self-Image at the Cognacq-Jay Museum
The Cognacq-Jay Museum delves into the myriad portrayals of women in the 18th century with a captivating exhibition: "Women in the Mirror, Appearances and Imaginaries". The show runs from March 25 to September 20, 2026. [Read more]
Madame de Sévigné, Parisian Letters: A Unique Exhibition at the Carnavalet Museum
The Carnavalet Museum pays tribute to Madame de Sévigné with an engaging exhibition full of surprises, running from April 15 to August 23, 2026. [Read more]
Contemporary art exhibitions in Paris: Diego Marcon and Ladji Diaby at Lafayette Anticipations
Lafayette Anticipations is hosting two contemporary art exhibitions in Paris from April 1 to July 19, 2026, featuring the cinematic universe of Diego Marcon and the emerging scene embodied by Ladji Diaby. A double rendez-vous focusing on images, narration and artistic emotions. [Read more]
There's no doubt about it: the Marais is the liveliest district in the capital! So, shall we go there, my friends?
