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 2026, 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 2026 in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
Heritage in Resistance: From Timbuktu to Odessa, an Exhibition at the City of Architecture.
Sponsored - In Paris, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine presents the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance : de Tombouctou à Odessa, running from May 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, a look at heritage in wartime, where destruction, safeguarding, and rebuilding come into play. [Read more]
European Night of Museums 2026: Korea lights up Paris
Sponsored - On Saturday, May 23, 2026, the European Night of Museums puts Korea in the spotlight in Paris with concerts, dance, pansori, rituals, and workshops across several museums, for a free evening that blends heritage and creativity. To admire contemporary Korean art, many institutions are opening their doors for free. Explore the program. [Read more]
Rambolitrain Retro 2026: a big toy and garden train fair at Rambolitrain, on May 1.
It's an annual tradition at Rambolitrain, the museum dedicated to the toy train in Rambouillet, to hold a festive day on May 1st. This year, discover this family event with the kids! [Read more]
Free castles, museums and monuments in Yvelines, Sunday, May 3, 2026, the first Sunday of the month - 78
On the first Sunday of every month, many monuments, castles, museums, and historic sites in Yvelines open their doors for free. But that isn’t the case for everyone, all year round. To help you navigate, here’s the list of cultural sites in the 78 to visit this Sunday, May 3, 2026. [Read more]
Free entry to castles and museums in Seine-et-Marne this Sunday, May 3, 2026 — the first Sunday of the month.
On the first Sunday of each month, many castles, museums, and monuments in Île-de-France open their doors for free. How does that look in Seine-et-Marne? Some sites are free every first Sunday of the month year-round, while others, on specific dates, we break down what's happening this Sunday, May 3, 2026. [Read more]
This collection of classic cars turns the Grand Palais into an automotive temple — last day.
In Paris, the Grand Palais will host, on May 3 and 4, an extraordinary exhibition of more than 230 classic cars, in the run-up to Tour Auto 2026. A few hours before the start of this iconic event, the heir to the Tour de France Automobile, visitors have the chance to get up close to rare and prestigious models before they take to the roads of France. Here’s what we thought. [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]
Jardins des Lumières: an exhibition on the art of garden design at the Grand Trianon, Palace of Versailles
At the Grand Trianon of the Palace of Versailles, in Yvelines, the exhibition Jardins des Lumières (1750-1800) delves into the art of the landscape garden through nearly 160 works, including paintings, models, drawings, and furniture. Go see it from May 5 to September 27, 2026, and take the opportunity to explore the Trianon gardens and the Queen's Hamlet. [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]
Everyone’s looking for their cat: a street-art exhibition centered on felines at Fluctuart
"Everyone's Looking for Their Cat," is the name of the new free urban art exhibition to see at Fluctuart. Join us from May 7 to August 23, 2026 to admire the works by about ten street artists created around the famous feline. [Read more]
Jonk & Friends: the exhibition that blends street art and photography at the Nature Forte Gallery
This spring, photographer Jonk invited 13 of his fellow artists to contribute to his photographs. The exhibition, simply titled "Jonk & Friends," is on view for free at Galerie Nature Forte from May 7 to June 6, 2026. [Read more]
Viandalism: the exhibition bridging street art and contemporary art at the Mona Bismarck
Graffiti and contemporary art converge at the Mona Bismarck with Viandalism, an exhibition bringing together 40 artists from May 7 to 8, 2026. Over two days, this artistic gathering offers a different way of circulating the works and presenting them to the public. Free admission, but registration is required. [Read more]
Nocturne Calder #1: Exhibition, music, workshop and bar at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in May 2026
The Louis Vuitton Foundation kicks into gear for its first late-night opening dedicated to Calder, this Friday, May 8, 2026. Music, guided tours and works suspended in space compose an evening of balance and vibration. A night when art sways, guiding you into its dance. [Read more]
Open studios at Père-Lachaise: a Parisian stroll to meet the artists
Art lovers are invited to explore the new edition of the Open Studios at Père-Lachaise, with artistic tours on the weekend of May 8–11, 2026. An opportunity to discover local painters, sculptors, and photographers, who will reveal their works and their craft to you! [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]
The Guardians of the Earth: a conversation with notable figures devoted to protecting all living things
Sponsored - As part of the final day of Yann Arthus-Bertrand's "Vivre Ensemble" event at Place de la Concorde, Planet Earth Now and the GoodPlanet Foundation invite you, Sunday, May 10, to discover the journeys of devoted figures who work daily to bring about a fairer world and a more environmentally respectful one. This event is free. [Read more]
Paradise Feathers: An Invitation to Travel to Papua New Guinea, from the Quai Branly
The Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris is hosting the exhibition Feathers of Paradise from May 12 to November 8, 2026. Dedicated to the birds of paradise from New Guinea, this showcase features nearly 190 items—including adornments, paintings, preserved specimens, fashion objects, and illustrated books. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey through five centuries of fascination with these spectacular creatures, weaving together perspectives from art, science, ethnology, and ecology. [Read more]
The Navy and the painters: a splendid exhibition of maritime paintings at the Navy Museum - photos
The Maritime Museum puts the spotlight on painters who helped shape the history of the French Navy across four centuries, with an exhibition of paintings on view from May 13 to August 2, 2026. [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]
This free exhibition celebrates the Monogram’s 130th anniversary with a selection of exceptional trunks in Paris.
