Art Basel Paris 2026: the best things to do during, according to insiders

Paris is a paradise for art lovers all year round, but every October the city takes things up a notch when Paris Art Week rolls around. Collectors, artists, curators and gallery owners descend on the French capital for Art Basel Paris, as a packed calendar of exhibitions, parties, pop-ups and collaborations spills far beyond the walls of the Grand Palais.

This year, the fair returns from 23 to 25 October, but some of the most exciting events are happening elsewhere in the city. From grand Parisian hotels transforming their restaurants into immersive works of art to underground clubs hosting all-night performances, there's plenty to discover, whether you're a serious collector or simply looking to experience a different side of Paris.

But with so much happening across the capital, it's hard to know where to start. We've rounded up some of the most interesting events taking place during Art Basel Paris 2026 and asked the people behind them to share their own insider recommendations, from favourite neighbourhood restaurants and bars to the exhibitions they wouldn't miss.

Art Basel Paris 2026: the events worth knowing about

Discover Chiharu Shiota's art at Shangri-La Paris

Discover Chiharu Shiota's art at Shangri-La Paris Shangri-La Paris is hosting an exhibition by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota from 14 to 27 October. Best known for her large-scale installations made from intricate networks of thread, Shiota explores themes of memory, identity, absence and human connection through her work. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to discover her artistic universe in the rather unexpected surroundings of one of Paris's most glamorous hotels, housed in the former residence of Prince Roland Bonaparte. And the best part? It's completely free to visit, whether you're staying at the hotel or simply passing through the city during Art Week. Anthony Schmitt, head concierge at Shangri-La Paris, says: “In our arrondissement, the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris offers an exceptional collection spanning some of the most influential artistic movements of the 20th and 21st centuries. We also recommend a visit to La Galerie Dior, where the story of one of Paris’s most iconic fashion houses unfolds, and the outdoor art installations along Avenue Winston Churchill.”

Party with the art crowd at Silencio

If there's one place to experience Paris's creative nightlife during Art Basel, it's Silencio. The legendary private club, originally designed by filmmaker David Lynch, is hosting five nights of art, music and performances from 20 to 24 October. Curated by Sam Ozer, who has worked with MoMA and MoMA PS1 and founded the arts organisation TONO, Silencio Art Week brings together film screenings, artist conversations, live performances and DJ sets, blurring the lines between an exhibition and a night out. The programme also includes an exhibition of Kayode Ojo's nightlife photography, presented with Sweetwater gallery. Each evening kicks off at 7.30pm with artist screenings and conversations, followed by live performances at 10pm and DJ sets from 11pm, with names including Space Afrika, Avalon Emerson, Guy Gerber and Âme on the programme. It's an opportunity to experience a more underground side of Paris Art Week, far removed from the polished surroundings of the Grand Palais.

Dine inside an artwork at Le Meurice

Art and food have always made a rather wonderful pairing, but Le Meurice is taking things a step further this Art Basel. From 20 to 25 October, artist and designer Harry Nuriev is transforming the hotel's elegant Le Dalí restaurant into an immersive installation called The Stage, centred around its dining table. The experience includes six intimate dinners, each welcoming just 24 guests, with a ten-course menu created by chefs Alain Ducasse and Amaury Bouhours in response to Nuriev's artistic vision. But you don't necessarily have to book one of the exclusive dinners to experience the installation. Throughout the week, The Stage will also provide the backdrop for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, offering visitors the chance to experience contemporary art in a unique way.

Experience 24 hours of art and techno at FVTVR

Techno pioneer Richie Hawtin and contemporary artist John Gerrard are joining forces for an ambitious 24-hour event at FVTVR, the underground club on the banks of the Seine in the 13th arrondissement. Beginning at midday on 24 October, the experience opens with INFIN.1.IRIDESCENT.STREAM, a digital installation by Gerrard accompanied by an original sound composition from Plastikman, Hawtin's musical alter ego. The exhibition is free to attend and begins with a conversation between the two artists, moderated by Marc Spiegler. At midnight, the event transforms into a 12-hour party curated by Hawtin, with DJ sets from Matador, Courtesy, Kristin Velvet and Reece Pritchard. Gerrard's work continues throughout the night with SPIRITS, an installation and live performance featuring Ana Osj. It's a chance to experience contemporary art in an entirely different setting, with the music carrying on until midday on Sunday.

