Exhibitions starting in May 2025: what's new this month

Public holidays, bridging days, vacations: during the month of May, the French enjoy many days off. But there's no question of spending them on the sofa, especially when the weather's so nice outside! We're off to discover the exhibitions opening this month in Paris and the Paris region.

In May 2025, art and culture lovers are in for a treat: between Nuit des Musées, International Museum Day, and new programs for the capital's art venues, it looks like May will be entirely dedicated to culture... And so much the better!

But let's not spread ourselves too thin, or we won't have time to visit all the new exhibitions this month. So let's stay focused and get out the diary: it's time to plan our next discoveries! Contemporary art, fashion, photography, history, painting... Every day, a new artist, a new exhibition to see. A bit like an Advent calendar, only better, because the weather's nice.

So here's our selection of new exhibitions not to be missed in May 2025 in Paris and the Ile-de-France region.

Brazil-France 2025 season: photo exhibition on Brazil at the Canopée media library
On the occasion of the Brazil-France 2025 Season, the Canopée media library invites you to discover Brazil in all its cultural richness through a photographic exhibition by Dominique Stoenesco, from May 1 to 31, 2025. A free visual and cultural event not to be missed! [Read more]

Solid'Art Paris 2025: the solidarity art fair returns to the Carreau du Temple
The Carreau du Temple is hosting a new edition of Solid'Art, the art fair benefiting Secours Populaire. Join us from May 1 to 4, 2025 to admire contemporary works of art and do a good deed at the same time. [Read more]

Nocturne David Hockney #1: an ultra-colorful cultural & festive evening at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
The Fondation Louis Vuitton treats us to a colorful, offbeat evening around the David Hockney 25 exhibition! Join us this Friday, May 2, 2025 for a musical and arty nocturne at the edge of the Bois de Booulogne. [Read more]

Free 'Parade' exhibition at Domaine de Chamarande, featuring sculptor Stefan Rinck
From May 3 to September 28, 2025, the Domaine de Chamarande in the Essonne region of France honors German sculptor Stefan Rinck with "Parade". The program includes a monographic exhibition in the estate's park and orangery. An opportunity to explore, free of charge, a world where sculpture dialogues with history and social satire. [Read more]

Free Castles, Museums and Monuments in Yvelines, Sunday May 4th 2025, 1st Sunday of the month
On the first Sunday of the month, many monuments, castles, museums and historic sites in Yvelines open their doors to you free of charge. But that's not the case all year round. To help you find your way around, we've put together a list of cultural sites in Yvelines to visit this Sunday, May 4, 2025. [Read more]

Supersonic Mediaeval: Marianna Kennedy seen by Tilda Swinton in an exhibition at Christie's
Discover British designer Marianna Kennedy through the eyes of Tilda Swinton, in a new exhibition presented at Christie's Paris, May 5-11, 2025. [Read more]

Brazil-France 2025 season: Paulo Mariotti exhibition at the Germaine Tillion Library
As part of the Brazil-France 2025 Season, the Bibliothèque du tourisme et des voyages - Germaine Tillion unveils Regards sur la ville, a new exhibition by Franco-Brazilian cartoonist Paulo Mariotti, which sketches a singular portrait of São Paulo through its iconic architecture, from May 6 to July 12, 2025. [Read more]

Brazil-France 2025 season: Eymard Toledo's Brazil, the exhibition at the Colette Vivier Library
As part of the Brazil-France 2025 Season, the Colette Vivier library is hosting a free exhibition of committed collages by Brazilian author-illustrator Eymard Toledo, from May 6 to June 30, 2025. [Read more]

Machine arrière #1, the radio-transistor: the Cité des Sciences historical exhibition in pictures
The Cité des Sciences invites you to (re)discover an object that revolutionized our daily lives: the radio! From May 6 to November 2, 2025, learn all the secrets of this wonderful invention. [Read more]

Biennale d'architecture et de paysage 2025 in Versailles: free exhibitions and workshops
The Biennale d'Architecture et de Paysage returns to Versailles with a green thumb! For this 3rd edition, from May 7 to July 13, 2025, "La Vi(ll)e vivante" will be germinating ideas, exhibitions and encounters to rethink the city in terms of living things. An arty breath of fresh air, where construction, roots and creativity make common cause. [Read more]

Worth, the birth of Haute Couture: a new fashion exhibition on the couturier at the Petit Palais
Charles Frederick Worth, the "father of haute couture", takes up residence at the Petit Palais! From May 7 to September 7, 2025, the museum pays tribute to the man who metamorphosed the art of fashion with a never-before-seen retrospective exhibition. A wonderful opportunity to (re)discover the timeless legacy of this visionary couturier who made Parisian elegance shine on a global scale. [Read more]

