Free exhibitions in Paris

147 exhibitions free to visit in Paris — 49 closing within two weeks. Listings updated on .

Admission at no charge is a far wider part of the Paris exhibition offer than most visitors imagine, and it is not limited to the permanent collections of the city museums. Three networks carry it. Municipal libraries and media centres first — Bibliothèque historique de la Ville de Paris, Médiathèque Françoise Sagan, Bibliothèque Forney and neighbourhood libraries — which mount hangs all year, often photography and history. Galleries next, whose doors are open by principle. And foreign cultural centres and foundations last, such as Institut suédois or Centre culturel suisse, whose programme is almost always accessible without a ticket.

Costing nothing does not mean having no constraints, and that is what sets these visits apart. The hours are those of the host institution, not of a museum: a library closes on Sunday and sometimes on Monday, a gallery often closes on both, a cultural centre follows a calendar of its own. Checking the venue’s hours before travelling is the single most useful precaution here. Some of these exhibitions also require a ticket to be collected at the desk, or an online reservation when attendance is heavy.

This page gathers the exhibitions in Paris that charge nothing to enter, ordered by closing date — the most urgent first. Every listing carries the venue, the run, the address and a link to the official page where today’s hours are given. The “Free” badge on a card means the exhibition itself costs nothing to enter; where a venue offers both open spaces and a paying show, only the part genuinely accessible without a ticket is counted here.

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147 exhibitions · closing soonest first

Frequently asked questions

Which exhibitions in Paris are free?

Chiefly those in municipal libraries and media centres, in galleries, and in foreign cultural centres and foundations. The permanent collections of City of Paris museums are open to all as well.

Do I still need to book?

Usually not, but some venues issue a ticket at the desk or ask for an online reservation when attendance is heavy. The official page linked from each listing says so.

What are the opening hours?

Those of the host institution, not of a museum: libraries close on Sunday and sometimes on Monday, galleries often on both. Check the venue page before travelling — it carries today’s hours.