From Hilma af Klint and Alexander Calder to immersive installations and ancient Lebanon, these are ten exhibitions to prioritise before the end of August.
August is an unusually good time to visit Paris. The city is quieter, many museums remain open, and several major exhibitions are approaching their closing dates. For art lovers, this means there is still time to see important exhibitions before the autumn programme begins.
The selection below includes exhibitions in Paris and the wider Île-de-France region that close between 16 and 31 August 2026. Opening hours and final dates should be confirmed before travelling.
1. Calder: Rêver en équilibre
Fondation Louis Vuitton — until 16 August 2026
Alexander Calder’s suspended mobiles and kinetic sculptures have transformed the way we think about movement, balance and space. This exhibition brings together works that demonstrate how Calder could make metal, wire and colour appear almost weightless.
The Fondation Louis Vuitton’s architecture adds another dimension to the experience, allowing visitors to see Calder’s work in dialogue with light, structure and open space. It is an essential exhibition for anyone interested in abstraction, sculpture and minimalist design.france+1
2. Exposition Générale
Fondation Cartier — until 23 August 2026
The Fondation Cartier’s Exposition Générale brings together nearly 600 works by more than 100 artists. It offers an overview of the foundation’s history and its distinctive approach to contemporary art, which often connects visual culture with science, nature, architecture and anthropology.
This is a good choice for visitors who want to discover several artists in one exhibition rather than focus on a single retrospective. The breadth of the presentation also makes it one of the most useful exhibitions for understanding the Fondation Cartier’s contribution to contemporary art.france+1
3. Rothko and the power of colour
Paris — closing date to verify before visiting
Mark Rothko’s work remains one of the most influential examples of colour-driven abstraction. His paintings demonstrate how simple shapes, broad fields of colour and subtle tonal changes can create an intensely emotional experience.
For visitors drawn to minimalist and abstract art, this is an opportunity to think about how colour affects atmosphere in both galleries and domestic interiors. Rothko’s work continues to influence contemporary painters, graphic designers and art collectors.
4. Clair-obscur
Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection — until 31 August 2026
Clair-obscur brings together around 100 works by 27 artists from the Pinault Collection. The exhibition explores the legacy of chiaroscuro—the dramatic contrast between light and darkness—in modern and contemporary art.
The exhibition includes works by artists such as Pierre Huyghe, Victor Man, Bill Viola, Laura Lamiel, Jean Dubuffet, Alberto Giacometti and Germaine Richier. It is particularly interesting for visitors who want to explore how artists use shadow, contrast and limited palettes to create tension.christies+1
5. Hilma af Klint: Les Peintures du Temple
Grand Palais — until 30 August 2026
Hilma af Klint’s abstract paintings are among the most compelling discoveries of modern art. Created decades before abstraction became widely recognised, her geometric forms, spirals and symbolic colour systems combine visual experimentation with spiritual ideas.
The exhibition includes works from her Paintings for the Temple series, allowing visitors to understand the scale and ambition of her artistic project. It is an important exhibition for anyone interested in abstraction, symbolism and the history of women artists.centrepompidou+1
6. Leandro Erlich: Retrospective
Grand Palais — until 30 August 2026
Leandro Erlich is known for installations that make familiar spaces feel unstable. Stairs, windows, swimming pools, lifts and architectural structures become visual puzzles that encourage visitors to question what they are seeing.
His retrospective at the Grand Palais is one of the summer’s most accessible contemporary-art exhibitions. It is playful and visually striking, but also asks serious questions about perception, reality and the way architecture shapes our behaviour.grandpalais+1
7. Chiens et Chats
Paris — until 30 August 2026
Chiens et Chats explores the representation of dogs and cats in art and visual culture. The subject may appear light-hearted, but images of domestic animals reveal changing ideas about companionship, status, intimacy and everyday life.
The exhibition offers a welcome contrast to more demanding historical and contemporary-art presentations. It is also an appealing choice for families and visitors interested in the relationship between animals, artists and society.museos+1
8. Paul Huet: Face au ciel
Musée de la Vie Romantique — until 30 August 2026
Paul Huet’s paintings and drawings focus on the sky, weather and the changing drama of the landscape. His work reflects the Romantic fascination with nature as something powerful, emotional and constantly in motion.
The Musée de la Vie Romantique provides an intimate setting for this exhibition. Away from Paris’s larger institutions, it offers a quieter visit centred on atmosphere, landscape and the expressive potential of light.sortiraparis+2
9. Beyond the Streets
Grande Halle de la Villette — until 30 August 2026
Beyond the Streets brings together more than 100 artists connected with graffiti and street art. The exhibition includes historic works, archives and newer pieces, presenting the development of urban art across several generations.
Its large-scale format makes it a strong choice for visitors interested in contemporary visual culture, graphic design, typography and public space. The exhibition also demonstrates how practices that began outside traditional institutions have become an important part of the international art world.sortiraparis+1
10. The Moulins Triptych
Musée du Louvre — until 31 August 2026
The Moulins Triptych is one of the most celebrated works associated with early Netherlandish painting. Its intricate details, symbolic objects and vivid colours reward close observation, making it particularly worthwhile for visitors who enjoy the relationship between art, craft and storytelling.
Seeing the triptych at the Louvre also offers an opportunity to place it within a broader history of European painting. It is a fitting final stop for a summer exhibition itinerary that moves from Renaissance art to contemporary installation and abstraction.france+1
A final August itinerary
If you only have one day, combine exhibitions in the same area:
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West Paris: Calder at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, followed by the Jardin d’Acclimatation.
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Central Paris: Clair-obscur at the Bourse de Commerce, then the Louvre’s Moulins Triptych.
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The 8th arrondissement: Hilma af Klint and Leandro Erlich at the Grand Palais.
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Montmartre: Paul Huet at the Musée de la Vie Romantique, followed by a walk through the neighbourhood.
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La Villette: Beyond the Streets and the surrounding Parc de la Villette.
Before you go
Several exhibitions close on 23, 30 or 31 August, and some sources list slightly different final dates for individual shows. Check the museum’s official ticketing page before travelling, particularly for Clair-obscur, where published closing dates may vary between listings.
