Paris Museum Shows & Exhibits:  Schedule for 2025

A huge and exciting assortment of temporary Paris museum exhibitions and show help cement the City of Light's well-earned reputation as the cultural capital of the world.

The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, Branly Museum, Grand Palais, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Rodin Museum, Atelier des Lumières, Musée de l'Orangerie and other top respositories of art, design, fashion, history, and culture typically offer multiple exhibitions each year.  

For Parisians and visitors alike, these museum shows provide an essential part of the city's dynamic cultural life as well as the source of entertainment, education, and enjoyment.  

Although Paris's art museums host many of these exhibitions, you'll also find them in the city's history museums, science museums, military museums, and other venues including special galleries and halls.

What will you experience?  Everything from an in-depth view at Yves Saint Laurent's impact on design to a Renoir blockbuster exhibition to an exploration of the scientific foundations of deserts.

In my own experience, these shows are always worth seeing.  The museums and galleries included in this article are all on my own "short list" of places where I try to never miss an exhibition, and among the many Paris attractions that lure me back to this wonderful city again and again.

Some of these museum exhibitions and shows require a special event ticket (usually about 10€-20€) but most are included with the general admission ticket.  A few are free.  

To find out about all Paris museums, monuments (plus institutions focused on collections, research, and displays, such as botanical gardens, zoos, and aquariums), check out our Paris Museums and Monuments Complete Guide.

If you're visiting Paris and plan to visit other museums and attractions, you may save a lot with a Paris Museum Pass, which gives you skip-the-line free entry at selected museums by booking in advance.

I've packed a lot into this article, so use these links to get to your favorite museum categories:

• Art Museum Exhibitions
• History & Historical House (& Palace) Museums
• Fashion & Decorative Arts Museums
• Science & Technology Museums
• Military Museums

Top photo:  Cezanne show at Atelier des Lumières, (c) Paris Discovery Guide

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Paris Art Museum Exhibitions - 2025

Louvre Museum Exhibitions

• Jacques-Louis David - A bicentennial exploration of the expressiveness and inventiveness of David, considered the father of French Neoclassicism and best known for his painting, The Death of Marat.
  Dates:  Now through January 26, 2026

Tickets: Book in advance with a reserved time slot and skip-the-line access; can also book in advance for free admission with a Paris Museum Pass
Location:  Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1;  Metro: Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre

More Ways to See the Louvre Museum:

Interested in a Louvre Museum guided tour?  Find out how to choose the best one to match your interests

Orsay Museum (Musée d'Orsay) Exhibitions

The Orsay is famous for its extensive collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, etc, and the special exhibitions sometimes get over-looked.  In my experience, they're always worth seeing.

• Sargent Dazzling Paris - Although John Singer Sargent was the most famous American painter of his generation in the U.S., he is relatively unknown in France.  This is the country's first exhibition devoted to his work with over 90 major works on display, including his most seminal, and will most likely attract big crowds, so plan to book your tickets at least a few days in advance.
  Dates: Now through January 11, 2026
• Je Photo - An extensive look at the work of Gabrielle Hébert, the first chronicler of Villa Medici and of passionate love.
  Dates: October 28 - February 15, 2026
• Renoir and Love - With over 90 major works, this exhibition brings together many of this famous American painter's most seminal works.  This is also likely to be a blockbuster exhibition, so book your tickets well in advance. 
  Dates:  March 17, 2026 - January 19, 2026

Musée d'Orsay Tickets: Book a reserved access ticket for skip-the-line access, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
Location: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, Paris 7;  Metro: Pont de l'Alma; Invalides

More about what to see at the Orsay Museum

Atelier des Lumières Exhibitions 2025

The Moonwalkers - An immersive multimedia journey to the moon with Tom Hanks as you relive past Apollo missions and glimpse the future through Artemis.
Dates:  Starts September 24

Tickets:  18€ adults for timed entry, with reduced rates for families, youth, seniors; we recommend to purchase online; you can also purchase at the door for 2€ more per ticket but there's no guarantee you'll get in as timeslots are often fully booked, plus why spend more?
Getting there:  38 Rue Saint Maur, 11th arrondissement;  Metro: Saint-Maur

Please note:  Atelier des Lumieres closes each year from the second week in January through the first week or two in February.

Musée de Cluny - What's On

The Cluny, housed in a 15th century mansion called Hotel de Cluny adjacent to excavated Roman baths, specializes in Medieval art including the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapistries but it also has significant collections from Paris's Gallo-Roman period, Byzantine art and objects, and other cultures and periods.

