The most anticipated exhibitions of the season!

Second act for the new major exhibitions of 2025! And this season, our favorite museums are once again competing with must-see exhibitions one after the other. Hard to choose between the monographs of great masters like Pierre Soulages, John Singer Sargent, Kandinsky or Jacques Louis David, a retrospective on sleep in art, a celebration of 100 years of Art Deco, or even a couture show at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa... Here’s a selection of unmissable events to mark in your calendars.

The Sandman will stop by the splendid Musée Marmottan Monet this fall, with an exhibition dedicated to sleep in art! Although this theme has inspired creativity since Antiquity, this exhibition focuses mainly on the “long nineteenth century,” from the Enlightenment to the First World War. On display: more than 130 works portraying sleep in all its forms—dream, nightmare, artificial sleep, biblical sleep, or sleep through the eyes of love. Divided into eight thematic sections, the show explores both the aesthetic and scientific aspects of sleep and its disorders. Fun fact: part of the curation is led by Laura Bossi, neurologist and scientific curator of this fascinating retrospective. Featured artists include Ingres, Delacroix, Félix Vallotton and Francisco Goya!

L'Empire du sommeil, October 9, 2025 – March 1, 2026 at the Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris 16th.

Better known for his “Outrenoir”, those canvases where layers of texture and shades of black reflect light, Pierre Soulages first began his artistic journey on paper in 1946 with walnut stain works. His bold, dark traces in ink, gouache, and graphite distinguished him early from the abstract art of the time. His works on paper were long kept by the artist and rarely gathered in dedicated exhibitions. Now, the Musée du Luxembourg presents an exhibition with more than 130 works, including over 30 never before shown pieces, starting September 17. A unique chance to dive deeper into the art of this French icon of abstraction.

Soulages, une autre lumière, Peintures sur papier, September 17, 2025 – January 11, 2026 at the Musée du Luxembourg, Paris.

One hundred years ago, the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts put Art Deco in the global spotlight. To celebrate this centenary, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs invites visitors starting October 22 to travel back to the Roaring Twenties. With elegant furniture, geometric designs, posters, fashion pieces, and over 1,000 works, this exhibition showcases the timeless appeal of Art Deco. Highlights include a cabin from the Étoile du Nord train and three models of the future Orient Express, redesigned by Maxime d’Angeac, displayed in the museum’s grand nave.

1925-2025. Cent ans d’Art déco, October 22, 2025 – April 26, 2026 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris 1st.

A French painter who lived through six political regimes, Jacques Louis David marked our collective imagination with his masterpieces of Napoleon, including Bonaparte Crossing the Alps and The Coronation of Napoleon. This year, on the bicentenary of his death, the Louvre honors him with a monumental exhibition featuring over 100 major loans, including The Oath of the Tennis Court and The Death of Marat. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to rediscover one of the most influential painters of European art history.

Jacques Louis David, October 15, 2025 – January 26, 2026 at the Louvre, Paris 1st.

With around 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, John Singer Sargent was hailed as “the greatest portraitist of his generation.” The Musée d’Orsay pays tribute to this American painter, who spent much of his life in Europe, with an exhibition of 90 works tracing his career—from his arrival in France in 1874 to his move to London after the scandal caused by his portrait of Madame Gautreau (Madame X). Still underappreciated in France, this retrospective seeks to restore his place in the spotlight.

John Singer Sargent, Éblouir Paris, September 23, 2025 – January 11, 2026 at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris 7th.

Music was a major source of inspiration for modern avant-garde artists, but its influence is perhaps most evident in the work of Kandinsky. Naturally, the Philharmonie de Paris and the Centre Pompidou have joined forces for a colorful exhibition where spirituality in art takes center stage. A highlight is the rare chance to see Kandinsky’s last three Compositions (VIII, IX, X) reunited—masterpieces that mirror musical structures and embody his vision of a spiritual, abstract art.

Kandinsky, la musique des couleurs, October 15, 2025 – February 1, 2026 at the Philharmonie de Paris, Paris 19th.

This fall, the Fondation Louis Vuitton presents a vast retrospective of Gerhard Richter, one of the most influential living artists. Known for pushing the limits of artistic categorization, Richter’s work spans from abstract to figurative. With over 270 works from 1962 to 2024, including his iconic photo-paintings, this XXL exhibition offers a deep dive into his extraordinary career.

Gerhard Richter, October 17, 2025 – March 2, 2026 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris 16th.

Classmate of Jackson Pollock and a central figure of the New York School, Philip Guston shocked the art world by abandoning abstraction in favor of cartoon-like figurative works inspired by comics. His paintings—full of dark humor, political critique, and social commentary—are weapons against authority. The Musée Picasso dedicates an exhibition to his biting, grotesque art, showing rare works alongside his satirical spirit, influenced by Picasso’s 1937 series The Dream and Lie of Franco.

Philip Guston, L’ironie de l’histoire, October 14, 2025 – March 1, 2026 at the Musée Picasso, Paris 3rd.

After an 11-year absence, Azzedine Alaïa stunned the fashion world in 2003 with his comeback “summer-autumn” collection, now considered legendary. This exhibition revisits that defining moment with 30 masterpieces from the collection, showcased in the very space where the runway show was originally held. Featuring garments, films, and photos by Bruce Weber, this is a rare look into the late King of Cling’s triumphant return.

Azzedine Alaïa, de silence sculpté, September 12 – November 16, 2025 at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Paris 4th.

Perhaps less known, but crucial to modern art history, Berthe Weill was the pioneering dealer who sold works by Picasso before he even opened his own gallery and organized the only solo exhibition of Modigliani during his lifetime. A champion of avant-garde artists, she supported over 300 creators before closing her gallery in 1940. The Musée de l’Orangerie shines a light on this trailblazer with an exhibition featuring works by Picasso, Diego Rivera, Matisse, and Modigliani.

Berthe Weill. Galeriste d'avant-garde, October 8, 2025 – January 26, 2026 at the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris 1st.

Also check out the best films to stream now and the most anticipated series of the season!