Culture: What to do in Paris in April 2026? 20 exhibitions well worth a visit

From major retrospectives to contemporary proposals and immersive experiences, Paris’s museums and cultural venues unveil an unusually dense program in April. An invitation to explore the city to the rhythm of works, materials and perspectives. . In April, Paris boasts a particularly lively cultural scene, where major institutions interact with more confidential venues, each offering a unique reading of the world through art.

Major figures such as Lee Miller, Calder and Michelangelo meet more contemporary proposals, while immersive experiences and group exhibitions broaden the field of possibilities. We move from an intimate look at an artistic trajectory to broader explorations, sometimes sensory, sometimes conceptual, but always driven by an attention to detail and perception. This journey invites us to take our time, to let ourselves be carried from one place to another, to observe materials, gestures and intentions. It’s a different way of living in Paris, following the discreet but persistent thread of creation.

In addition to these exhibitions, discover the Fashion exhibitions here

Lee Miller at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris

In the halls of the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris, the retrospective devoted to Lee Miller reveals a body of work that is at once photographic, intimate and deeply rooted in the upheavals of the 20th century. The exhibition highlights a singular trajectory, between fashion, surrealism and war reporting. The images oscillate between sophisticated compositions and scenes captured on the spot, revealing a great mastery of light, framing and visual narrative. We discover an artist who crosses eras with a personal eye, sensitive to the contrasts between aesthetics and reality. Archival footage enriches the journey, providing a deeper understanding of her influences and commitments. The result is a dense portrait, in which each photograph seems to tell an autonomous story, while at the same time forming part of a more global vision of the world.
From April 10 to August 17 2026
Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris – 11 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris

Calder, dreaming in balance at the Fondation Louis Vuitton

In the luminous architecture of the Fondation Louis Vuitton,Alexander Calder ‘s world unfolds in a subtle interplay of movement, emptiness andbalance. The suspended mobiles seem to float, carried by invisible flows that give them an almost organic presence. The exhibition traces the different periods of his work, from early sculptures to monumental installations. The colorful forms interact with natural light to create an ever-changing visual experience. Each piece invites us to observe variations, oscillations and imperceptible rhythms. Together, they create an environment where the eye can move freely, carried along by a sensation of lightness. A proposal that privileges perception and contemplation, in a direct relationship between the work, the space and the visitor.
February 18 to August 25, 2026
Fondation Louis Vuitton – 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris

Michelangelo / Rodin – Corps vivants at the Musée du Louvre

At the Musée du Louvre, this exhibition compares two major visions of the sculpted body through the works of Michelangelo and Rodin. The exhibition reveals correspondences based on tension, movement and the representation of living matter. Drawings, marbles and preparatory studies testify to a constant search for balance between structure and expressiveness. The works interact throughout the rooms, creating visual comparisons that highlight the continuities and differences between the two artists. Visitors are invited to observe the details of the surfaces, the play of shadows and the volumes that give the body an almost vibrant presence. The exhibition thus offers a cross-reading of two approaches in which sculpture becomes a language in its own right. Find out more
March 6 – June 29, 2026
Musée du Louvre – Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Marilyn Monroe: 100 years at the Cinémathèque française

The exhibition devoted to Marilyn Monroe at the Cinémathèque française explores the construction of an icon through archives, photographs and film extracts. The exhibition highlights the duality between public image and private personality, revealing a woman attentive to her artistic trajectory. The documents presented help us understand the stages of her career, her collaborations and her professional choices. As a whole, the exhibition offers a more nuanced vision of her career, far removed from fixed representations. Visitors discover a figure in motion, shaped by cinema but also an actress in her own image. The exhibition aims to show the many facets of a personality whose influence continues to span generations.
From March 16 to June 30, 2026
Cinémathèque française – 51 Rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris

Art Paris 2026 at the Grand Palais

In the monumental setting of the Grand Palais, Art Paris 2026 brings together galleries and artists to explore a contemporary scene in full effervescence. The event offers a panorama of painting, photography, installation and hybrid practices. The works presented reflect a wide range of sensibilities, from formal research to conceptual engagement and visual exploration. Visitors move through a space punctuated by discoveries and exchanges, where each gallery offers a distinct universe. Some proposals play on sobriety, others on visual impact or materiality. Together, they offer an up-to-date reading of artistic trends, while leaving plenty of room for diversity of expression. An experience that allows visitors to apprehend contemporary creation in a prestigious setting, in the heart of the capital.
From April 9 to 12, 2026
Grand Palais – Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris

