Painting, sculpture, video, installation... In May, admire what you like! The museums, art galleries, monuments and châteaux of Paris and the Île-de-France region have some great exhibitions on show for you to enjoy.
What a pleasure it is to be able to take part in all these cultural outings, in sunny Paris (the editors are not responsible for bad weather), in the beautiful museums and art galleries of the capital and the Île-de-France region! And since May is often a time of long weekends and public holidays, we've got all the time in the world to visit these exhibitions!
All that's left is to choose your next cultural outing from our selection below. So, where do we start?
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]
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]
The Paris Museum of Illusions—this spring’s must-see destination!
Sponsored - The Museum of Illusions, located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris within the Châtelet-Les Halles district, welcomes families and friends alike. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind, exciting adventure as you delve into the captivating world of illusions, where your senses will be completely challenged... And for the first time, the museum is launching enchanting evening sessions. [Read more]
Tangerine Dreams at L'Aiguillage: Isabel Bertelot's Painting Exhibition at Les Frigos
Sponsored - Isabel Bertelot presents Tangerine Dreams at L’Aiguillage, at the Frigos, from May 29 to June 3, 2026, exploring pigment, matter and light. [Read more]
The Hangar Y's contemporary open-air exhibition is back! An artistic stroll in the green
The Hangar Y, which conceals a 10-hectare natural area planted with trees, offers a year-round open-air art walk, free on weekdays and €3 with access to the Hangar on weekends. Since April 28, 2025, new works have been added to the circuit. From Erwin Wurm and Lionel Sabatte to Pauline Tralongo and Odile Decq, it's time for an unusual, unplugged stroll through the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine. [Read more]
LV Dream by Louis Vuitton: free exhibition, boutique, café and chocolate shop
The famous Maison Louis Vuitton opens LV DREAM, a free exhibition and gift store that also features a café and a chocolate shop in collaboration with Chef Pâtissier Maxime Frédéric of Cheval Blanc Paris. While the exhibition is by reservation only, the boutique and café are open to the public. [Read more]
Musée Grévin in Paris: Luc Plamondon joins the collection of illustrious figures
Discover Luc Plamondon, the iconic lyricist, now immortalized in wax at the Musée Grévin to mark the 25th anniversary of Notre Dame de Paris. [Read more]
Le Corbusier in Boulogne: visit the apartment-studio of the famous French architect
The Fondation Le Corbusier offers unique tours of the famous French architect's apartment-studio, located in the Molitor building on the Boulogne-Paris border, to perpetuate the eternal influence of this visionary genius. [Read more]
Did you know? There is another Rodin Museum ... and it's hidden away in Meudon, in the heart of the 92 region!
Just a stone's throw from Paris, there's another Rodin museum just around the corner... and it's no Plan B! Nestled in Meudon, in a verdant setting in the Hauts-de-Seine department (92), this confidential site plunges you into the world of the sculptor with striking authenticity. House, workshop, park... everything you need to rediscover Rodin in a different way - free of charge, without reservation and in the heart of nature, every weekend until the end of September. [Read more]
The Cherqui Foundation: the kinetic art museum just outside Paris!
Sponsored - The Cherqui Foundation is a genuine museum housing a private collection of 5,000 optical and kinetic artworks that opens to the public. The grandson of collector Jean Cherqui leads guided tours at the heart of his grandfather’s vast collection. Discover the upcoming dates! The museum is open during the Spring holidays! [Read more]
The Hidden Treasures of the Nasrid Alhambra: An Exhibition in the Heart of Granada at the Arab World Institute
From November 24, 2026, to May 16, 2027, the Arab World Institute will take you on a journey to the Alhambra of the Nasrid sultans. Through an immersive experience and the display of extraordinary works of art, the exhibition revives the lost grandeur of Muhammad V's reign. [Read more]
Gallery of the Five Continents: opening of a new exhibition space at the Louvre Museum
From December 3, 2025, the Gallery of the Five Continents will be open to visitors at the Louvre Museum, offering an opportunity to admire works from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, in a journey that reveals the diversity and dialogue of human creativity across the globe. [Read more]
MIDAN, a naive art museum nestled in a country house in Vicq (78)
The Musée international d'art naïf d'île-de-France (MIDAN) is located in Vicq, a small town in the Yvelines department of France, a cultural venue dedicated to a little-known yet very rich artistic movement. [Read more]
Mission spatiale, the new permanent exhibition in the stars at the Cité des sciences
Take a trip into space from October 23, 2023 at the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, with a new permanent exhibition on the conquest of space. [Read more]
Smart tip: free exhibitions to see in May 2027 in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
Which free exhibitions await us in May 2026 in Paris and Île-de-France? We’re revealing the cultural highlights bringing spring to life in the capital. Here come the free exhibitions! [Read more]
The sun is shining, the museums are full of treasures, in short: life is good in Paris! Make the most of it and treat yourself to all the things to do this month.
Dates and Opening Time
From May 1, 2026 to May 31, 2029
Smart tip: free exhibitions to see in May 2027 in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
