Lyon Exhibitions: A Straightforward 2026 Guide

Luckily for you, there’s a TON of exhibitions happening right now in Lyon. I’ve included a running guide to Lyon exhibitions that are actually worth seeing. Here are the exhibitions to see right now in Lyon.

I group exhibitions by theme so you can skim quickly and find what fits your trip. At the end of the page, you will find a full table with exhibitions currently running in Lyon.

If you want a full look at the museums themselves, I have a separate Lyon Museums Guide.

This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission. It helps keep this blog running and lets me share free, helpful content. All opinions are my own.

My Top Picks in Lyon Right Now

These are the Lyon exhibitions I’m most excited about. My top picks:

Monet Immersive Experience

Incoming Impressionist swoon. This one feels like stepping into a soft wave of color. The projections move slowly, the light shifts around you, and the whole thing has this inner impressionsim that catches you off guard. It’s in Villeurbanne and runs through summer.

Robert Doisneau: Captured Moments

If you haven’t heard of Robert Doisneau then are you living under a rock? He was a photographer who spent his life catching everyday moments, the small things people usually walk past. I find his work pulls you in without trying It’s an easy exhibition to enjoy, and La Sucriere is a great space for it. It runs through winter.

Living Together- by Yann Arthus Bertrand

What can sound more scenic than a long walk through Parc de la Tete d’Or with 180 portraits by Yann Arthus Bertrand lining the paths? The project looks at what connects people and how they live together, using simple studio portraits taken across France. It’s free, open air, and easy to explore.

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Art Exhibitions in Lyon

Lyon has a couple good art exhibitions this year, and they’re easy to fit into an afternoon.

The Museum of Fine Arts is showing Musée Sentimental, an exhibition built around pieces that explore memory and emotion. It’s simple to follow and has a quiet, reflective feel.

Also Jean Couty is showing Voyage en Italie, which highlights the artist’s connection to Italy. It’s a smaller museum, and the exhibition feels personal and easy to move through.

Lyon’s galleries stay active throughout the year, especially around the Presqu’île and Croix Rousse. Two larger events open in September: the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art and AiRT de Famille, both spread across several venues.

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History and Culture Exhibitions in Lyon

Lyon has a long story behind it, and a few museums do a good job of showing how the city grew and changed over time.

Musée Gadagne has several exhibitions that focus on Lyon’s past. Marvellous Middle Ages looks at the Ile Barbe abbey and the world around it. Portraits of Lyon explains how the city shaped its identity, and On the Waterfront explores life along the Rhône and Saône. Each one is easy to follow and works well if you want something grounded in the city’s history.

Also nearby, there’s also a tiny silk‑screen workshop still operating in Lyon, and the guided visit is a nice complement if you like seeing how things are made.

Lugdunum sits next to the ancient Roman theater, which already sets the mood before you even step inside.

The hop on hop off bus makes it easy to link a few of these stops without thinking too much about routes.

Every September, during the third weekend, European Heritage Days open the doors to places that are usually closed to the public. It’s a short event, but it’s worth keeping in mind if your trip falls on that weekend.

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Science & Curiosity Exhibitions in Lyon

Musée des Confluences always has several exhibitions running at the same time, and this year’s lineup is easy to enjoy. Awesome brings together objects that spark curiosity, and In Mali, When Animals Dance highlights masks and traditions from West Africa. North Korea by Stéphan Gladieu offers a rare, carefully staged glimpse into everyday life inside North Korea. Each exhibition has its own style, and you can move through them without feeling rushed.

The planetarium in Vaulx en Velin has Histoire d’univers, an exhibition that explains the story of the universe in a clear, simple way. It starts with the Big Bang and moves through the formation of stars and planets. It’s easy to follow and works well for families or anyone who enjoys astronomy.

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Cinema & Immersive Exhibitions in Lyon

Musée Miniature et Cinéma is always an easy win because the mix of tiny sets and film props is fun to look at. The exhibition Miniatures and Matte Painting shows how artists created illusions long before digital effects took over. The museum has the original Batmobile on display in the courtyard (any fans of Batman y’all), and it’s fun to see it in person. It feels a bit surreal to stand next to a car you’ve seen in movies, and most people end up stopping for a photo.

Lyon also has a couple of large immersive shows this year. Monet Immersive fills the room with slow moving color and soft light, and the whole experience feels gentle and atmospheric. It’s in Villeurbanne and runs through summer.

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Photography Exhibitions in Lyon

Lyon doesn’t always have a big photography exhibition running at every moment, but there are still a few places where visual work shows up in interesting ways.

A walk through Parc de la Tete d’Or with portraits by Yann Arthus Bertrand along the paths. Living Together looks at how people live together and what connects them, using simple studio portraits taken across France. It’s free, outdoors, and runs from mid September to early November.

At La Sucrière, Robert Doisneau’s: Capture Moments focuses on simple moments and photographs which draw you in. The scenes feel familiar and easy to connect with, and the atmosphere does most of the work.

The Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art often includes photography and mixed media. It spreads across several venues, and you usually find at least a few rooms focused on images and visual storytelling. It opens in September and runs through early January.

Local galleries also rotate exhibitions throughout the year, especially around the Presqu’île and Croix Rousse. Some of them show photography at different points in the season, and the visits are quick and easy.

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Lyon With Kids: Family‑Friendly Exhibitions

Lyon is an easy city to explore with kids, and a few museums make it even simpler by building exhibitions that are visual, short, and not too heavy.

Musée des Confluences is a valeur sûre, and one of the best stops for families (due to its amazing permanent expo) but also because several temp. exhibitions run at the same time. Awesome brings together objects that spark curiosity. In Mali, When Animals Dance has masks and traditions that work for a wide age range.

Musée Miniature et Cinéma is always a hit with kids because the mix of tiny sets and movie props feels playful. The Batmobile (from 1989) in the museum courtyard usually gets a big reaction from the kids (even the grumpy teenagers).

The planetarium in Vaulx en Velin has Histoire d’univers, a simple, visual exhibition that explains the story of the universe in a way that’s easy for kids to follow. It’s a calm place to spend part of the day, especially if your kids like space.

Musée Gadagne has Portraits of Lyon and On the Waterfront. They aren’t designed specifically for children, but they’re short and easy to understand, which makes them good if you want something lighter while walking through Vieux Lyon.

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List of Exhibitions in Lyon

Lyon has a lot of exhibitions running throughout the year, and this table keeps things simple by showing what’s open right now. It’s the fastest way to choose what to see, and it works whether you’re planning a trip or you live here and want something to do.

It also includes a note on whether the Lyon City Card covers the exhibition. I update it regularly so you can see what’s open and what’s ending soon.

Exhibitions Included with the Lyon City Card

The Lyon City Card includes free public transport and entry to several museums and exhibitions, so it can be a good deal if you plan to visit more than one place in a day.

If you’re not sure whether it’s worth it for your trip, I break it down clearly in my Is the Lyon City Card Worth It guide, and you can also buy the card from here.

Get the Lyon City Card here

For permanent exhibitions and year‑round museums, you can check my Best Museums in Lyon guide.

More Lyon Museum Guides

• Lyon Museums Map
• A–Z List of Lyon Museums
• Lyon City Card Guide
• Lyon Museums Guide

* I do my best to keep this guide accurate, but details can change, so double‑check current exhibitions before you go.

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