Experience Art Basel at Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris

With its own art concierge, a collection of contemporary works and a private cinema, the hotel has established a strong connection to the arts. This year, it is also an official hotel partner of Art Basel Paris, welcoming participants in the fair's Conversations programme and providing a meeting place for artists, collectors and visitors throughout the week. Its restaurants and iconic Bar Long will be among the places where the art world gathers between exhibitions, making it a particularly interesting stop for those looking to soak up the atmosphere beyond the Grand Palais. Even if you're not staying overnight, there's always the option of stopping by for a drink.

Step into Miles Aldridge's colourful world at Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme

If you're a fan of photography, make sure to stop by Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, which is celebrating Art Basel with an exhibition dedicated to British fashion photographer Miles Aldridge. Running from 19 October to 1 December, Entrances and Exits / Entrées et Sorties brings together some of his most recognisable works. Known for his cinematic compositions, vibrant colours and carefully staged scenes, Aldridge has a distinctive style that blurs the boundaries between fashion photography and fine art. Curated by Constance Breton, the exhibition takes over the hotel's public spaces, including its lobby, corridors and Café Jeanne, transforming the five-star property into an unexpected gallery. The exhibition is free to visit, while a separate experience, 15 Minutes of Fame, gives a select number of guests the opportunity to have their Polaroid portrait taken by the photographer himself between 20 and 22 October.

Discover Rocco Ritchie's paintings at Pierre Augustin Rose

For Art Basel Paris 2026, French design house Pierre Augustin Rose is presenting an exhibition dedicated to British-American artist – and Madonna's son – Rocco Ritchie at its Galerie Hérold space in the 1st arrondissement. Born in 2000 and trained at Central Saint Martins and the Royal Drawing School in London, Ritchie is known for his figurative paintings and drawings, which draw inspiration from 20th-century British and European art and explore themes of memory, observation and personal experience. Rather than displaying his work in a traditional white-walled gallery, Pierre Augustin Rose has chosen to exhibit the paintings alongside its furniture and decorative objects, creating an intimate, domestic setting where contemporary art and design come together. It's an interesting opportunity to discover the young artist's work while exploring how paintings can transform, and be transformed by, the spaces they inhabit.

Discover Alice Diop's immersive installation with Miu Miu

For the third consecutive year, Italian fashion house Miu Miu is joining Art Basel Paris's public programme, this time with Geste de Consolation, an immersive installation by French filmmaker Alice Diop. Taking over the Palais d'Iéna from 21 to 25 October, the project marks Diop's first venture into the world of exhibitions, bringing together film, photography, sculpture, poetry, dance, music and performance. Featuring works by internationally acclaimed Black female artists, including photographer Zanele Muholi and sculptor Simone Leigh, the installation explores themes of representation, identity and healing through a combination of different artistic disciplines. It's an opportunity to discover a different side of the filmmaker's work, while experiencing one of the most interesting collaborations between fashion and contemporary art taking place during Paris Art Week. The exhibition is open to the public, with reservations available through the Miu Miu website.

Admire Tracey Emin's monumental sculptures

British artist Tracey Emin is taking over two locations in Paris for this year's Art Basel, bringing her deeply personal and expressive work to both a traditional gallery setting and the streets of the French capital. At White Cube Paris, an exhibition of new paintings and small-scale bronze sculptures offers visitors a closer look at the artist's exploration of the human experience, while three monumental sculptures – I lay here for you (2018), I Followed You to the End (2024) and I Will Not Be Alone (2025) – are on display outdoors at the Parvis des Droits de l'Homme, in front of the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine. Exploring themes of vulnerability, resilience and transformation through the human body, the sculptures offer a chance to experience the work of one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary artists without stepping inside a gallery. The outdoor installation will remain on display until 1 November 2026.