The 8 exhibitions in Paris in June 2026 where you could well lose all your bearings

June 2026 promises to be a rich month for culture lovers. Exhibitions in Paris this month cover a wide spectrum: giant trompe-l’oeil, fashion retrospectives, historical photography and immersive installations. Enough to fill your weekends without having to look far.

Exhibitions in Paris that play with your senses

At the Grand Palais, visual artist Leandro Erlich arrives in the French capital for the first time. Renowned for his life-size trompe-l’œil, he has already bowled over thousands of visitors in Tokyo, Miami and Milan. Here, under the Avenue Winston-Churchill dome, he defies the laws of reality from June 2 to September 6, 2026.

Similarly, street artist JR takes on the Pont-Neuf with La Caverne du Pont Neuf, from June 6 to 28, 2026, free admission. Through a grandiose trompe-l’œil, he transforms the bridge into an immersive cavern, paying homage to the historic work by Christo and Jeanne-Claude that enveloped the monument in 1985.

Two very different artists each propose a new interpretation of the Parisian urban space. Yet their approaches are similar: to disorientate, surprise and leave their mark.

“The artist stands on the border between the real and the imaginary, to open the doors to a new world.”

Fashion and textile art on rue de Grenelle

The Musée Maillol is devoting a retrospective to Gianni Versace, the first in France since 1986. This presentation pays tribute to the man who would have celebrated his 80th birthday this year. His creations, blending audacity with historical and artistic inspiration, have stood the test of time like works of art.

The event runs from June 5 to September 6, 2026, at 59/61, rue de Grenelle in the 7th arrondissement. It’s a rare opportunity to see pieces that left their mark on their time.

Photography in the spotlight at a number of emblematic venues

This month, there are a number of exhibitions in Paris devoted to photography. The Maison Européenne de la Photographie opens La photographie en toutes lettres from June 10, 2026, to celebrate the bicentenary of photography. Conceived as a primer, the exhibition brings together some thirty artists, offering a cross-section of their work from the 1920s to the present day.

In addition, the Jeu de Paume presents Fragile Beauté from June 12, 2026, in the Jardin des Tuileries. The exhibition is based on Sir Elton John and David Furnish‘s collection of over 7,000 photographs. Names such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Irving Penn, Diane Arbus and Herbert List feature on the walls, divided into five thematic sections: desire, fashion, celebrities and photojournalism, among others.

Galerie Roger-Viollet also presents Paris, ouvert la nuit from June 11, 2026, on rue de Seine in the 6th arrondissement, with free admission until October 3, 2026. A selection of photos showing the capital in a different light, that of quivering summer nights.

• Leandro Erlich at the Grand Palais, June 2 to September 6 2026, avenue Winston-Churchill – 8e
• La Caverne du Pont Neuf by JR, June 6 to 28, 2026, free admission – 1st
• Gianni Versace retrospective at the Musée Maillol, from June 5 to September 6, 2026 – 7th
• La photographie en toutes lettres at the MEP, from June 10 to September 13, 2026 – 4th
• Fragile Beauté at the Jeu de Paume, from June 12 to September 27, 2026 – 1st

Free appointments not to be missed

Among the exhibitions in Paris this month, several are free of charge. Such is the case with Cieux nouveaux, Terre nouvelle at the Mission Étrangère de Paris, 128, rue du Bac in the 7th arrondissement, until July 4, 2026. Seven artists from the Far East use painting, sculpture, photography, installation and video to take us on a journey.

Similarly, Une fenêtre contre le temps at the Drawing Lab is accessible free of charge until September 6, 2026. Fifteen artists from the Drawing Factory residency take over the Drawing Hotel, from basement to rooftop. Thibaut Huchard‘s work, visible from the reception area, is presented as the selection’s favorite.

A varied summer program for all tastes

This panorama of exhibitions in Paris in June 2026 confirms the richness of the city’s cultural offering. Painting, drawing, photography, immersive installation: each medium finds its place in venues as diverse as the Grand Palais, a hotel in the 1st arrondissement or a gallery on the Left Bank.

So, whether you’re a museum novice or a regular visitor, the season offers multiple entry points. Some events are free, others charge, but all present works brought together for the first time, or in contexts never before seen in the capital.

Most of these exhibition events in Paris run until September, or even October 2026. So take your time, come back, and let the works make their own way.

At the start of summer, museums also offer an often-forgotten practical advantage: they’re cool. So it’s a good time to linger and enjoy the exhibits without the pressure of autumn crowds.

• exhibitions in Paris