• The Middle Ages of the 19th Century: Creations and Forgeries in the Decorative Arts - See how a craze for all things Medieval became a decorating trend and fueled a market for copies - and forgeries

Tickets:  12€.  Get your Musée de Cluny at the door (there's usually a line but it moves fairly quickly) or online, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
Cluny Location:  28 rue Du Sommerard, 75005;  Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne, Saint-Michel, Odéon; Open daily except Mondays from 9:30am - 6:15pm, and until 9pm on the first and third Thursdays of each month

Free:  First Sunday of every month; with ID, free for everyone under 18 and EU citizens under 26

Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25

Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

Created by street photography pioneer Henri Cartier-Bresson, his wife, photographer Martine Franck, and their daughter, the Fondation preserves the work of Cartier-Bresson and Franck.  It also hosts revolving exhibitions of their and other photographers' work, including 20th and 21st century masters as well as emerging artists.

• François-Xavier Gbré: Radio Ballast - Photographs of the imprints of human activity in the landscape and architecture of the African continent
• Sibylle Bergemann: The Monument - Photographs documenting the construction of the Marx and Engels monument in East Berlin from 1975-1986
• Dates for both shows:  October 29 - January 11

Tickets:  10€ adults; find details and hours on the Fondation website
Location: 29 Rue des Archives, Paris 3 (Upper Marais);  Metro: Temple

Musée de l'Orangerie Exhibitions

In addition to the permanent exhibition of Monet's famous water lily paintings (which, at least for me, never get old, no matter how many times I've seen them), the museum mounts shows featuring (usually) modern and contemporary artists that are always worth seeing:

• Berthe Weill: Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-Garde - This exhibition pays homage to Weill's exhibitions promoting Picasso, Matisse, Diego Rivera, Modigliani, and other young artists who would go on to become the giants of their generation.
  Dates:  Now through January 26, 2026
• Henri Rousseau: The Ambition of Painting - This exhibition, created with the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia in the U.S., will bring togetheral for the first time about 50 paintings by the artist.
  Dates:  March 25 - July 20, 2026

Tickets:  12.50€.  Get your Musée de l'Orangerie tickets at the door or online (includes permanent collections and special exhibitions), save with a combo ticket for skip-the-line museum entrance and a Seine River cruise, or use your Paris Museum Pass for free entry
Musee de l'Orangerie Location:  Tuileries Garden (southwest corner), 75001;  Metro:  Concorde, Assemblée Nationale
Closed: Tuesdays

More Ways to See Musée de l'Orangerie

Musée du Quai Branly 

Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel with a circular top-to-bottom route emulating the flow of a river (and symbolically, cultures), this museum focuses on the artistic and cultural expressions of indigenous people in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.  

In addition to revolving displays from its massive permanent collection (which, it's important to note, includes numerous items believed to have been unethically obtained during France's colonial occupations), the museum features a number of special exhibitions each year.

• Amazonia - This exhibition uses contemporary art and historical collections to explore the Amazon from an indigenous perspective.
  Dates: Now through - January 18, 2026

• Dragons - An exploration of 5,000 years of Asian legends and art featuring dragons, in partnership with the National Palace Museum of Taipei.  
  Dates: November 18 - March 1, 2026
• Africa Fashion - This show focuses on African fashion's influence on international fashions during the past 20 years.
  Dates: March 31, 2026 - July 12, 2026

Tickets: 14€ adults; includes permanent collections & temporary exhibitions in the Garden Gallery; some special shows may require a separate ticket but those are usually quick to buy once you're inside the museum.  Book online, or get free entry (not including ticketed shows) with a Paris Museum Pass
Location: 37 Quai Branly (almost next door to the Eiffel Tower), 7th arrondissement;  Metro/RER: Pont d'Alma

Fluctuart

A floating gallery devoted to urban art, street art, and grafitti art, with a popular barge-top bar overlooking the Seine River.

