ART PARIS 2026 RETURNS TO THE ICONIC GRAND PALAIS
Following its triumphant return to the Grand Palais in 2025, Art Paris is set to reclaim the majestic nave and balconies of this Parisian monument from 9-12 April 2026. As the premier spring event for modern and contemporary art, the 28th edition promises a vibrant dialogue between 165 French and international galleries, showcasing a curated selection that is both regional and cosmopolitan. This edition’s ambitious program invites visitors to navigate the complex intersections of linguistics and the restorative power of art within one of Paris‘ most historic architectural landmarks. Get your tickets here!
banner: Art Paris 2025 by night; above: Art Paris at Grand Palais; all images from Art Paris 2025 | © Marc Domage
LANGUAGE AND REPARATION LEAD THE ART FAIR’S 28TH EDITION
Art Paris 2026 is anchored by two major themes entrusted to guest curators who bring local and global perspectives to the fair’s program. Loïc Le Gall, Director of the Passerelle Centre d’Art Contemporain, curates ‘Babel — Art and Language in France.’ This themed visit features 21 artists, including Fabrice Hyber, Laure Prouvost, and the late Ben Vautier, whose work interprets sign systems and linguistic structures in French contemporary art, exploring the nature of letters, the tension and the circulation of words across networks.
Parallel to this, Alexia Fabre, Executive Director of the Centre Pompidou Francilien, adopts an international outlook with ‘Reparation.’ Selecting 20 international artists such as Otobong Nkanga and Kader Attia, Fabre explores art as a tool for mending physical and symbolic wounds. The theme touches on notions of healing, historical silences, and the resilience required to reconstruct a reality that once was.
Grand Palais
EMERGING TALENT AND AWARDS FOR MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
Furthermore, the fair’s commitment to advocate the next generation is showcased in the Promises sector, located on the southern balconies of the Grand Palais. Dedicated to galleries established for less than ten years, this section features 27 exhibitors from across the globe, with over half the participating artists being women. The sector is designed to foster emerging talent, ensuring a platform for fresh artistic voices from cities like Sydney, Casablanca, and Singapore. Alongside these galleries, the Solo Show sector offers 25 monographic exhibitions, allowing visitors an in-depth encounter with the work of modern and contemporary artists such as Joël Andrianomearisoa and Fabienne Verdier.
balcon French Design Art Edition
The French Design Art Edition returns to the north balconies after its successful debut, highlighting the intersection of contemporary design and decorative arts. Curated by Jean-Paul Bath and Sandy Saad, the sector hosts around fifteen exhibitors presenting one-off and limited-edition pieces. This focus on ‘art de vivre’ is complemented by the Le Fonds d’art contemporain – Paris Collections exhibition. Curated by Julie Gandini, this project echoes the theme of reparation by showcasing 20th-century artists from Africa and the Americas who are often underrepresented in public collections, aiming to make amends through institutional visibility.
Galerie Lange + Pult
Recognition of excellence remains a cornerstone of the event with three major prizes. The BNP Paribas Banque Privée Prize rewards an artist active on the French scene selected from the Babel exhibition, while the Her Art Prize, in partnership with Marie Claire and Maison Boucheron, honors a female artist for her unique career and perspective-shifting work. Finally, the Le FRENCH DESIGN 100 award ceremony, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, honors 100 interior design and design projects that spread the influence of French creativity internationally. With one final winner selected out of designers, manufacturers and master craftsmen, the ritual marks a key moment for the French design ecosystem.
Semiose
Mitterrand
