12 Open-Air Exhibitions Transforming France into a Giant Art Gallery This Summer
In 2026, Connaissance des Arts will showcase 12 outdoor exhibitions across France and one in Rome. The Constellations festival in Metz commemorates its 10th anniversary with a focus on urban and digital art, presenting works like 'Lux Animae' by Yann Nguema and 'Glass Box' by Filip Roca and Zaro Omar. The Voyage à Nantes will feature 'Earth', highlighting pieces from Théo Mercier, Ali Cherri, and Louis Guillaume. Gaël Charbau curates 'Un été au Havre' in Le Havre, presenting seven installations. The Biennale de Melle, titled 'Bruissements patients', includes 53 artists. Normandie Impressionniste celebrates Monet's centenary with 73 projects, while La Gacilly's Photo Festival marks photography's 200th year. The Biennale d'Aix offers Jeanne Vicerial carte blanche, alongside events like Chaumont-sur-Loire's garden festival and Bonifacio's Biennale De Renava 2026.
Key facts
- 12 open-air exhibitions are listed for summer 2026.
- Metz's Constellations festival features Yann Nguema's 'Lux Animae' on the cathedral.
- Voyage à Nantes inaugurates a cycle on the element 'Earth'.
- Le Havre's exhibition is curated by Gaël Charbau with seven contemporary works.
- Biennale de Melle, 'Bruissements patients', includes 53 artists curated by Jan Kopp.
- Normandie Impressionniste marks Claude Monet's centenary with 73 projects.
- Photo Festival La Gacilly celebrates 200 years of photography.
- Jeanne Vicerial receives a carte blanche at the Biennale d'Aix.
- Clermont-Ferrand's textile biennial 'Beauté(s)' partners with Musée d'ethnographie de Genève.
- Villa Medici in Rome hosts six architectural cabins on coexistence with nature.
Entities
Artists
- Yann Nguema
- Filip Roca
- Zaro Omar
- Myriama Idir
- Gizem Erdem
- Théo Mercier
- Ali Cherri
- Louis Guillaume
- Gaël Charbau
- Guillaume Aubry
- Jan Kopp
- Claude Monet
- Daniel Buren
- Ai Weiwei
- Lionel Sabatté
- Nadar
- Willy Ronis
- Raymond Depardon
- Lys Arango
- Pierre et Gilles
- Jeanne Vicerial
- Yoshikazu Goulven Le Maitre
- Magdalena Abakanowicz
- David Noonan
Institutions
- Connaissance des Arts
- Festival international Constellations
- Voyage à Nantes
- HAB Galerie
- Un été au Havre
- Biennale de Melle
- Festival Normandie Impressionniste
- Festival Photo La Gacilly
- Biennale d'Aix
- Musée du Pavillon de Vendôme
- Musée des Tapisseries
- Chapelle de la Visitation
- Musée Granet
- Château de La Roche-Guyon
- Festival international des Jardins de Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Petite nature
- Biennale de Bonifacio
- De Renava
- Biennale textile de Clermont-Ferrand
- Musée d'ethnographie de Genève
- Villa Médicis
- Académie de France à Rome
Locations
- Metz
- France
- Place d'Armes – J.-F. Blondel
- Nantes
- Le Havre
- Melle
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Normandie
- La Gacilly
- Aix-en-Provence
- Pavillon de Vendôme
- Musée des Tapisseries
- Chapelle de la Visitation
- Musée Granet
- La Roche-Guyon
- Chaumont-sur-Loire
- Bonifacio
- Corse
- Clermont-Ferrand
- Rome
- Italie
- Villa Médicis