• JonOne (John Andrew Perello) - See 40 years of experimentation from this major graffiti artists
  Dates: Now through December 21, 2025
• Permanent Exhibition - See works by Miss Tic, C215, Invader, Banksy, Vhils, Shepard Fairey, Zevs, Jef Aerosol, and more urban artists on the main deck
  Dates:  Ongoing

Admission: Free
Where:  A floating barge anchored to the Seine River bank, by the Port des Invalides bridge, Paris 7; open Wednesday-Sunday (winter) and everyday (summer) from 12pm - 2am; Metro:  Invalides

Musée Banksy (The Banksy Museum)

• The World of Banksy: The Immersive Experience - Immerse yourself in reproductions of over 100 works by the famous but mysterious street artist Banksy.  Optional: Visit a recreation in Paris of The Walled Off Hotel - which is also an actual (and quite cool) hotel where you can book a stay.
  Dates:  Ongoing; permanent exhibit

Tickets: 16€ for adults - Book online
Where:  44 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, Paris 9; closed on Mondays; Metro:  Le Peletier

Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art

Please note:  Fondation Cartier features contemporary art from around the world, and will celebrate its grand reopening in a spectacular space designed by Jean Nouvel (who also designed their previous space in the 14th) at Place du Palais Royal across from the Louvre. 

• General Exhibition - In this opening exhibition of their new building and galleries, you'll see nearly 600 works by over 100 artists featured by the Foundation since it first commenced in 1984.
  Dates:  October 25, 2025 - August 23, 2026

Location: 2 Place du Palais Royal, Paris 1;  Metro:  Palais Royal

Tickets available starting October 23.  This opening event has been highly anticipated and tickets will likely be difficult to book for awhile - so be persistent, be patient.

Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25; early closing at 4pm on December 24 and 31

Fondation Louis Vuitton (Louis Vuitton Foundation)

Fondation Louis Vuitton mounts two major exhibitions each year of modern or contemporary artists, usually separated by a gap of about 4-6 weeks.  During the gap period, FLV displays art from its permanent collection, and usually (although not always) reduces the admission charge.

• Gerhard Richter - A major retrospective of about 270 works from 1962 to 2024 by this contemporary East German-born artist who currently lives and works in Cologne.
  Dates:  Now through March 2, 2026

Tickets:  Book in advance (includes premium access through a special entrance, permanent and temporary exhibitions, a downloadable audio guide, round-trip shuttle pick up/drop off across from Arc de Triomphe, and free entrance from the Foundation to its neighbor, Jardin d'Acclimatation)
Location: 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16;  Metro: Les Sablons, plus about a 10-minute walk (or take the shuttle bus included with the ticket)

More about what to see & do at Fondation Louis Vuitton

Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) Exhibitions

• Treasures Rescued from Gaza: 5,000 Years of History - See 130 masterpieces from an archaeological collection of amphoras, statuettes, funerary relics, lamps, and more dating from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman era.
  Dates:  Now through November 2
• Photographing Lebanon's Heritage: 1864-1970 - Photographs of a dozen different locations in Lebanon, featuring landscapes, monuments, and social and economic life.
  Dates:  Now through November 2
• The Mystery of Cleopatra - An exploration of the last ruler of independent Egypt before defeat by the Romans and the dark legends surrounding her - what was real, what was misogynistic Roman propaganda?
  Dates:  JNow through January 11, 2026

Tickets:  Range from about 8€-20€ adults, depending on the exhibition; includes permanent collections plus temporary exhibition; find details and get tickets on the Institute website; free access with a Paris Museum Pass to permanent collection only (the permanent collection is wonderful and beautifully curated, but in my experience, the temporary exhibitions are also well worth seeing here if you have the time).
Location: 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, Paris 5;  Metro: Cardinal Lemoine or Sulland-Morland (walk across bridge)

Paris Discovery Tip:  While you're here, stop by the 9th floor terrace for spectacular views of Paris (you can see the view here) and treat yourself to refreshing mint tea and Lebanese pastries served most afternoons.  The restaurant also serves delicious Lebanese cuisine in the evenings and offers the same wonderful views from its enclosed space; make reservations in advance.

Guimet Museum (National Museum of Asian Art) Exhibitions

• Manga, Quite an Art! - See a diverse selection of manga in its cultural context, as well as 18th and 19th century paintings, scrolls, and books in which similar concepts appear. Part of the show focuses on Hokusai's famous print, Under the Great Wave of Kanagawa, and its use as a recurring motif in French and Belgium manga and comics.
  Dates:  November 19 - March 9, 2026

Tickets:  13€ adults; includes permanent collections plus most exhibitions; buy online or enter free with a Paris Museum Pass
Location: 6 Place d'Iéna, Paris 16;  Metro:  Iéna

Check out our complete guide to Paris museums & monuments

Grand Palais Immersif 

The Grand Palais Immersif, a new-ish art exposition venue near Place de la Bastille which opened in 2024, offers an immersive cultural experience combining art and technology. 

