Paris in the summer months has an unusually strong lineup of exhibitions on right now, several closing within the next few weeks, so this is less a “someday” list and more a “this month” one. Rather than trying to cover everything running in the city, there’s always far too much, here’s a curated selection organized by what you’re actually in the mood for.

Classic Masters

Martin Schongauer, “Le bel immortel” at the Louvre. A rare chance to see the work of this German Renaissance painter and engraver together in one place, panel paintings from this period are notoriously fragile and difficult to transport, so this kind of gathering doesn’t happen often. The centerpiece is his Vierge au buisson de roses (1473), shown alongside loans from major European and American museums.

Until July 20. 9am–6pm (Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun), 9am–9:45pm (Wed, Fri). €22. Louvre, 1st arr.

“Renoir et l’amour. La modernité heureuse (1865–1885)” at the Musée d’Orsay. A focused rereading of Renoir’s early and mature work through the lens of love and intimacy, around fifty paintings, including two genuine highlights: Bal du Moulin de la Galette and Déjeuner des canotiers, on loan from Washington’s Phillips Collection, shown together for the exhibition.

Until July 19. 9:30am–6pm (Tue, Wed, Fri–Sun), 9:30am–9:45pm (Thu). €13–16. Musée d’Orsay, 7th arr.

Modern & Contemporary Art

“Calder. Rêver en équilibre” at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Over 300 works, sculptures, mobiles, jewelry, and paintings, filling Frank Gehry’s building floor by floor, with pieces growing more monumental as you climb. A genuinely joyful, large-scale retrospective if you want something visually immersive rather than quiet and contemplative.

Until August 16. 10am–8pm (Mon–Thu, Sat, Sun), 10am–9pm (Fri). €5–16. Fondation Louis Vuitton, 16th arr.

Michaël Borremans, “French painting” at David Zwirner Paris. The Belgian painter’s first Paris show in twenty years, a tight, dense selection of portraits that quietly reference Watteau and Manet. Free entry, and a good option if you want a smaller, focused gallery visit rather than a full museum afternoon.

Until July 22. 11am–7pm (Tue–Sat). Free entry. David Zwirner, 3rd arr.

Photography & Fashion

“Africa Fashion” at the Musée du Quai Branly. Archival photography, including work by Ghanaian photographer James Barnor, traces West African fashion’s role as a statement of freedom from the 1950s onward, moving into contemporary designers like Hassan Hajjaj. Closing soon, so worth prioritizing if this interests you.

Until July 12. 10:30am–7pm (Mon–Wed, Fri–Sun), 10:30am–10pm (Thu). €11–14. Musée du Quai Branly, 7th arr.

Ancient History

“L’eau primordiale. Leçons de Mésopotamie” at the Louvre. Tucked into the Near Eastern Antiquities wing, this one explores the role of water in ancient Mesopotamia, irrigation systems, sacred rituals, city planning, through carved stelae, tablets, and sculpture. Understated compared to the Louvre’s blockbuster shows, but a good pick if you want something less crowded. It also runs much longer than most of the exhibitions above, so there’s no rush.

Until March 15, 2027. 9am–6pm (Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun), 9am–9pm (Wed, Fri). €22. Louvre, 1st arr.

Trying to fit exhibitions around a packed Paris itinerary, and figure out which ones are worth timed tickets, and which galleries are walk-in only? That’s exactly the kind of planning we take off your hands on WhatsApp.