A true historical monument, the Grand Palais – with more than a few stories to tell – has embarked on a new chapter in its epic journey following major renovations for the Olympic Games back in 2024. For over a century, its monumental nave, framed by green porphyry columns, has showcased art under glass while encouraging artists to break free from institutional constraints and explore new dimensions. And on June 19, 2025, it officially reopened as an art gallery once again.
The history of the Grand Palais
Built in 1900 for the Exposition Universelle, alongside the Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais offered Paris a monumental gateway into the new century and marked a turning point in the history of fine arts. Since its opening, it has been a bastion of the avant-garde, open to controversy and the scandals that have animated the famous Autumn Salons held here annually since 1905.
From 1974, its vast glass roof became an international stage for contemporary art thanks to the FIAC (renamed Paris+ by Art Basel in 2022), a prestigious art fair attracting global professionals every October. The rest of the year, the palace hosts major retrospectives on leading figures in fine art (Rodin, Miró, Toulouse-Lautrec…) as well as themed exhibitions (Venice, the Moon), and shines a spotlight on contemporary artists – including through Monumenta, launched with Anselm Kiefer in 2007 and concluding in 2016 with Huang Yong Ping.
When did the Grand Palais reopen?
Following its renovation, the Grand Palais partially reopened for the Olympic Games in summer 2024. The nave hosted the fencing and taekwondo events, along with their Paralympic counterparts. It reopened completely in 2025, and since then the venue has resumed its cultural programme, now enriched with new international event cycles spanning the arts, fashion, sport and more.
Eventually, thanks to the latest upgrades, the expanded exhibition areas will include a dedicated children’s gallery and an underground passageway linking the nave with the Palais de la Découverte. This new physical connection will also shape the programming, with greater emphasis on the relationship between art and science.
What’s on at the Grand Palais this year?
The central nave and its surrounding galleries have been reconfigured to accommodate the technical requirements of contemporary exhibitions – until 2030, the Grand Palais will house works from the Centre Pompidou, which closed this year for its own overhaul. It will also offer a broader programme of cultural events beyond traditional exhibitions, including art fairs, public installations and fashion shows. Euphoria: Art Is In The Air is running until September 2025, and Nosso Barco Tambor Terra until the end of August. Check the Grand Palais website for details.
What should I do near the Grand Palais?
Nestled between Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées, the Grand Palais is one of many architectural gems in the elegant 8th arrondissement. Directly opposite, the Petit Palais and its permanent collection is a must-visit (and entry is free!) for lovers of the fine arts. On the opposite bank, cross the majestic Pont Alexandre III to reach the Esplanade des Invalides, which leads straight to Napoleon’s tomb – and just beyond it, the charming Musée Rodin with its lovely garden. Looking for somewhere to eat between exhibitions? Check out our guide to the best addresses in the 8th arrondissement.
How to get there: By metro lines 1 and 9 (Franklin D. Roosevelt station)
Address: 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am-8pm (Fridays until 10.30pm). Last admission 45 minutes before closing