• No show at the moment
  Dates: 

Tickets:  Buy online (prices vary based on the show)
Where:  110 Rue de Lyon  (Opera Bastille complex; entrance is on the side of the building), Paris 12; Metro: Place de la Bastille

Maison Européenne de la Photographie

Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) is where you can see some of the top exhibitions of contemporary photography in Europe as well as occasional retrospectives of major 20th century photographers. 

MEP presents three exhibitions seasons each year, typically showing the work of a major French or international artist on the first two floors and recent work by one or more emerging artists in other spaces.

MEP is on my own short-list of places where I catch its exhibitions whenever I'm in Paris.

October 15 - January 25, 2026: 

• Edward Weston: Becoming Modern - The show traces his shift from 19th century Pictorialism to a new Modernist style
• Tyler Mitchell: Wish This Was Real - First solo exhibition in France of this American photographer and video artist whose work redefined the depiction of black American communies
• Felipe Romero Beltran (10/15 - 12/7) and Sarah Van Rij (12/11 - 1/25/26) - Recent work

Tickets:  14€ adults - sometimes a short line, but usually moves fast; you can also book online for an extra euro; museum website; closed on Mondays
Location: 5 Rue de Fourcy, Paris 4;  Metro:  Saint Paul

Please be aware that MEP typically closes for a couple of weeks between exhibitions.

Closed: January 1, May 1, December 25

Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris Exhibitions

• Philippe Perrot - Paintings from the museum's permanent collection and loans from private collections
  Dates:  Through November 2
• George Condo - A non-chronological retrospective of early 80 paintings and 110 drawings by the American artist
  Dates:  Now through February 8, 2026
• Otobong Nkanga - "I dream of you in colors" - first solo exhibition of this Nigerian-born artist who now lives in Antwerp
  Dates:  Now through February 22, 2026

Tickets: Free admission to the galleries showing pieces from the museum's permanent collection.  Tickets required for most temporary exhibitions (if you're interested in modern and contemporary art, they are usually well worth seeing); book online
Location: 11 Avenue du President Wilson, Paris 16;  Metro: Iéna

Musée Maillol

Created by Dina Vierny, art collector, French Résistance agent, and Maillol's last model, Musée Maillol displays numerous works by the sculptor and from Vierny's personal collection of other 20th century masters, plus highly regarded exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

• Robert Doisneau - Around 400 photographs, including some of this 20th century photojournalist's most iconic works.  This is sure to be a blockbuster exhibition, so you should plan to get your ticket in advance.
  Dates:  Now through October 19 (the closing date was extended due to this show's extreme popularity)

Tickets:  16.50€ adults (12.50€ on Wednesdays); includes permanent collections plus exhibition; museum website; if you visit during the day, lines are usually short, but if you come in the evening, Wednesday, or weekends, get your ticket in advance on the website as lines to get in can be quite long and for the most popular shows, some or most evenings sell out
Open:  Daily, 10:30am - 6:30pm, and until 10pm on Thursdays
Location: 59 Rue de Grenelle, Paris 7;  Metro: Rue du Bac

Musée Picasso Exhibitions

• Revoir Picasso:  A look at Picasso's most emblematic works
  Dates:  Through  March 12, 2027
• Guillermo Kuitca:  A site-specific "cubistoid" painting created by the Argentine artist in the chapel of Hôtel Salé, which the museum occupies
  Dates:  Through  December 31, 2027

Tickets:  Book your Picasso Museum ticket or enter free of charge with a Paris Museum Pass.  For a VIP experience, book a private small-group tour.
Location: 5 Rue de Thorigny, Paris 3;  Metro: Saint-Paul or Filles du Calvaire

Musée Rodin Exhibitions

• Roses in Bloom in the Garden - This annual display of color reaches its peak during May and June, with continuing blooms throughout the summer and fall; even if you're not a fan of Rodin's art, the gardens alone are worth a visit (unfortunately, you can no longer enter the garden without a ticket).

Tickets:  Choose a Rodin Museum ticket only, or get a combined ticket for both the Rodin and Picasso museums; all ticket types also include permanent collections.  You can also use a Paris Museum Pass for free admission
Location: 77 Rue de Varenne, Paris 7;  Metro: Varenne

Palais de Tokyo 

Contemporary art by the avant-garde.