Paul Poiret, la mode est une fête at the Musée des Arts décoratifs

At the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, this exhibition devoted to Paul Poiret highlights a major figure in early 20th-century fashion. The exhibition traces his influence on the transformation of silhouettes and the evolution of dress codes. The pieces on display reflect a dialogue between textiles, colors and volumes, revealing an approach where creation goes beyond the garment to become part of a global universe. The ensembles presented illustrate a desire to emancipate traditional forms, introducing more fluid, expressive lines. The exhibition also reveals the importance of his role in the links between fashion and the decorative arts. A look at a pivotal period when creativity was expressed through new forms and unexpected associations.
From June 25, 2025 to January 11, 2026
Musée des Arts décoratifs – 107 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

See here other exhibitions dedicated to the world of fashion

Lee Ufan at the Fondation Louis Vuitton

In the architectural setting of the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the exhibition devoted to Lee Ufan explores a universe marked by sobriety, repetition and the relationship between material and space. The works presented play on subtle contrasts between natural elements and worked surfaces. The artist develops a minimal language in which every gesture counts, and every trace reveals a precise intention. The installations invite a contemplative experience, centered on the perception of emptiness, silence and the tension between elements. The materials used dialogue with their environment, creating discreet but essential correspondences. The ensemble proposes a meditative approach to art, where apparent simplicity conceals great conceptual rigor and a constant search for balance.
From April 2 to July 29 2026
Fondation Louis Vuitton – 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris

Martin Parr at the Jeu de Paume

At the Jeu de Paume, the exhibition devoted to Martin Parr presents a sharp vision of the contemporary world through photography. His eye focuses on social behavior, consumer excess and everyday situations with an approach that is both documentary and critical. The images, often saturated in color, capture ordinary moments transformed by precise composition and an eye for detail. The whole reveals a particular attention to attitudes, gestures and the contexts in which individuals evolve. The exhibition offers an immersion in a recognizable visual universe, where the observation of reality becomes artistic material. An exploration of the photographic gaze as a tool for reading the contemporary world.
February 12 – May 25 2026
Jeu de Paume – 1 Place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris

Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation

At the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, this exhibition compares two visions of haute couture by Azzedine Alaïa and Christian Dior. The exhibition highlights the similarities between their respective approaches to volume, size and the enhancement of the female body. Silhouettes interact through emblematic pieces, revealing exceptional craftsmanship and extreme attention to materials. The exhibition allows us to grasp the differences in style, while highlighting the same demand for cut and elegance. The creations on display bear witness to meticulous work on lines and proportions, where every detail contributes to the overall balance of the piece. An immersion in two worlds which, though distinct, share a passion for precision and craftsmanship.
From March 1 to June 30, 2026
Fondation Azzedine Alaïa – 18 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris

See here other exhibitions dedicated to the world of fashion

Flops?! at the Musée des Arts et Métiers

As part of the Musée des Arts et Métiers, this exhibition explores the failures that have marked the history of technical and industrial innovation. The tour puts into perspective objects and projects that were not as successful as expected, while revealing the reasons behind their conception. Through these examples, the exhibition examines the notion of success and the stages required for any technological breakthrough. The devices presented help us understand the constraints, errors and choices that influenced these creations. The exhibition offers an original reading of the history of science and technology, in which failure becomes a constructive step. Visitors will discover that behind every innovation there are often multiple trials, adjustments and experiments.
From March 10 to August 30 2026
Musée des Arts et Métiers – 60 Rue Réaumur, 75003 Paris

Making a group at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie

At the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the exhibition Faire groupe explores collective dynamics in photographic creation. The exhibition brings together artists whose practices are rooted in collaborative or participatory approaches. The works presented question notions of community, identity and the construction of the collective gaze. The images bear witness to projects carried out in a variety of contexts, where photography becomes a tool for connection and exchange. The exhibition highlights approaches that go beyond individual production to become part of shared processes. Visitors discover series in which interaction between participants plays a central role in the conception of the images. The exhibition reflects on how photography can become a space for dialogue and collective construction.
From March 5 to May 25, 2026
Maison Européenne de la Photographie – 5/7 Rue de Fourcy, 75004 Paris

