It's back to business in Paris: 10 exhibitions you won't want to miss as summer holidays come to an end.

Schoolbags ready, bathing suits packed: there's no doubt about it, it's back-to-school time in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. What a joy! Yes, it's great to be back at the capital's museums, foundations and art galleries, and above all, their programming.

As the summer draws to a close, a whole host of new exhibitions await us at our beloved art temples. Contemporary art, retrospectives, impressionist painters, history or themed exhibitions: there's something for every taste, and every audience. This autumn, it's a chance to discover fabulous artists, admire impressive works and plunge into incredible creative universes... How can you resist getting carried away by this artistic whirlwind?

But a word of caution: the new season is shaping up, and it takes some planning. To avoid getting lost in all the current programs, here’s a concise pick to guide your first steps into the museums. Without further ado, here are 10 exhibitions to see as soon as possible, for the 2026 autumn season.

The 10 must-see exhibitions:

Paris Design Week 2026: six leading designers reinvent ancestral paper at the Hôtel de la Marine
Hanji, the traditional Korean paper crafted for more than a thousand years, is taking the spotlight at the Hôtel de la Marine for Paris Design Week 2026. From September 10 to 27, the HANJIMANIA exhibition brings together French designers and Korean masters of craft for a show of new works that fuse furniture, lighting, and ancestral know-how. [Read more]

Remember Me: Masterpieces of photography from the Pinault Collection are on display at the Bourse de Commerce.
This fall and winter, the Bourse de Commerce hosts the photographic masterpieces from the Pinault Collection. From October 7, 2026 to January 18, 2027, you can explore around 700 works by more than 70 artists, including Erwin Blumenfeld, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Lee Miller, Irving Penn, Cindy Sherman, and Annie Leibovitz. [Read more]

In Paris, this exhibition traces 60 years of fashion through the lens of Irving Penn, opening in September.
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]

Hassan Hajjaj: My rock stars, the colorful portraits by the contemporary artist on display at the Music Museum
Hassan Hajjaj, the renowned contemporary artist and photographer who draws on his Moroccan heritage and multiculturalism, unveils his colorful, playful portraits in an unprecedented exhibition to be seen at the Museum of Music from September 22, 2026 to April 25, 2027. For the occasion, the group Acid Arab will present a sound piece that engages with the exhibition. [Read more]

First Nations: An exhibition exploring the arts and cultures of North America at the Quai Branly Museum
The Quai Branly Museum invites visitors to meet the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest with an exhibition running from September 29, 2026 to January 10, 2027. [Read more]

[IN]IMAGINABLE at Fluctuart: dive into the imagined worlds born from lowbrow and pop surrealism
This autumn, the Fluctuart houseboat in Paris invites you to dive into the imaginations born of lowbrow and pop surrealism. From September 10 to December 20, 2026, discover "[IN]IMAGINABLE," a new free exhibition spotlighting works by Amandine Urruty, Benjamin Lacombe, Stom500, Veks Van Hillik, and Ador. [Read more]

Street Art Madeleine II, the free exhibition featuring more than 100 artists at the Madeleine Church
The free Street Art Madeleine II exhibition takes over the crypt of the Church of La Madeleine in Paris, from October 1 to 11, 2026. More than 100 street artists and nearly 200 original works come together underground to celebrate the release of Codex Urbanus’s Petit Atlas du Street Art. [Read more]

This contemporary art exhibition is set to occupy the Arc de Triomphe’s interior in September.
The Arc de Triomphe hosts "La Tempête," the new exhibition by Jérémy Pradier-Jeauneau, from September 9 to October 4, 2026. The artist unfolds an artistic journey through sculpture, installations and design, up to the monument’s parapet, which will be exceptionally accessible to visitors. [Read more]

Kurt Schwitters Exhibition at the Picasso Museum in Paris: the Creative Chaos of the Avant-Garde
The Picasso Museum in Paris presents the exhibition "Kurt Schwitters. The Chaos-World. 1918-1948", a sweeping retrospective devoted to the German artist in the 3rd arrondissement, running from October 6, 2026 to February 7, 2027. More than 300 works and documents delve into collages, assemblages and experimentation. [Read more]

Small Lives: Centre Pompidou's exhibition at the Panthéon
The exhibition Vies minuscules fills the Pantheon’s nave in Paris from 25 September 2026 to 31 January 2027. About thirty artists from the Centre Pompidou’s collections tell the stories of anonymous lives, with no extra ticket required. [Read more]

And what's happening right now:

Les Traversées du Marais 2026: free cultural programming to discover in the heart of Paris
Les Traversées du Marais, the cultural itinerary that spotlights the Marais' most beautiful spots, is back from September 4 to 6, 2026. This year, around twenty iconic sites in the Parisian district are offering a wealth of free artistic events for everyone! [Read more]

Louvre Museum: the date of the next free late-night opening to experience on the first Friday of the month
Here's the smart move to take advantage of at the start of each month: the Louvre Museum offers free admission to all visitors on the first Friday of every month after 6 p.m. Next date to note: September 4, 2026. [Read more]

Heritage Days 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France: dates and themes of this new edition
European Heritage Days are back for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, marking its 43rd edition. In Paris and Île-de-France, the event offers free access to museums and palaces, venues opened especially for the occasion, quirky guided tours, and other engaging activities, centered on the themes "Heritage in Peril: Rekindle, Resist, Reimagine" and "Heritage of Photography." [Read more]

Must-see art events in Paris in the coming days
Night tours, a photo festival, Heritage Days, a street-art event... No matter the season, art is always in fête in Paris! To make sure you don’t miss these major cultural happenings, follow our guide to Parisian artistic events. [Read more]

Common Worlds: the Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum’s Contemporary Photography Festival.
From May 20 to September 20, 2026, the Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum shines a spotlight on contemporary photography for the new edition of its festival, Mondes en commun. [Read more]

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]

Grand Palais Summer 2026: celebrations, performances and events, summer happenings at the Grand Palais
Summer in Paris is magical: case in point, the Grand Palais is unveiling a special, festive program from June 2 to September 6, 2026. Discover what awaits you! [Read more]

C.A.P.S 2026: The lineup for Clichy’s XXL urban art festival
The town of Clichy becomes a giant museum for the new edition of C.A.P.S, the urban art festival. Mark your calendars from June 27 to December 12, 2026 for an even more incredible sixth edition! [Read more]

Just goes to show, back-to-school has its good points too! Take advantage of all these beautiful exhibitions, and the many other outings on offer around you.

What to do in Paris and Île-de-France in September 2026? The must-see outings for the fall season.
What to do in Paris in September 2026? Events, exhibitions, shows, family outings, freebies and new developments: the definitive guide to the rentrée in Île-de-France. [Read more]