As winter falls away and spring gradually begins to, well, spring, Paris’s world-class roster of museums and galleries are rolling out an exciting, intriguing and innovative bunch of exhibitions to kick-start the season.
The biggest David Hockney retrospective ever will be on display at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, while over at the Musée Carnavalet you can deep-dive into filmmaker Agnès Varda’s Paris. There’s plenty more where that came from – read on for a roundup of all the Paris exhibitions we’re most excited to see over the next few months.
Recommended: Here’s everything to see at Paris’s Pompidou Centre before it closes this year.
David Hockney at Fondation Louis Vuitton
Eight years after his smash-hit exhibition at Centre Pompidou, British artist David Hockney will be taking over the Fondation Louis Vuitton for a sprawling showcase of his work. From April to September, expect a deep dive into his last 25 years of artwork, spanning digital paintings, works inspired by his Normandy home, and vibrant depictions of the Grand Canyon and Yorkshire. Fans of his iconic swimming pool scenes, rejoice: ‘A Bigger Splash (1967)’ and ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972)’ will both be on display.
🗓️ April 9 – September 1, 2025
Agnès Varda, Here and There at Musée Carnavalet
Agnès Varda’s spirit still lingers on Rue Daguerre, and in 2025, the Musée Carnavalet will honour the legendary filmmaker with a retrospective rooted in the courtyard of her iconic pink house. This creative sanctuary was the birthplace of countless projects, from her 1954 photography exhibition to behind-the-scenes prep for classics like ‘Cléo de 5 à 7’ and ‘Daguerréotypes’. You can expect a mix of 130 rare photographs, film extracts, personal objects, and archive materials from Ciné-Tamaris.
🗓️ April 9 – August 24, 2025
Beloved Banlieues at Musée de l’Histoire de l’Immigration
Too often vilified on TV, the banlieues (suburbs of French cities) are finally getting the love they deserve. Following the success of ‘Trésors de banlieues in Gennevilliers’, this major exhibition at the Musée de l’Histoire de l’Immigration will present 200 archival pieces – from photographs and testimonies to paintings and design – offering an authentic, stereotype-free vision of the suburbs’ cultural richness and architectural innovation. Look out for special off-site events and a spotlight on local media like Bondy Blog.
🗓️ April 11 – August 17, 2025
Gaza’s Saved Treasures – 5,000 Years of History at Institut du Monde Arabe
After more than a year of devastation, the Institut du Monde Arabe will host a landmark exhibition showcasing 130 artefacts rescued from Gaza from a collection of 529 archaeological treasures that have been safeguarded in Geneva. Expect to see ancient amphorae, statuettes, funeral steles, and mosaics, all testifying to Gaza’s pivotal role as a crossroads of civilizations for over 5,000 years.
🗓️ April 3 – November 2, 2025
Paris Noir at Centre Pompidou
One of the last major exhibitions before old Beaubourg (that’s the Centre Pompidou’s nickname) closes for renovations, Paris Noir will celebrate the works of 150 Afro-descendant artists who shaped the city’s artistic landscape in the second half of the twentieth century. Through painting, sculpture, surrealism, and abstraction, the show will explore identity, emancipation, and modernity, alongside five brand-new installations by contemporary artists Bili Bidjocka, Valérie John, Nathalie Leroy Fiévée, Jay Ramier, and Shuck One.
🗓️ March 19 – June 30, 2025
RECOMMENDED: Here’s everything to see at Centre Pompidou before it closes this summer
The Mystery of Cleopatra at Institut du Monde Arabe
Even though it’s been more than 2,000 years since her death, Cleopatra still captivates history buffs, art lovers and, well, pretty much everybody. The Mystery of Cleopatra will debunk myths, explore her portrayal in art and pop culture, and examine how her image has evolved from an objectified seductress to a symbol of female power.
🗓️ June 11, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Niki de Saint Phalle, Jean Tinguely & Pontus Hultén at Grand Palais
With Centre Pompidou closing for five years, its spirit will live on at Grand Palais and first up is a deep-dive into the legendary artistic partnership between Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, as seen through the eyes of Pontus Hultén, Pompidou’s first director. It’s love, rebellion, and boundary-pushing art, all in one exhibition.
🗓️ June 6, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Robert Doisneau, Given Moments at Musée Maillol
After an eight-year absence from Parisian museums, Robert Doisneau returns in style. The Musée Maillol will showcase 250 black-and-white and colour photographs, covering everything from Parisian suburbia in the 1930s to the fashion world of the post-war era, and it promises to offer brilliant insight into the timeless magic of Doisneau’s lens.
🗓️ April 17 – October 12, 2025
FEMMES at Galerie Perrotin
For his fourth exhibition with Galerie Perrotin, US musician and producer Pharrell Williams pays tribute to artists exploring themes of identity and femininity. It will feature 40 artists from African and Afro-descendant diasporas, and highlights include Esther Mahlangu’s geometric paintings of Ndebele culture (a community living in South Africa), Jess Atieno’s woven silkscreens, Seyni Awa Camara’s terracotta sculptures, and Zanele Muholi’s striking photography.
🗓️ March 20 – April 19, 2025
Blurred Lines: Art from 1945 to Today at Musée de l’Orangerie
What’s art without a little blurred vision? Blurred Lines traces the aesthetic power of the indistinct, the hazy, the dreamlike, from Monet’s late-period Water Lilies to contemporary photography, video, and painting, creating a welcome distinction from reality and allowing us to reinterpret a world where certainties are eroding.
🗓️ April 30 – August 18, 2025
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