In Paris, some exhibitions are worth a detour. To mark the 130th anniversary of Louis Vuitton's Monogram canvas, Gros & Delettrez unveils a rare selection of trunks and travel goods from May 19 to 21, 2026. Three days to discover them for free, before they go up for auction. [Read more]
Silla: Gold and the Sacred — An Exhibition Showcasing Korea's Treasures at the Guimet Museum
The Guimet Museum unveils ancient treasures from the Silla Kingdom in South Korea with the exhibition "Silla: Gold and the Sacred," open from May 20 to August 31, 2026. [Read more]
Primordial Water at the Louvre: An Exhibition Exploring Water in Ancient Mesopotamia
The Louvre Museum in Paris will host Primordial Water from May 20, 2026, to March 15, 2027. This exhibition explores the vital role of water in ancient Mesopotamian civilizations and will be displayed in the Oriental Antiquities Department galleries. Through archaeological artifacts, mythological stories, and the earliest hydraulic structures, visitors will delve into the development of irrigation systems and discover how Mesopotamian societies organized their landscapes around this crucial resource. [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]
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]
ORLAN at the Louvre: three free encounters with a leading figure in contemporary art
The Louvre hands the floor to ORLAN for three free "Artist Lessons" on 22 May, 12 June and 25 September 2026. Through images, the body, censorship and the artists' responsibility, this leading figure in contemporary art invites a rereading of the museum's masterpieces in light of today's questions. [Read more]
Vhils: the street artist presents his exhibition “L'interstice” at the Danysz Gallery in Paris
Fans of Vhils' work have a date this spring in Paris’ 11th arrondissement. The Danysz Gallery presents "L'interstice," the Portuguese street artist's latest solo exhibition. Free to visit from May 22 to June 20, 2026, this new installation unveils a series of works crafted from materials sourced in the capital. [Read more]
This free Haute Couture fashion exhibition has taken up residence in an Art Deco auction house in Paris.
The auction house Tajan is staging a free exhibition in Paris dedicated to haute couture in the 8th arrondissement, on Friday, May 22, and then from Monday, May 25 to Wednesday, May 27, 2026. An exclusive collection brings together fashion pieces and accessories from the greatest houses, from Dior to Chanel, Alaïa to Alexander McQueen, with Hermès not forgotten. [Read more]
Bricks of Wonder: a family-friendly exhibition built with famous construction bricks in Paris
L'artiste Dirk Denoyelle unveils his Lego brick works in a playful, family-friendly exhibition, on view from May 23 to August 16, 2026 at Espace Champerret in Paris. [Read more]
Pentecost Weekend 2026: 10 fantastic exhibitions to discover in Paris on May 23–25
What are we doing this Pentecost weekend in Paris, on Saturday 23, Sunday 24 and Monday 25 May 2026? Easy: make the most of the long weekend to discover the season’s best exhibitions. Here’s a quick roundup of outings for the Pentecost weekend. [Read more]
Beyond the Streets: Graffiti and Street Art Legends Take Center Stage at La Villette's Grand Hall
Urban art takes center stage at La Villette's Grande Halle with the blockbuster exhibition "Beyond the Streets"! Running from May 27 to August 30, 2026, visitors will have the chance to explore works by over 100 leading artists specializing in graffiti and street art, spread across more than 3,600 square meters. What’s on offer? A mix of iconic historical pieces, exclusive new artworks, and immersive installations created specifically for this event. [Read more]
Leonardo Cremonini exhibition at the Espace Richaud and the Musée Lambinet in Versailles
The Espace Richaud and the Musée Lambinet in Versailles are hosting an immersive exhibition dedicated to Leonardo Cremonini, master of poetic realism, narrative silence, and pictorial tension, from May 27 to October 5, 2026. [Read more]
More than a hundred artist studios are throwing open their doors in Belleville for a weekend!
The Belleville Artists’ Open Studios return for a free 37th edition, showcasing more than 170 artists and collectives to discover across the entire neighborhood. See you May 28–31, 2026! [Read more]
Paris Gallery Weekend 2026, a free, contemporary weekend across Paris's art galleries
A festive weekend at the heart of art is on offer with the Paris Gallery Weekend, from May 29 to 31, 2026. Exhibitions, encounters, cocktails, and performances: discover what awaits you free of charge. [Read more]
JACE, the street artist behind Gouzou, unveils his exhibition "Cœur Sensible" in Paris's 13th arrondissement.
Le street artiste Jace, known worldwide for his famous Gouzous, returns to Paris with a new solo exhibition in collaboration with the Mathgoth gallery. This time, the French urban artist takes over a 300-square-meter pop-up space in the 13th arrondissement to present his "Cœur Sensible." [Read more]
Le Vésinet, Chatou, Carrières-sur-Seine... artist studios open their doors in May 2026.
On the occasion of the Parcours d’art de la Boucle de Seine, on May 30–31, 2026, nearly sixty artist studios and craftspeople will open their doors to the public. From Carrières-sur-Seine to Chatou, via Croissy-sur-Seine, Houilles, Le Vésinet and Montesson, this free art-filled excursion invites visitors to discover the behind-the-scenes of creation along the charming lanes of the Yvelines (78). [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.
Dates and Opening Time
From May 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026