Fishing beyond the cliché: our photos from the 100% net and trawler exhibition at the Musée de la Marine
The Musée national de la Marine in Paris is devoting a photo exhibition to fishing, between fantasy, literature and reality in the field, entitled "La pêche au-delà du cliché, inédits de la collection", from May 14 to August 17, 2025. An opportunity to discover the maritime world and fishing communities through over a century of visual archives. [Read more]

Brazil-France 2025 season: "Art and the Environment" exhibition at the Bibliothèque Hergé
As part of the Brazil-France 2025 Season, the Bibliothèque Hergé is hosting the "Art and the Environment" exhibition, created by the Art-éco association. A sensitive plunge into the world of the Amazon rainforest, to be discovered from May 14 to June 14 2025. [Read more]

Clubbing: our photos of the exhibition in nightclub mode at the Grand Palais Immersif
Like a desire to dance on the dancefloor! The Grand Palais Immersif invites you to discover its exhibition on the history of clubs and nightclubs, entitled Clubbing, from May 13 to September 21, 2025. A unique sensory and interactive journey over 1,200 m², dedicated to the history of club culture, between avatars, digital dancefloors and mythical venues. [Read more]

Jean Gaumy and the Sea: our photos of the intimate maritime exhibition at the Musée de la Marine
Discover the sea through the prism of journalistic and documentary photography... The Musée national de la Marine invites you to discover the maritime world of photographer Jean Gaumy, through the exhibition "Jean Gaumy et la mer", from May 14, 2025 to August 17, 2025. In all, over 140 prints await photo and ocean lovers, for an unparalleled immersion in the world of the sea! [Read more]

The Berlin Wall, a divided world: the exhibition at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, our photos
A global symbol of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall divided the city in two for 28 long years. As the German capital celebrates the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Wall in 2024, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine in Paris presents an original, well-documented exhibition at the heart of this Berlin cut in two. "The Berlin Wall. A world divided" is on view from May 14 to September 28, 2025. [Read more]

Une passion chinoise, the fascinating exhibition unveiled at the Musée du Louvre - photos
"Une passion chinoise, la collection de monsieur Thiers", the exhibition unveiled to us at the Musée du Louvre from May 14 to August 25, 2025, features more than 170 Chinese works from the collections of Adolphe Thiers. Installed on the Napoleon mezzanine, this retrospective highlights the richness of Chinese art from the XVIIIᵉ and XIXᵉ centuries, between porcelains, prints and imperial treasures. [Read more]

A dog museum arrives at the gates of Paris (and it's dog-friendly!)
You read that right: a museum dedicated to dogs is coming to the gates of Paris! From May 16, 2025, curious visitors and animal lovers can discover this surprising place, and can even visit with their dog. As an added bonus, it's free until September 1, 2025. [Read more]

Brazil-France 2025 season: Aurélia Fronty exhibition at the Bibliothèque André Malraux
As part of the Brazil-France 2025 Season, the Bibliothèque André Malraux unveils a vibrant exhibition dedicated to Aurélia Fronty's illustrations for the tale "L'enfant, le jaguar et le feu", written by Muriel Bloch, from May 16 to July 3, 2025. An invitation to explore the depths of the Amazon rainforest through a work rich in color, myth and emotion. [Read more]

Mondes en commun: the Albert-Kahn museum's photography festival
The Musée Départemental Albert-Kahn puts contemporary photography in the spotlight with its Mondes en Commun festival. Discover its new edition from May 17 to September 7, 2025. [Read more]

Louis-Jean Desprez: the Swedish Institute dedicates a monographic exhibition to the artist, our photos
Painter, engraver, architect and traveler, Louis-Jean Desprez left his mark on the 18th century with his dramatic and enigmatic works. Fifteen of these works can be admired free of charge at the Swedish Institute. This monographic exhibition, part of the new layout of the permanent exhibition, runs from May 17 to October 26, 2025. [Read more]

A new world: the Swedish Institute unveils its new permanent exhibition (Paris 3è)
Sponsored - From May 17, 2025, the Swedish Institute's permanent exhibition begins its new era. This new permanent display explores the artistic and societal revolutions of the XVIIIᵉ century, between progress, turmoil and dialogue between past and present, through four never-before-seen sections. Free admission, no reservation required. [Read more]

Intimate Henner, the man behind the artist: the exhibition at the Musée Jean-Jacques Henner
The Musée Jean-Jacques Henner reveals "the man behind the artist" in a new exhibition on view from May 17 to October 13, 2025. [Read more]

