Things to do in France in 2026: New Attractions, Exhibitions & Experiences

The things to do in France in 2026 go far beyond the familiar Paris itinerary. How so? A 42-storey glass skyscraper is opening above the Parisian skyline. A long-sealed royal residence is welcoming its first public visitors. Two major cultural centenary events are drawing international attention.

From the Grand Palais d’été summer programme to a private Mediterranean island off Provence, and from Burgundy’s photography bicentenary to Beaujolais harvest trails, the year 2026 offers a depth and variety of new French experiences that most years simply cannot match.

Here is everything worth planning for, and how to plan it properly with a France Schengen Visa from UK.

Key Takeaways

• Paris alone delivers four significant new openings in 2026: The Tour Triangle observatory, Villa Windsor Museum, Étoile Voltaire cinema, and JR’s Pont Neuf installation: covering architecture, royal history, independent cinema, and public art.
• Autumn 2026 is the strongest cultural travel window France has offered in years, anchored by the Claude Monet Centenary and the 200 years of photography exhibitions across Paris and Burgundy.

10 Best Things to Do in France in 2026 at a Glance

Experience	Location	Category	Best Time	What Sets It Apart
Tour Triangle Paris	Porte de Versailles, Paris 15th	Architecture & Skyline	Late 2026	Paris’s third-tallest building featuring a panoramic public belvedere
Villa Windsor Museum	Bois de Boulogne, Paris 16th	Heritage & History	Late 2026	Former home of English royalty opening its 14-room estate to the public
Étoile Voltaire Cinema	Avenue Parmentier, Paris 11th	Culture & Cinema	Late 2026	Rebuilt electric substation with 5 screens and a green rooftop terrace
200 Years of Photography	Grand Palais, Paris & Burgundy	Art & History	From Sept 2026	National bicentenary exhibitions marking Niépce’s 1826 world-first image
Claude Monet Centenary	Paris & Normandy Region	Art & Impressionism	30 Sept 2026–Jan 2027	The groundbreaking Monet and Time exhibition at the Musée de l’Orangerie
World of Frozen at Disneyland	Marne-la-Vallée, Île-de-France	Theme Parks & Family	From March 2026	Substitution: Massive, fully immersive Arendelle expansion at Disney Adventure World
Grand Palais d’été	Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8th	Arts & Nightlife	2 Jun–6 Sept 2026	Leandro Erlich’s largest-ever solo European retrospective
Zannier Île de Bendor	Off Bandol, Provence	Luxury & Wellness	May–Oct 2026	A 7-hectare rewilded private island, open for the first time
TGV INOUI (5th Gen TGV M)	Paris–Lyon–Marseille line	Rail & Sustainable Travel	From Sept 2026	Next-generation train debuting 740 seats and 20% lower energy use
Beaujolais Trails & Marathon	Villefranche-sur-Saône, Rhône	Active & Wine Tourism	Sept & Nov 2026	Harvest-season hiking and the world-famous Beaujolais Nouveau marathon

A. New Attractions in Paris 2026 : Landmarks, Art & Cinematic Spaces

A wave of high-profile openings is transforming the Parisian landscape across multiple arrondissements. Spanning the glass skyscrapers, royal estates, and the independent screening rooms, these new additions in the Paris blend the deep historical heritage with cutting-edge public art in France. Here is exactly where to find them, how to reach them, and what to expect when you are there

1). Tour Triangle Paris : A Futuristic Glass Blade at Porte de Versailles

The Tour Triangle Paris is a striking 42-storey, 180-metre trapezoidal skyscraper. It is designed by the renowned Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron.

Standing as the third-tallest structure within Paris city limits behind the Eiffel Tower and Tour Montparnasse, the building officially topped out in May 2026.

Because Paris reinstated a strict city-centre height ban right after its approval, this will be the last skyscraper of its scale ever constructed in the historic core of the city.

The Experience: The building pulls off an architectural optical illusion. From central Paris, it appears as a razor-thin, glass blade. But, if you look at it from the side, it widens into a massive, light-retaining pyramid. The crown jewel for travellers is the top four floors, which feature a fully glass-enclosed, panoramic public belvedere and a skybar hanging directly over the city. At its base, you can wander through an 8,000-square-metre public garden.

How to Get There: Take the Tramway lines T2 or T3 directly to the Porte de Versailles stop.

When Will Tour Triangle Paris Open? This incredible Parisian attraction is scheduled to open in the later part of 2026.

