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Summer exhibitions in Paris

Our pick of the best art shows in the French capital this summer, from American photographer Walker Evans to huge Hockney and Christian Dior retrospectives

Written by
Time Out editors
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With all the ice cream to eat and parks to play in, sometimes art can come low on a summer list of things to do in Paris. But it shouldn’t. As always in Paris, there’s an exceptional line-up of big-hitting exhibitions and smaller shows in galleries across the city – unmissable for art lovers, ideal for anyone on greyer days. Discover new galleries, new artists, and probably have a good few coffees or a bit of window-shopping on your way.

So read on for our selection of the best summer exhibitions in Paris. And have a ball!

The best art shows and exhibitions in Paris this summer

Visiting in August? These museums are open

The Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou

  • price 3 of 4

The primary colours, exposed pipes and air ducts make the Centre Pompidou one of the best-known sights in Paris. The then-unknown Italo-British architectural...

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

  • price 2 of 4

Taken as a whole (along with the Musée de la Mode et du Textile and Musée de la Publicité), this is one of the world's major collections of design and the...

Musée Galliera

Musée Galliera

This look at clothes through history takes an academic approach to its subject. Housed in a hôtel particulier built by Eiffel, the Galliera has a huge costume...

Musée National Rodin

Musée National Rodin

The Rodin museum occupies the hôtel particulier where the sculptor lived in the final years of his life. The Kiss, the Cathedral, the Walking Man, portrait...

Musée Picasso

Musée Picasso

Finally, after many years of building works, the Musée Picasso re-opened its doors on October 25 2014 – once again, the people of Paris can enjoy masterpieces...

The Louvre

The Louvre

  • price 3 of 4

Read Time Out's review of The Louvre below or click here for our exclusive photo tour of the museum. The world's largest museum is also its most visited, with...

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay

  • price 2 of 4

In 1973, the Musée d’Orsay’s days were numbered; they were planning to demolish Victor Laloux’s 1900 former train station and its giant clocks to erect an...

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais

  • price 3 of 4

Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, the Grand Palais was the work of three different architects, each of whom designed a façade. During World War II it...