Beyond Our Horizons at Galerie Le 19M

At Le 19M, the Beyond Our Horizons exhibition highlights textile know-how and the dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary creation. The exhibition brings together pieces created through collaborations between artisans and designers, highlighting the richness of embroidery, weaving and assembly techniques. The works on display bear witness to meticulous work on materials, textures and motifs. The ensemble offers an immersion into a world where the transmission of gestures occupies an essential place. Visitors discover creations that combine innovation and heritage, in an approach where the material becomes a medium of expression. The exhibition highlights practices that link different cultural and artistic horizons through textiles.
From March 15 to July 15, 2026
Le 19M – 2 Place Skanderbeg, 75019 Paris

Aura Invalides at the Dôme des Invalides

In the monumental setting of the Hôtel des Invalides, the immersive Aura Invalides experience transforms the Dôme into a space of light and sound projection. The device combines lighting, video mapping and music to reveal the architecture from a new angle. The tour immerses visitors in an enveloping atmosphere, where the monument’s volumes become a medium for visual narration. Lighting effects highlight architectural details and create a different reading of the site. The experience plays on contrasts between darkness and flashes of light, reinforcing the perception of space. The ensemble offers a sensory immersion that highlights heritage through contemporary technologies, in an approach that is both artistic and contemplative.
All year round (evening programming)
Hôtel des Invalides – 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris

Mission Spatiale at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie

At the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, the Mission Spatiale exhibition offers an interactive tour of space exploration. The exhibition’s features help visitors understand the scientific, technological and human issues involved in space missions. Visitors discover the conditions of life in orbit, the physical constraints and the advances made in this field. The modules presented offer an educational approach combining experiments, simulations and visual content. The exhibition puts the various stages of a mission into perspective, from launch to operations in the space environment. All in all, the exhibition helps visitors to grasp the challenges of exploration beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, while making complex scientific concepts accessible.
From January 1 to December 31, 2026
Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – 30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019 Paris

The Beat Goes On at Quai de la Photo

At Quai de la Photo, The Beat Goes On exhibition explores the links between music, urban culture and image. The exhibition features photographs and installations that capture the energy of music scenes and related cultural movements. The works bear witness to moments in life, concerts and atmospheres where rhythm and intensity play a central role. The exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the visual world of musical creation, where photography becomes a means of transcribing atmospheres and emotions. Visitors move through a space where images interact with sound and collective dynamics. The ensemble offers a sensitive reading of the relationship between music and image in contemporary cultures. Find out more
From January 09 to April 24, 2026
Quai de la Photo – 9 Port de la Gare, 75013 Paris

Zoo Art Show at La Défense

In the urban space of La Défense, the Zoo Art Show offers a journey dedicated to street art and contemporary installations. The exhibition brings together artists with a wide range of practices, from mural painting to immersive installations. The works take over the space freely, playing with the volumes and surfaces available. Visitors are immersed in an environment where the works interact with the architecture of the neighborhood. The ensemble showcases a diversity of styles and approaches, reflecting the energy of current urban practices. Colors, shapes and visual messages combine to create a dynamic, accessible experience. An immersion in a universe where art unfolds outside traditional frameworks.
From March 15 to September 30, 2026
La Défense – Quartier d’affaires, 92060 Paris

Paul Huet, romantic landscapes at the Musée de la Vie romantique

As part of the Musée de la Vie romantique, the exhibition devoted to Paul Huet highlights his approach to landscape painting in the 19th century. The works presented explore the representation of nature through sensitive compositions, marked by a particular attention to light and skies. The drawings and paintings reflect a poetic view of natural environments, in which atmospheric elements play a central role. The exhibition provides an insight into the evolution of his style and its place in the Romantic movement. Visitors discover landscapes in which the perception of reality is reinterpreted through an assertive artistic sensibility. The whole exhibition offers immersion in a universe where nature becomes a source of expression and contemplation.
From March 5 to July 28, 2026
Musée de la Vie romantique – 16 Rue Chaptal, 75009 Paris

See the sea at the MAIF Social Club

At the MAIF Social Club, the Voir la mer (Seeing the Sea) exhibition explores the oceans and their preservation. The exhibition combines art installations, photographs and immersive devices to raise awareness of the environmental issues surrounding marine environments. The works presented address the transformations of ecosystems and the interactions between man and the sea. The exhibition invites visitors to take a different look at these spaces, highlighting their fragility and richness. Visitors discover visual proposals that combine aesthetics and a committed message. Together, they create an experience that is both informative and sensory, where images and forms help to raise awareness of contemporary issues relating to the oceans.
From February 10 to June 30, 2026
MAIF Social Club – 37 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris

In addition to these exhibitions, discover the Fashion exhibitions here

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