Paris is about to be taken over again by the crème de la crème of the global art world. Art Basel Paris is back for its fourth edition, and for the second time, it’s setting up shop in the majestic Grand Palais. Running this October, the 2025 edition brings together 203 galleries from 40 countries, including 25 first-timers, promising a show that effortlessly blends artistic rigor, historical depth, and forward-thinking curatorial risk.
With Clément Delépine at the helm, the fair has never felt more in tune with the pulse of the city. “The quality of this year’s projects is powerful proof of Art Basel Paris’ magnetism,” he says, noting Paris’s enduring place at the heart of the global cultural conversation.
This year, more than a third of the participating galleries operate permanent spaces in Paris, underscoring the city’s vibrant local ecosystem. Names like Mennour, mor charpentier, and Christophe Gaillard are joined by emerging forces such as Crèvecœur, Modern Art, and Petrine. It’s a lineup that reflects not only artistic excellence but deep roots in the French capital’s creative soil.
Artists Who Live, Breathe, and Make in Paris
Expect work from icons like Simone Fattal, Bertrand Lavier, and Sheila Hicks alongside 20th-century innovators such as Simon Hantaï and Sonia Delaunay. Rising stars like Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Ethan Assouline, and Xie Lei add a fresh, unfiltered energy. In typical Parisian style, it’s a heady blend of the canonical, the radical, and the unexpected.
Across three core sectors—Galeries, Emergence, and Premise—Art Basel Paris will spotlight everything from masterpieces of the past to tomorrow’s avant-garde. The full breadth of modern and contemporary practice is on display, with cross-generational pairings and genre-defying presentations throughout.
The Sectors Where the Magic Happens
Galeries, the fair’s central spine, features 177 top-tier exhibitors showcasing blue-chip legends, mid-career stars, and breakthrough artists. This year’s newcomers include 47 Canal from New York, Lodovico Corsini from Brussels, The Approach from London, and Stevenson from Amsterdam and Cape Town, plus collaborations like Soft Opening and Chapter NY.
Meanwhile, Emergence transforms the Grand Palais balconies into a discovery lab for next-gen talent. Look out for Dora Budor’s sculptural ready-mades presented by Molitor from Berlin, a new film by Siyi Li from Cibrián in San Sebastian, and a monumental sculpture by Arash Nassiri from Ginny on Frederick in London.
Premise, the newest section, continues its mission to challenge the art historical canon. From a dual show of Liz Deschenes and Bauhaus great Lucia Moholy presented by Kadel Wilborn in Düsseldorf to Haitian visionary Hector Hyppolite shown by The Gallery of Everything in London, it’s all about unexpected art historical dialogue with a touch of time travel.
Oh La La! Art Gets Playful
One of the fair’s most charming twists returns with Oh La La, a two-day showcase inviting galleries to rehang their booths with rarely seen, offbeat, or thematically inspired works. This year, a unifying curatorial theme yet to be revealed will tie the madness together. Mark your calendars for October 24 and 25.
Public Program Paris as Playground
As always, Art Basel Paris spills beyond the Grand Palais into the city’s most iconic spaces. Partnering with top institutions like the musée du Louvre and fashion house Miu Miu, this year’s Public Program promises to be bigger and bolder. Independent curator Mouna Mekouar will helm an ambitious exhibition in the Jardin des Tuileries, bringing outdoor sculpture with serious gravitas.
Also back is Conversations, Art Basel’s flagship talks series hosted in the ornate Petit Palais. Panels will pull together artists, curators, philosophers, and thinkers for open and urgent discussions. All public programming is free to attend, ensuring that even those without a VIP pass can tap into the energy.
The City Turns It On
It wouldn’t be Art Basel week without a citywide cultural takeover. Museums across Paris are rolling out blockbuster shows. Bridget Riley enters into dialogue with Georges Seurat at the Musée d’Orsay. Philip Guston and Raymond Pettibon headline at the Musée Picasso. George Condo and Otobong Nkanga take over the Musée d’Art Moderne.
Other must-sees include Gerhard Richter at Fondation Louis Vuitton, Meriem Bennani at Lafayette Anticipations, and Edward Weston at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. Add exhibitions at the Bourse de Commerce, Institut du Monde Arabe, and Petit Palais, and the city’s art calendar becomes a full-blown feast.
Final Word
Art Basel Paris isn’t just a fair. It’s a full-on cultural immersion with Paris as its beating heart. Whether you’re deep in the aisles of the Grand Palais or wandering the Jardin des Tuileries with a coffee in hand, prepare to see the city and the art world in a whole new light.
Art Basel Paris runs October 23 to 26, 2025 at the Grand Palais. Public Program events, exhibitions, and museum shows run citywide.
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