The designation of this French city as the World Cultural Capital for the year 2025 is no accident.
Paris in 2025: A Cultural Haven with a Dynamic Calendar
Paris, the city of love and light, is set to dazzle once again with a vibrant cultural calendar in 2025. From art exhibitions to outdoor festivals, the city offers a rich tapestry of experiences for both locals and visitors alike.
The Palais de Tokyo and the Bourse de Commerce, contemporary showcases for art in Paris, continue to celebrate both the avant-garde and classic masterpieces. The Palais de Tokyo extends its opening hours until 10 pm, providing ample opportunity to immerse oneself in the city's creative spirit. The Bourse de Commerce, transformed into a contemporary showcase for the Pinault collection, offers a unique perspective on contemporary art.
Parisians engage with art beyond contemplation, living it actively. Galleries in the Marais and the Jeu de Paume, for instance, stay open late at night, allowing art enthusiasts to explore the city's creative pulse well into the evening. The Centre Pompidou, a major museum in Paris, is preparing to temporarily close, but it is doing so with a grand exit. German artist Wolfgang Tillmans will take over level 2 of the Public Information Library, giving the Centre Pompidou a vibrant send-off before its closure.
Iconic institutions such as the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay continue to summarize the history of art through the centuries. The Musée d'Orsay extends its opening hours until 9:45 pm on Thursdays, offering a chance to appreciate the masterpieces under the soft glow of the setting sun.
Paris was recently ranked as the best cultural city, with residents praising its cultural abundance and specialized writers and critics lauding its creativity, accessibility, and ever-evolving programming. The ranking, conducted by Time Out, was based on a worldwide survey of 18,500 citizens and an expert jury.
Upcoming cultural events in Paris in 2025 include a mix of festivals, exhibitions, performances, and special reopenings scheduled throughout the year. The Jardin d'été festival takes place at the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, featuring Japanese summer festival themes, world cuisines, and cultural programming from July 5 to August 31, 2025. The Jardins ouverts 2025 offers artistic installations and cultural events in about 200 parks across Île-de-France, providing outdoor art experiences near Paris during the same period.
Outdoor cinema screenings are scheduled for August 22 and 23, 2025, at Château d'Écouen - musée national de la Renaissance, with family-friendly movie nights. The heritage reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral's towers occurs on September 20, 2025, with free admission and a new visitor route for exploring this iconic monument during Heritage Days.
Paris Design Week spans September 4 to 13, 2025, celebrating innovation and lifestyle through exhibitions, talks, and walking tours focusing on furniture design, interior architecture, and decorative arts. The Maison&Objet trade fair runs concurrently with Paris Design Week, showcasing design trends and professionals.
Despite being in Lyon, the Lyon Biennale from September 6 to 28, 2025, is a major dance and contemporary art festival of note in France. Throughout the summer, L'Été du Canal and Paris Plages offer vibrant outdoor activities along Paris canals and swimming areas, extending through August 31, 2025, featuring concerts, workshops, street art, and Brazilian-themed festivities.
Notable exhibitions ongoing in Paris include one about the Dreyfus Affair at the Paris Jewish museum until August 31, 2025, Eugène Boudin’s Impressionist works at Musée Marmottan Monet through August 31, 2025, and a desert biodiversity exhibition at the Natural History Museum running until November 30, 2025.
The European Night of Museums offers visitors a sensory experience with projections, concerts, and sound and light installations. The Fête de la Musique transforms sidewalks into neighborhood stages, while the Grand Palais recently held a dazzling exhibition dedicated to Dolce & Gabbana. In Paris, there are restaurants that offer a journey into Latin American cuisine, and La Villette hosts an open-air cinema during summer.
Thus, Paris in 2025 features a dynamic cultural calendar through late summer and early fall, with a variety of free and ticketed experiences spanning art, history, design, cinema, and outdoor festivals. Whether you're a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious passerby, Paris promises a cultural adventure like no other.
In 2025, travelers can enjoy a home-and-garden experience during the Jardins ouverts 2025, where artistic installations and cultural events will be held in about 200 parks across Île-de-France. Meanwhile, in-flights might catch a glimpse of the vibrant Paris Design Week, spanning September 4 to 13, showcasing innovation and lifestyle through exhibitions, talks, and walking tours focusing on furniture design, interior architecture, and decorative arts.