Paula Villar, a look at Brazil: the exhibition at the Bibliothèque Assia Djebar
As part of the France-Brazil 2025 Season, the Assia Djebar Library is hosting the exhibition Paula Villar, un Regard sur le Brésil from May 17 to July 5, 2025. A plunge into engaged drawings, between graphic humor and social criticism of contemporary Brazil. [Read more]

Jeanne Vicerial: her "Nymphose" exhibition at Galerie Templon in Paris
It's an exhibition that's sure to dazzle. From May 17 to July 19, 2025, Jeanne Vicerial presents "Nymphose" at Galerie Templon - Beaubourg, in Paris's 3rd arrondissement. It's an opportunity for the talented French visual artist to unveil her large-scale sculptures in black thread, crocheted or smoothed. [Read more]

Painting memory: the retrospective exhibition around Boris Zaborov at the Maison Caillebotte
Maison Caillebotte honors painter Boris Zaborov with the exhibition Painting Memory, on view from May 17 to September 21, 2025. [Read more]

Révélations 2025: the biennial arts and crafts show moves to the Grand Palais
It's back at last at the Grand Palais: the biennial Révélations, the international showcase of artistic and creative crafts, is open from May 21 to 25, 2025. Come and discover the skills of artists and craftsmen from all over the world through exceptional new works. [Read more]

Discovering dinosaurs: the immersive exhibition arrives in Meudon (92) in May 2025 - CANCELLED
Get ready for a prehistoric invasion in Hauts-de-Seine (92)! On Wednesday May 21, Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25, 2025, the travelling exhibition "Discovering dinosaurs" stops off in Meudon for a Jurassic face-to-face encounter with some twenty larger-than-life mastodons, punctuated by fun and educational activities for the whole family. [Read more]

Free street art exhibition by Djalouz in Paris 13th arrondissement: dans mon nid
Artist Djalouz takes over 13 Korner with his free exhibition "Dans mon nid", from May 22 to June 21, 2025 in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. On the program: works on canvas, sculptures, live painting, workshops for all and tattoos by appointment. We tell you all about it. [Read more]

Curieuse nocturne - La rue barrée: a festive night of dancing at the Musée d'Orsay
An exhibition, a popular street dance, street-artists, all in a Year of Madness atmosphere? We say yes! This Thursday, May 22, 2025, we're off to the Musée d'Orsay for a festive Curieuse nocturne. [Read more]

Nocturnes Danse "David Hockney 25": art, dance and circus live at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
David Hockney's works come to life during two nocturnes when dance takes over the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Circus performers, opera stars, electro and Sufism transform each gallery into a moving tableau. An arty, effervescent rendez-vous not to be missed on Thursday May 22 and Saturday May 24, 2025. [Read more]

Jeju, the Korean island of a thousand secrets at the Korean Cultural Center
Sponsored - When it comes to South Korea, you're bound to know Seoul. From May 22 to September 6, 2025, thanks to the Korean Cultural Center's major exhibition, you can also discover Jeju Island and its famous haenyeo divers, emblematic figures of a maritime culture listed as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Jeju, an island of memories, legends, resistance and raw beauty. Free admission. [Read more]

Paris Gallery Week-end 2025: enjoy a free artistic weekend in Parisian galleries
A festive weekend at the heart of art, that's what the Paris Gallery Week-end event is all about, from May 23 to 25, 2025. Exhibitions, meetings, cocktails, performances: discover what's in store for you these days, free of charge. [Read more]

Bordalo II: the Portuguese street artist presents his "Irréversible" exhibition in Paris, our photos
Portuguese street artist Bordalo II is back in Paris with a new solo exhibition entitled "Irréversible". Visit the 13th arrondissement of Paris from May 24 to June 28, 2025, to discover some 40 works, including his famous portraits of animals threatened with extinction. [Read more]

Open house at the Père Lachaise 2025 studios: come and meet Parisian artists!
Art lovers are invited to discover the new edition of the Portes ouvertes des ateliers du Père-Lachaise, which awaits us for artistic visits from May 24 to 26, 2025. This is your chance to discover local painters, sculptors and photographers, who will be revealing their work and expertise! [Read more]

Grandeur Nature II: the contemporary art exhibition in the gardens of the Château de Fontainebleau
From May 25 to September 21, 2025, take a stroll through the gardens of the Château de Fontainebleau and discover the works on display. The Grandeur Nature contemporary art trail is back for a 2nd summer edition, free of charge. [Read more]

Freestyle 2025, the free street culture festival celebrates its 10th anniversary at La Villette
Freestyle, the unmissable street culture festival, is back at La Villette! Dance, street-art, fashion, music, sport... The free street culture festival returns for a new, even more incredible edition, on May 31 and June 1, 2025. Not to be missed! [Read more]

Don't forget your sun cream, bottle of water and wallet for the souvenir store, and off we go! Enjoy your visit, folks.