2). Villa Windsor Museum: An Intimate Royal Time Capsule in the Bois de Boulogne

Tucked away on the southern edge of Neuilly-sur-Seine, the Villa Windsor Museum is a grand 14-room neoclassical mansion opening its gates under the stewardship of the Fondation Mansart. This estate served as the private home of the abdicated King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson from 1953 until their deaths.

The Experience: Rather than a sterile, curated museum, the rooms are kept explicitly as they were left. Stepping inside feels like walking directly into a mid-century royal home, still lined with private heirlooms, paintings, and deeply personal wartime archives. The estate grounds are already hosting public events like the Jardins, Jardin horticultural festival, with full interior collections unveiling in phases.

The Backstory: The mansion holds a heavily layered 20th-century history:

• Occupied by German command forces during World War II.
• Used briefly as a strategic base by Charles de Gaulle after the Liberation.
• Leased and preserved for decades by billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Insider Tip: To maximise your afternoon, pair a morning touring the villa’s grounds with a visit to the futuristic Fondation Louis Vuitton, located less than a 15-minute walk through the shaded paths of the Bois de Boulogne.

When will Villa Windsor Museum open? This incredible new attraction of Paris will open in the late 2026.

3). Étoile Voltaire Cinema: An Industrial Landmark Transformed

An early 20th-century brick electricity substation has been saved from decay and transformed into a five-screen independent cinema complex through the Réinventer Paris urban renewal project.

Far more than a simple theatre, the Étoile Voltaire Cinema complex integrates a large-scale cultural performance hall managed by the iconic venue La Bellevilloise and a heavily planted green rooftop terrace floating over the Voltaire neighbourhood.

The Experience: Visitors can watch premier independent film releases, catch sunset skyline views from the rooftop deck, and dine at the ground-floor community restaurant curated by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx.

Local Insight: The 11th arrondissement holds the city’s densest concentration of natural wine bars. Pairing an indie film here with a late-night stroll for small plates on Rue de la Roquette or the backstreets of Oberkampf provides a vibrant slice of local Parisian nightlife.

How to Get There: Take Métro Line 9 to Voltaire or Line 5 to Richard-Lenoir; both stations are within a five-minute walk.

When will Étoile Voltaire Cinema open? This incredible place is projected to start rehabilitation work in the year 2026 .

Make sure to get your France Tourist Visa from UK before finalising your Paris plans. That is because appointment slots in the London, Manchester, and Edinburgh book up well in advance of the peak season.

Did you know? The Grand Palais reopened fully in 2025 following a €466 million renovation, restoring the historic monument after serving as a Paris Olympic venue in 2024.

B. France’s Biggest Cultural Events in 2026 : Centenary Exhibitions & Heritage Openings

Two major milestone anniversaries, one a bicentenary, one a centenary, are anchoring the country’s cultural calendar. For those looking beyond the usual itinerary, these historic celebrations offer an incredible look into French artistic innovation, complete with easy-to-reach regional day trips.

4). 200 Years of Photography Exhibitions : France Marks a Global First

In 1826, the French inventor Nicéphore Niépce coated a pewter plate in the bitumen and placed it by his estate window near the Chalon-sur-Saône, capturing View from the Window at Le Gras, the world’s first permanent photograph. To mark the bicentenary, the major national retrospectives launch from September 2026, split across two main anchors.

In Paris, the newly fully reopened Grand Palais is hosting sweeping exhibitions tracing photographic evolution from early 19th-century heliography to modern digital art. Meanwhile, the Musée Nicéphore Niépce in Chalon-sur-Saône offers a deep, historical look right at the birthplace of the medium.

Traveller Tip: A TGV train from Paris Gare de Lyon reaches Chalon-sur-Saône in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Located in the heart of southern Burgundy, it makes for a fantastic overnight stay, allowing you to easily pair a historic museum visit with a tour of local Burgundy vineyards.

5). Claude Monet Centenary Exhibitions: A Nationwide Legacy Tour

To mark exactly 100 years since the master of Impressionism passed away at his estate in Giverny, the French Ministry of Culture is launching a massive nationwide celebration running from 30 September 2026 through January 2027.

The core of the centenary sits in Paris. The Musée d’Orsay is displaying a grand career retrospective tracing his journey from early coastal landscapes to his mature, abstract works. Simultaneously, the Musée de l’Orangerie is curating Monet and Time, anchoring rare private-collection loans right alongside his permanent, breathtaking Water Lilies (Nymphéas) oval rooms.

