The Grand Palais will host "Matisse. 1941–1954" from March 24 to July 26, 2026. Co-produced by the Centre Pompidou and RMN-Grand Palais, with the participation of the Musée Matisse in Nice, this major exhibition brings together over 300 works—paintings, drawings, cut-out gouaches, stained glass, ceramics—tracing Henri Matisse's prolific final years of creation. From the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence to the famous blue nudes, the exhibition highlights the incredible vitality of an artist who, even weakened by illness, revolutionized art with his scissors and colored papers. It is the major artistic event of spring 2026 in Paris.
Still at the Grand Palais, "Drawings without limits—Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou" (December 16, 2025 – March 15, 2026) brings together nearly 300 works on paper from the Centre Pompidou's collection, one of the richest in the world. From Picasso to Basquiat, from Giacometti to Louise Bourgeois, the exhibition spans a century of graphic creation. In the fall, "Cézanne and Us" (September 23, 2026 – January 17, 2027) will confront Paul Cézanne's work with its unparalleled posterity, illustrating the trajectory of the Aix master: from his isolation in Provence to his status as a pillar of modern art.
At the Musée d'Orsay, "Renoir the draftsman" will be held from March 17 to July 5, 2026. This is the first major exhibition dedicated to Auguste Renoir's works on paper since 1921. Co-organized with the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, it brings together drawings, pastels, red chalks, and preparatory studies by the Impressionist master. A little-known and fascinating facet of the artist, famous for his color, is revealed here through his line work. The exhibition is accompanied by a scientific reference catalogue.
The Centre Pompidou, for its part, is closed for renovation. The building by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, inaugurated in 1977, closed its doors in September 2025 after the "Because Beaubourg" festival. It is undergoing five years of colossal work: complete asbestos removal from the facades, fire safety compliance, accessibility improvements, and energy optimization. Reopening is scheduled for 2030. During the closure, the collections are traveling: exhibitions are being organized at the Grand Palais, in the regions, and internationally. It is in this context that the Matisse exhibition is co-produced with the Grand Palais.
Among other notable exhibitions, the Musée du Louvre continues its thematic exhibitions around its permanent collections. The Château de Versailles and the Fondation Louis Vuitton are also programming large-scale events throughout the year. The Parisian museum landscape in 2026 is marked by the closure of the Centre Pompidou, which is redistributing the cards: the Grand Palais, reopened after its own renovation for the 2024 Olympics, becomes the main venue for temporary exhibitions in the capital, with an ambitious program running until 2027.