• Echo Delay Reverb -  A group exhibition featuring the work of around 60 French and American artists involving a wide variety of mediums.
  Dates:  October 22 - February 15, 2026

Tickets:  12€ adults; museum website
Location: 13 Avenue du President Wilson, Paris 16;  Metro: Iena

Petit Palais: Musee des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris

• Jean-Baptiste Greuze: Childhood Illuminated - A tricentennial celebration of the birth of this renowned portrait painter who specialized in his depictions of childhood.
  Dates:  Now through January 25, 2026

Admission:  Free for permanent collections and a few temporary exhibitions but tickets (cost varies) usually required for special exhibits; buy at the door (there's ever much of a line here), or online.
Location:  Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8;  Metro:  Champs-Elysées Clemenceau

Pinault Collection

Contemporary art by well-known and emerging artists.

• Lygia Pape: Weaving Space - First solo exhibition in France of this key artist of the Brazilian avant-garde.
  Dates:  Through January 26, 2026
• Minimal - A major exhibition dedicated to minimal art, with over 100 major works illustrating the diversity of this movement since the 1960s.
  Dates:  October 8 - January 19, 2026

Location: Bourse de Commerce, 2 Rue de Viarmes, Paris 1;  Metro: Rue de Rivoli or Les Halles - Tickets

Check out our complete guide to Paris museums & monuments

Centre Pompidou Exhibitions - Closed until 2030

Centre Pompidou, with its famous "inside out" design, will be closed until sometime in 2030 while undergoing major structural repairs as well as an expansion.

While Pompidou is closed, it will host some shows offsite, including one on art brut (Outsider Art) at the Grand Palais, possibly several others at the Louvre, and also touring shows.  So stay tuned for dates, locations, etc.!

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Paris History & Historical House (& Palace) Museum Exhibitions & Shows

Chateau de Versailles Exhibitions & Shows

Although the Palace of Versailles needs no introduction, three special shows in the Gardens take place from mid-spring through mid-fall and are well-worth seeing if you can fit them into your schedule.  

I love all of these shows.  In particular, the Night Fountains Show & Fireworks tops my list of my favorite Versailles experiences - it ends quite late, so here's my Pro Tip for You:  Stay at a nearby hotel to avoid the worry of missing the last train back to Paris (plus most Versailles hotels offer lower rates than Paris hotels).

• Musical Fountains & Musical Gardens Shows - You'll know spring has arrived in Paris when the 55 fountains and pools and the 600 water features of the Chateau de Versailles come alive in Musical Gardens (Tuesdays through Fridays) and Musical Fountains (weekends) in the Gardens at Palace of Versailles -  Get Your Tickets
  Dates: Late March - late October, 9am - 7pm (or when the groves close)
• Night Fountains Show & Fireworks (takes place on most Saturday evenings plus a few other evenings from early June until almost the end of September, from 8:30pm - 11:05pm; my personal very favorite thing to experience at Versailles) - Get Your Tickets

These two highly-rated guided tours of Versailles include transportation from Paris plus entrance to Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains (on days when they take place):

• From Paris: Versailles Sunset Bike Tour with Musical Fountains & Fireworks Show
• From Paris:  Skip-the-Line Versailles Palace Tour by Train, Plus Musical Fountains/Gardens Show (on days when offered)

Prefer to travel to Versailles and explore on your own?  Before you go, reserve a Versailles Palace & Gardens Full Access Ticket that includes the shows on days when they are available.

Find out about the top things to see at Versailles Palace, including photos of these shows 

In addition to the garden shows, Versailles also features special exhibitions (usually in one or both of the smaller palaces). 

Most people skip them because there's so much else to see and do, but if you have time, check them out because they are usually excellent and you're likely to see things you might not encounter elsewhere.

Find out about best ways to tour Versailles Palace from Paris

More Ways to See Versailles

Hotel de la Marine 

• Seven Heavenly Senses - Contemporary art from the Al Thani Collection.  - Get Your Tickets

No temporary exhibitions at the moment, but you can see selections from the Al Thani Collection of masterpieces from Antiquity to the present day, the ornate "Intendants' Apartments" from the Age of Enlightenment, and the state rooms and loggias in this historical mansion. 

Book your tickets
Location: 2 Place de la Concorde, Paris 8;  Metro: Concorde

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Exhibitions at Paris Fashion & Decorative Arts Museums 2025

Alaïa Azzedine Gallery

Couturier fashion by the late designer, often paired with creations by other designers, in galleries in the late designer's home/atelier in the Marais, with a glimpse into his workshop, untouched since his death.