Traveller Tip: These exhibitions will absolutely sell out months in advance. To experience the ultimate Monet itinerary, book a regional train out to his preserved house and water gardens in Giverny, Normandy, or visit the city of Rouen to see the iconic cathedral façade he famously painted in changing light.

Ensure you understand the documents required for France visa from London before making bookings, confirmed hotel and transport reservations are required components of a successful Schengen tourist visa application.

Interesting fact: Monet’s Nymphéas panels at the Musée de l’Orangerie span approximately 91 metres in total combined length, according to the Musée de l’Orangerie’s official press release portal.

6). Grand Palais d’été 2026: Paris’s Greatest Summer Cultural Playground

The Grand Palais d’été serves as the premier summer arts festival hosted right beneath the iconic, newly restored 19th-century iron-and-glass nave of the Grand Palais (8th arrondissement). Running from 2 June to 6 September 2026, this massive seasonal takeover transforms the architectural landmark into a vibrant laboratory of contemporary art, immersive soundscapes, and large-scale nightlife events.

The Daytime Experience: The main summer programming is anchored by Argentine artist Leandro Erlich’s largest-ever European retrospective. Erlich builds mind-bending, large-scale optical illusions using familiar architectural elements. His iconic centrepiece installation, Bâtiment, places a lifelike, horizontal building façade flat on the floor with a massive 45-degree mirror suspended above it, making visitors look as though they are dangling from window ledges or scaling sheer brick walls. Simultaneously, the North Nave hosts Turner Prize-winner Laure Prouvost’s immersive exhibition, Nous, frissons d’étoiles (running 10 June to 26 July 2026), which weaves organic materials and overlapping audio into a dreamlike environment.

The “After Nef” Evening Series: When the sun sets, the mood shifts completely. The historic nave transitions into a massive nighttime performance venue. The evening lineup features mind-bending acts by the contemporary circus troupe Circa, followed immediately by the After Nef DJ series with premier electronic artists like Kiddy Smile and Horse Meat Disco spinning sets directly under the illuminated glass roof.

Traveller Tip: General daytime admission tickets are priced at €19 and cover entry to both the Erlich and Prouvost exhibitions. However, the After Nef late-night music series requires a separate, independent ticket. Booking an early afternoon slot for the art exhibitions and pairing it with an After Nef evening pass makes for an incredible, seamless day of culture.

How to Get There? Take Métro Lines 1 or 13 directly to the Champs-Élysées,  Clemenceau station, which exits right at the entrance on Avenue Winston Churchill.

Get this: The Grand Palais’s iron-and-glass nave is one of the largest in Europe, covering approximately 13,500 square metres!

C. New Luxury Experiences and Smart Travel in France 2026

The intersection of high-end French hospitality along with the sustainable infrastructure is hitting its peak. From a completely transformed, car-free private island sanctuary in the Mediterranean to the major eco-friendly leap in the high-speed rail, smart luxury travel in France is becoming deeply immersive, intentional, and highly connected.

7). Zannier Île de Bendor: A Restored Mediterranean Island Sanctuary

Spanning seven hectares just 300 meters off the coast of Bandol, the legendary private playground of pastis pioneer Paul Ricard has officially entered a glamorous new era. Following a meticulous five-year sustainable reconstruction, the island opened its doors on 1 May 2026 as Zannier Île de Bendor, running its inaugural season through October. Positioned as a quiet, unhurried alternative to the overcrowded beaches of Saint-Tropez, the entire island operates as a car-free, walkable eco-resort.

The Experience: The village-style retreat offers 93 keys divided across three distinct architectural micro-neighbourhoods: the 1960s Riviera-glam Delos suites, the earth-toned, wellness-centric Soukana rooms, and the rustic, standalone Madrague beach houses. Guests have access to a massive 1,200-square-meter holistic wellbeing centre, a dedicated diving club, and an artisan collective village. The entire island landscape has been heavily rewilded, increasing the local Mediterranean tree canopy by 15%.

Traveller Tip: To get here, take a swift seven-minute maritime shuttle boat from the mainland pier in Bandol. Travellers flying into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) can reach the Bandol pier via an easy 55-kilometre drive down the coast.

8). 5th-Generation TGV: The Next Era of Sustainable High-Speed Rail

Alstom’s highly anticipated next-generation high-speed train has cleared its final hurdles. The European Union Agency for Railways officially issued its formal safety certification, clearing the new TGV INOUI (TGV M) fleet to welcome its very first commercial passengers in early September 2026. Initial operations are concentrated heavily along the core Paris–Lyon–Marseille high-speed corridor, deploying 13 complete trainsets by the end of the year.

