What to see in Paris – Autumn and winter 2026
Exhibitions
Cézanne and Us – Grand Palais
September 23, 2026 – January 17, 2027
The Grand Palais welcomes Cézanne back with a retrospective tracing his quiet revolution, from Provençal landscapes to the generations of artists he set in motion. One of the most anticipated Paris art exhibitions of 2026, and one that rewards a slow visit (we suggest taking a whole morning here).
Art Basel Paris – Grand Palais
October 23 – 25, 2026
For three days, the architecturally glorious Grand Palais becomes the world's largest temporary museum. Over 200 galleries present 20th and 21st century works – but the energy between the stands is what you’ll be going for. If you're wondering what to see in Paris this October, this is where to begin.
In-Situ Works – Bourse de Commerce
Until December 31, 2026
At the Pinault Collection's Bourse de Commerce, artists have been invited to create works that respond directly to the building itself, inside and out. The architecture’s an essential part of the conversation: leave yourself time to wander.
Monet, Painting Time – Musée de l'Orangerie
September 30, 2026 – January 25, 2027
A century after his death, Monet returns to the place where his magnificent Nymphéas (Water Lilies) live. This exhibition explores his lifelong fascination with time, light and the turning seasons – and takes a new look at his evolution as an artist.
Events
European Heritage Days – across Paris
September 19 – 20, 2026
One weekend a year, Paris opens its most private doors. Courtyards, ateliers, grand institutions usually kept behind closed gates: the city shows you what it normally keeps to itself. Note that high-demand (or high-security) locations require advance booking.
Babel – Le Bon Marché
September 3 – December 31, 2026
Beneath the glass roofs of Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche, choreographer Mourad Merzouki reimagines the myth of the Tower of Babel through movement, energy and poetry. The show starts at 9.15, transforming the daytime space into something deeper, darker and stranger.
Festive season
Mid-November, 2026 – early January, 2027
When the lights go up, the city softens. The Champs-Élysées glitters, avenue Montaigne glows, and the window displays tell their own stories. There's a particular warmth to Paris in December, and most of it is waiting just outside the door.
Two Dorchester Collection hotels sit at the centre of the season. Hôtel Plaza Athénée, a luxury hotel in Paris's 8th arrondissement, is for the energy: avenue Montaigne at your door and couture on every corner. Le Meurice is for the dreamers, with Tuileries light through tall windows and Parisian beauty at every turn. Start with one. You’ll find your way to the other.