Exhibitions: cultural events to see in Paris in October
In October, the French capital is abuzz with major events: salons, exhibitions and fairs that attract lovers and enthusiasts of art and culture. Here are the month’s unmissable events… to mark in your diaries!
Salon de la Photo at the Grande Halle de la Vilette
From October 9 to 12, 2025, the Grande Halle de la Villette will host the Salon de la Photo, a major event for image enthusiasts. A not-to-be-missed event for photographers, both amateur and established, the Salon de la Photo offers a huge photo and video studio open to the general public for four days. Over 4,000 m² of exhibitions and meetings will be orchestrated by Simon Edwards, artistic director of the show. Click here to find out more
New edition of Art Shopping 2025 at the Carrousel du Louvre
Paris is set to vibrate to the rhythm of contemporary art. From October 17 to 19, 2025, the Carrousel du Louvre will host the latest edition ofArt Shopping. Every year, this fair attracts artists, galleries and collectors from all over the world. The 36ᵉ edition will bring together over 350 exhibitors. Painting, sculpture, street art, digital art and design will be represented, with nearly 50 nationalities present. This diversity illustrates the richness and vitality of today’s contemporary scene.
Art Basel Paris at the Grand Palais
Art Basel Paris 2025 promises to be the most ambitious edition since its launch! With over 203 confirmed galleries, more than a third of them based in Paris, this event, scheduled for October 24-26, 2025 at the Grand Palais, has established itself as the must-attend event for modern and contemporary art. Sources privilégiées confirm that the show, structured into three sectors – Galleries, Emergence and Premise – is attracting participants from 40 countries and is already attracting the interest of the most influential collectors. Click here to find out more.
Salon du Chocolat 2025 at Porte de Versailles
The anniversary edition of the Salon du Chocolat promises to be exceptional, bringing together over 500 exhibitors from 60 countries and some 50 star chefs. From October 29 to November 2, 2025, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will become the beating heart of gourmets, with an unprecedented program that promises unique moments between tradition and innovation. Click here to find out more
AKAA 2025: African art fair at Carreau du Temple
The 10th edition of AKAA (Also Known As Africa) at Carreau du Temple, scheduled for October 24-26, 2025, will be more than just a fair. Few know it yet, but this anniversary marks a strategic turning point for Paris-Africa, combining design, contemporary art and the diaspora in an unprecedented showcase. Click here to find out more
Tropical Autumn exhibition at the Jardin des Plantes
The “Tropical Autumn” exhibition is set to be one of the major botanical events of this autumn in Paris, with an unprecedented spotlight on palm trees. Exclusive information will be revealed on the ecological and cultural role of these often little-known plants, presented at the Jardin des Plantes from October 16 to November 24, 2025. Click here to find out more
Kandinsky exhibition at the Philharmonie de Paris
The ” Kandinsky, la musique des couleurs” exhibition will run from October 15, 2025 to February 1, 2026 at the Philharmonie de Paris. Co-organized with the Centre Pompidou, it will feature some 200 works and objects from the studio of the master of abstraction. Paintings, drawings, scores and interactive installations will demonstrate his intimate relationship with sound. Click here to find out more
Historical retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton
The Fondation Louis Vuitton is devoting an exceptional retrospective to Gerhard Richter, covering more than sixty years of creative work. From October 17, 2025 to March 2, 2026, the public will discover some 270 works in a unique itinerary. The exhibition brings together sculptures, paintings, drawings and digital experiments by Gerhard Richter, a central figure in contemporary art. The exhibition will occupy the entire space of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, just a few minutes from the heart of Paris. The event promises to be one of the highlights of the European cultural season. Find out more HERE
Soulages exhibition at the Musée du Luxembourg
On view until January 11, 2026, this exhibition reveals 130 works on paper, a lesser-known facet of Pierre Soulages. Working with black as a source of light, he uses walnut stain, ink and gouache to create a subtle dialogue with the support. The Musée du Luxembourg, in the 6th arrondissement, offers an intimate setting for this plunge into a body of work where light emerges from darkness. Find out more about the exhibition here
Art, ecology and the body exhibition at the Musée d’Art Moderne
With I Dreamt of You in Colours, Otobong Nkanga takes over the Musée d’Art moderne de Paris From October 10, 2025 to February 22, 2026. Between ecology, mineral memory and corporality, his works take the form of tapestries, sculptures and installations. A powerful reflection on the exploitation of natural resources in Africa. An exhibition that is both aesthetic and political.
International Minimalism at the Bourse de Commerce
With Minimal, the Bourse de Commerce offers a plunge intominimal art in all its forms. Nearly one hundred works cover the major figures of the genre and its local variations. Japanese Mono-ha and Lygia Lydia Pape‘s textile sculpture are also featured. A demanding but enlightening tour. From October 8, 2025 to January 18, 2026.
My Name Is Orson Welles, at the Cinémathèque française
From October 8, 2025 to January 11, 2026 the Cinémathèque française is devoting an exhaustive exhibition to Orson Welles. Too often reduced to Citizen Kane, Welles was also an actor, magician, storyteller and polemicist. With film extracts, rare objects and never-before-seen screenings, this exhibition highlights the richness of his work and his fight against studio conformism.
Jacques-Louis David: painting and politics at the Louvre
From October 15, 2025 to January 26, 2026, the Musée du Louvre is devoting a monumental retrospective to Jacques-Louis David, a figure of neoclassicism. In addition to masterpieces such as Le Serment du Jeu de Paume and Marat assassiné, the exhibition explores David’s political role during the French Revolution and Empire. A powerful dialogue between art and French history.
Art Deco in the spotlight at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs
To celebrate 100 years of the Art Deco movement, the Musée des Arts décoratifsfrom October 22, 2025 to April 26, 2026, presents a major exhibition featuring over 1,000 pieces. Fashion, design, jewelry, furniture… the exhibition shows the breadth of this style, which continues to shape Paris and the world.
40 years of contemporary creation at the Fondation Cartier
The Fondation Cartier inaugurates its new venue on the Place du Palais-Royal with a group exhibition of 600 works. Entitled Exposition Générale, it celebrates over 40 years of artistic programming. Painting, installation, video: a dense panorama of contemporary creation. October 25, 2025 to August 23, 2026
Exhibition on diplomatic secrets at Versailles
The exhibition “Excellences! Versailles, the source of French diplomacy” will be on display at the Choiseul Library until December 20, 2025. This historic building, formerly the Hôtel des Affaires Étrangères, was the epicenter of royal diplomacy before 1789. Through 157 items, 50% of which come from the Diplomatic Archives, visitors can rediscover three centuries of history, from François I to Louis XVI. Click here to find out more
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