The Upgrades: The double-decker train sets a new environmental standard, dropping energy consumption by 20% per journey while being constructed from 97% recyclable materials. Inside, the passenger experience is elevated with completely modular, adjustable seating configurations, real-time digital info screens, vastly improved cellular Wi-Fi relays, and full, unassisted step-free wheelchair access across all passenger cars.

Traveller Tip: The TGV INOUI makes flight-free European itineraries incredibly viable. UK travellers can board a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Nord (taking just 2 hours 16 minutes), transit to Paris Gare de Lyon via the metro, and catch a southbound TGV M. This seamless line gets you from London to the heart of Marseille in under six hours, matching the total door-to-door transit time of air travel with a fraction of the carbon footprint.

Worth knowing: The Eurostar journey from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord takes approximately 2 hours 16 minutes at its fastest service, according to Eurostar’s official published timetables.

D. Wine Tourism in France 2026 : Beaujolais Trails, Hikes and the Famous Marathon

The Beaujolais wine region, a rolling landscape of the sun-drenched, vine-covered hills and the golden-stone (pierres dorées) villages sitting just north of the Lyon, stands as one of France’s most rewarding wine tourism hubs.

In 2026, two of the highly anticipated outdoor events make this region an essential addition to any of the autumn travel itinerary, offering a perfect blend of athletic energy and the deep viticultural heritage.

9). Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail : In Mid-September 2026

The Ultra Beaujolais Villages Trail takes hikers and trail runners across newly mapped pathways winding through some of the region’s most historic wine-producing hamlets. The route passes directly through Vaux-en-Beaujolais, the beautiful hilltop village that famously inspired Gabriel Chevallier’s 1934 satirical novel Clochemerle.

The Experience: As you tackle the high-altitude ridgeline paths, a clear September morning rewards you with breathtaking, panoramic views stretching all the way across the Rhône Valley to Mont Blanc glistening on the eastern horizon. September marks the peak of the annual grape harvest. The air carries the rich, sweet scent of the fermenting grapes, and the villages are buzzing with the authentic agricultural activity rather than generic tourist crowds.

How to Get There? Take a TER regional train from Lyon Part-Dieu directly to the Villefranche-sur-Saône station, placing you right at the gateway of the trail networks.

10). International Beaujolais Marathon & Festivities: 14–22 November 2026

The International Beaujolais Marathon festival is timed perfectly to coincide with the global release of the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau wine, which officially lands on the third Thursday of November (19 November 2026).

While the festival events run all week, kicking off with the legendary midnight torchlight cask-tapping ceremony (Mise en Perce) in Beaujeu, the main flagship marathon, half-marathon, and 13km races take place on Saturday, 21 November 2026.

The Experience: For non-runners, the festive 6km and 12km charity health walks are the ultimate draw. These scenic routes slice straight through private wine estates, ancient barrel cellars, and historic châteaux. Every few kilometres, participants hit elaborate refreshment stations serving up regional charcuterie, live brass bands, and generous tastings of the newly uncorked vintage. Wearing creative, elaborate costumes is a proud, long-standing tradition here.

Traveller Tip: The base town of Villefranche-sur-Saône sits directly on the main Lyon-to-Paris rail line. This makes navigating the chaotic marathon weekend incredibly simple via public transit, completely eliminating the need for a rental car or designated driver.

So, when will you apply for France Visa from UK? For travellers whose visa window is too tight for summer, the France autumn events 2026 calendar which includes the Monet Centenary, the photography bicentenary, the Palais du Tau opening in Reims, and the Beaujolais Marathon Walks, offers an equally strong case for visiting the country!

Conclusion

The things to do in France in 2026 represent a genuinely event-rich year, which comprises the new Paris landmarks along with the two centenary cultural milestones, a delightful Mediterranean island, and the fifth-generation high-speed rail network that are welcoming the visitors.

The autumn season stands out as the most versatile travel window, with the Monet Centenary, Beaujolais Marathon, and the Palais du Tau opening in the Reims all falling between September and the November.

The events and experiences are waiting for you. But are you still waiting for a France Schengen Visa Appointment from UK slot? Concerned that further delays will hinder your France holiday plans?

In that case, you should consider applying through a reliable partner like the FRANCE VISA ASSISTANCE. We are a professional visa agency in the UK helping travellers like you to get the fast-track appointments. This allows you to complete the visa process on time and secure the visa for a hassle-free travel experience in the France.

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