• Azzedine Alaîa of Sculpted Silence - The couture collection of 2003, along with photographs of the couture collection by Bruce Weber.
  Dates:  Now through November 16

Admission: 10€; open Tuesday - Sunday
Location:  18 Rue de la Verrerie, 4th arr; Metro:  Hotel de Ville
Tickets:  Get them at the door - there's seldom much of a line as this gallery is a true Paris hidden gem

Palais Galliera Exhibitions

• Rick Owens, Temple of Love - The first Paris exhibition of avant-garde L.A. fashion designer Rick Owens, who also created an exhibition trail that you'll see as it extends to the museum's façade.
  Dates:  Through January 4, 2026

Admission: 17€ (14€ without the exhibition - but honestly, I've never seen a special exhibition here that wasn't well worth a few extra euros)
Location: 10 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, Paris 16;  Metro: Iéna
Tickets:   Website

Decorative Arts Museum (Musée des Arts Decoratifs) Exhibitions 

• Paul Poiret: Fashion is a Party - An immersion into the world of the couturier, decorator, and perfume master known for introducing the flowing silhouettes that freed women from corsets. 
  Dates:  Now through November 1

Tickets:  15€ adults - be sure to book a special exhibition ticket, which includes permanent collections plus exhibitions (always worth seeing here); buy online (highly recommended for weekend visits) or at the door (usually, but not always, short lines during the week) - please note that the Paris Museum Pass includes permanent exhibits only
Location: 107 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 1;  Metro: Tuileries or Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre
Closed: Mondays as well as December 25, January 1, May 1

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Paris Science & Technology Museum Exhibitions

Musée de l'Homme (Anthropology Museum)

• Nothing right now

Tickets: 15€ adults; includes permanent collections & temporary exhibitions.  Book online, or get free entry with a Paris Museum Pass
Location: 17 Place de Trocadero, 16th arrondissement;  Metro/RER: Pont d'Alma; closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1, July 14, and December 25

Jardin des Plantes 2025 - 2026

Four enormous greenhouses and extensive (and well-labeled) botanical gardens are packed with living collections of the plant world; periodic special exhibitions give additional reasons to visit.

The outdoor gardens feature spectacular displays of blossoms and foliage through most of the year.

• Festival of Lights - Giant illuminated representations of the natural world creating a magical experience during the evening; if you follow the suggested circuit, the walk through the lights usually takes about an hour (but on very chilly nights, I've done it in 45 minutes) 
  Dates: November 12 - January 18, 2026
• A Thousand and One Orchids 2026 - This popular annual event displays numerous orchids of all types in the Jardin des Plantes' spectacular greenhouses.
  Dates:  Usually early February through mid-March - exact dates wil most likely be announced in early 2026
  Tickets:  Included in regular greenhouse entrance fee, but due to the great popularity of this show, you should get your tickets online in advance - tickets often sell out days and even weeks in advance

Botanical Garden

The garden's many sections are planted to display an ever-changing array of flowers, foliage, and colors each season.

Greenhouses

Available to visit throughout the year.

Tickets to Greenhouses:  9€ adults; buy online or at the greenhouse entrance
Admission to the Botanical Gardens: Free
Location: Greenhouses, Jardin des Plantes, Paris 5;  Metro:  Jussieu, Place Monge, Austerlitz, or Quai de la Rapée (walk across the Pont d'Austerlitz bridge to the garden)

Grand Gallery of Evolution (Grande Galerie de l'Évolution)

Paris's super-popular natural history museum in Jardin des Plantes is packed with fascinating displays - a huge favorite of kids and teens as well as adults.

• Deserts - In this exhibition, you'll discover Earth' diverse desert environments from the North and South poles to the hottest spots near the equator and the amazing diversity of the life they sustain.
  Dates: Through November 30

Tickets:  16€ (includes admission to the rest of the Gallery) - book online
Location: 36 Rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Paris 5;  Metro: Jussieu, Saint-Marcel, or Quai de La Rapée

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Paris Military Museums & Shows

Army Museum (Musée de la Armée) at Les Invalides Exhibitions

• Aura - This immersive show takes place during evening hours and brings to life the architecture and history of the Invalides Dome with spectacular lighting effects, video projections and imagery, and music designed to showcase the site's beauty and heritage.  
  Book online
  Dates: Through September, 2033 (yes, that's really 2033 - not a typo!)
  Location:  Invalides Dome, 2 Place Vauban, Paris 7;  Metro: Tour Maubourg, Varennes, Invalides, Varenne

Invalides tickets (without show; free for 17 and under) includes permanent collections plus most exhibitions; book a priority entrance ticket online online or enter free with a Paris Museum Pass

Find our complete guide to Paris museums & monuments

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