There's no better day to visit the capital's museums and art galleries. But there are days when this undertaking is more complicated. In Paris and the Ile-de-France region, many museums and monuments are closed on Mondays, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Monnaie de Paris, the Musée Carnavalet, the Petit Palais, the Musée Rodin, the Musée du Quai Branly... The list goes on.
But does that mean you can't see a beautiful exhibition in Paris on a Monday? Don't worry, your plans for a day out won't be jeopardized. The Paris region has many more museums than that. Not to mention art galleries, foundations and institutes, cultural centers, châteaux... There's plenty to do!
So where to go, what to see, what to do this Monday? If you're a lover of culture and the arts, we've put together a list of exhibitions open on Mondays. Take your pick, and enjoy!
Le Paradox Museum Paris unveils five new immersive experiences alongside a Hans & Gretel Café
Paradox Museum offers nearly a hundred immersive experiences—from trompe-l'œil illusions and optical tricks to sensory overhauls—that await visitors in Paris. Get ready to be tricked and to snap surreal photos. Five new interactive installations have just been added to the journey, making it the perfect time to challenge your senses! And as a bonus, a brand-new, ultra-delicious café, Hans & Gretel, is ready to tempt you. [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]
Lafayette, bridging France and America: free exhibit on the Marquis at the National Archives
From April 1 to July 14, 2026, the National Archives will host a free exhibition dedicated to Marquis de Lafayette. Featuring rare documents, caricatures, and related artifacts, this exhibition traces the life of the "hero of two worlds" — a figure equally celebrated in the United States and debated within France, against the backdrop of revolutionary upheavals. [Read more]
Noa Eshkol at the mahJ: contemporary dance and textile compositions in the Marais
Sponsored - Le mahJ dedicates an exhibition to Noa Eshkol, a pioneer of contemporary dance and a textile artist, from April 16 to August 30, 2026 in Paris. Join us at the Musée d'art et d'histoire du Judaïsme in Paris's 3rd arrondissement. [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]
Colors Festival returns to Paris with the street-art exhibition Colors Ligth, spanning 700 m², featuring the photos
The Colors Festival returns to Paris after a three-year hiatus and sets up in the 15th arrondissement with Colors Light, a new immersive exhibition exploring blacklight and urban art, opening from April 16 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]
Michelangelo / Rodin: Sculptors in a head-to-head encounter in a major Louvre museum exhibition
The Louvre Museum brings two great masters of sculpture into dialogue in an exhibition that takes us behind the secrets of creation: from April 15 to July 20, 2026, don't miss "Michelangelo / Rodin". [Read more]
Did you know? The Opéra Garnier houses a hidden artificial lake
An artificial lake hidden in the underground passages of the Opéra Garnier in Paris? No, it's not an urban legend, but reality. So why is it there, and can you visit it? We tell you all about it. [Read more]
AURA INVALIDES, the must-see sound and light show in Paris
Looking for a unique nocturnal experience in Paris? Ready to be amazed and embark on a timeless journey to a legendary heritage site? Come and discover AURA INVALIDES, a sound and light show at the iconic Dôme des Invalides as night falls. A magical moment in the heart of the Dome, sure to delight young and old alike. [Read more]
Admire them all: Pokémon take center stage in a playful and nostalgic exhibition at the Musée en Herbe
The Musée en Herbe marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with an exhibition that is as artistic as it is playful, on view from April 16 to September 6, 2026. [Read more]
Matisse 1941-1954: the major retrospective exhibition celebrating the renowned painter at the Grand Palais
The Grand Palais and the Centre Pompidou present a new exhibition exploring the final years of Matisse's life and artistic journey. This must-see retrospective is a must for fans and will be on display at the Grand Palais from March 24 to July 26, 2026. [Read more]
Did you know? You can take free courses at the Collège de France, opposite the Sorbonne.
If you suddenly feel like sitting in on a course at the Collège de France, it’s possible! Since 1530, teaching there has been free and open to everyone, making knowledge more accessible. So, ready to explore the mysteries of the atom or the Mesopotamian civilization? [Read more]
Video Games & Music at the Philharmonie: our photos from the exhibition about video game music
The Philharmonie de Paris highlights video game music with the exhibition Video Games & Music – The Music You Are the Hero Of, on view from April 2 to November 1, 2026. conceived as an immersive, interactive journey, the show traces the evolution of video game soundtracks, from Pong’s early electronic tones to the expansive scores of Final Fantasy, demonstrating how musical creation has accompanied the history and transformations of the medium. [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]
ZEUS, the iconic metal horse from the Olympics, on display for free at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris
Zeus, the mechanical horse from the Olympic Games that captured everyone's hearts, has now arrived at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. The towering steel colossus is open to the public free of charge from December 17, 2025, to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
Prehistory, between utopia and reality: a free, family-friendly exhibition at the Collège de France
From April 29, 2026, the Collège de France takes visitors back to the Paleolithic era with a free exhibition open to the entire family. Spanning—from early Paleolithic masterpieces to pop culture icons—this unprecedented journey shows how humanity has continually reinvented its roots to better understand its present. [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]
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]
Attend the rekindling ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe
Every evening, under the Arc de Triomphe, you can attend a free, silent ceremony in tribute to the soldiers who died for France. At 6.30pm, the Flame of the Nation, on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is rekindled to burn endlessly. We tell you the story of this special ceremony. [Read more]
The President of the Republic's Honorary Titles: a free exhibition at the Élysée Palace in Paris
At the Élysée, power wears its insignia rather than its rhetoric. With the free exhibition “The Honorary Titles of the President of the Republic,” on display from April 28 to June 27, 2026, it is the decorations of power that take center stage. [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]
Don't stop there: find out what other events and meetings await you this Monday in Paris and the Paris region.
What to do on Monday, May 11, 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France: great ideas for outings
What to do on Monday, May 11, 2026? Sortiraparis has you covered every day with ideas for solo, couples, families, or friends in Paris and the Île-de-France region. Head this way to discover our pick of top ideas to kick off the week in Paris and across Île-de-France. [Read more]
What to do on Monday, May 11, 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France: great ideas for outings
