The exhibitions in Lille and the surrounding area

Even today, the landscape of the Weppes is marked by the presence of many traces of the Great War. Concrete shelters bear witness to the war of position in the area. Come and discover the story of how they were built, how they functioned and how they evolved during the conflict.

From 4 July to 30 November 2026

Can a painting take us on a journey while misleading us about the destination? At Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, Orientalism: Between Fantasy and Reality explores how 19th-century European artists portrayed the East. Their works captivate with their colours and stories, while also inviting us to question the stereotypes they helped to shape. An exhibition to discover with both enjoyment and curiosity.

Petite Galerie, 1st floor – Admission included with your museum ticket.

From 19 September to 17 January 2027

What if the lines of a building became an abstract work of art? At Institut du monde arabe-Tourcoing, photographer Serge Najjar invites us to see the streets and construction sites of Beirut from a different perspective. Angles, colours and plays of light create striking graphic compositions, without overlooking the lives and history embedded in these places. An exhibition that brings the architecture of Lebanon into a new perspective.

From 11 September 2026 to 3 January 2027

What lies beyond our sight? At Le Fresnoy in Tourcoing, Panorama 28 – Invisibles? brings together more than 50 new works created by artists from the Studio national. Films, installations, sound works and digital creations offer different ways of exploring this question. Let yourself be surprised: here, discovery comes through listening just as much as looking.

From 29 April to 11 October 2026

The exhibition “Treasures of Wool and Silk. The Tapestries of Guillaume Werniers & Catherine Ghuys in Lille in the 18th Century” will offer the first-ever public presentation of an exceptional collection of tapestries from the Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse and the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille.

Until 17 January 2027 – an exhibition for children aged 3 to 6

A colourful day out for curious little minds! At Forum des Sciences in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, Croque Couleurs invites children aged 3 to 6 to explore colours through play. They observe, experiment and discover how colours interact and change the way we see the world. Plenty to keep their imagination going long after the visit.

From 18 September 2026 to 16 January 2027

One square, a thousand ways to make it your own. With République, photographer Bérangère Fromont takes us to place de la République in Paris, where protesters, passers-by and skateboarders cross paths. At Théâtre du Nord in Lille, her images focus on young people making the space their own, capturing both movement and moments of calm. A photography exhibition that invites us to see a familiar place from a different perspective.

From 25 September to 22 November

What if a photograph could capture the sun, or make stars appear? At Espace Le Carré in Lille, artist Hideyuki Ishibashi creates a dialogue with August Strindberg, who was already experimenting with photography more than a century ago. With silver images, moon dust and intriguing archives, Le Ciel céleste invites us to look at images with a little doubt… and plenty of curiosity.

From 7 May 2026 to 8 May 2028

At the museum, children have a space of their own too! With Grandeur Nature, Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille invites 6 to 10-year-olds to discover artworks at their level and explore the living world as a family. Observe, chat and ask questions about the seasons, animals and even our place in nature. A first encounter with art that leaves plenty of room for children’s curiosity… and grown-ups’ too.

From Tuesday 1 September to Saturday 31 October 2026

In Roubaix, textiles don’t just belong in the history books: they continue to reinvent themselves! At La Manufacture, Roubaix Génie textile introduces you to the people shaping the industry today. Artisans, artists, businesses, schools and researchers are weaving new connections between expertise, creativity and innovation. An exhibition that reveals how Roubaix’s textile heritage continues to inspire the city today.

Extended until 31 October

The MUba Eugène Leroy invites visitors to an intimate encounter with one of the richest art collections in the Lille metropolitan area: paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures from the 17th century to the present day, bringing together masters such as Rembrandt and Corot alongside contemporary artists like Georg Baselitz and Sol LeWitt. The exhibition unfolds across three complementary spaces — a chronological hang, a thematic dialogue around movement and stillness, and a selection of graphic arts — with a room entirely dedicated to Tourcoing-born artist Eugène Leroy.

From 9 October 2026 to 3 January 2027

What if contemporary art made you smile… before making you think? With Éclats du rire !, lille3000 brings together works from the collections of France’s 22 Fonds régionaux d’art contemporain at Tripostal. Irony, playfulness and unexpected twists: the artists play with our expectations and invite us to look at the world from a different angle, in the best possible way. An exhibition to explore with an open mind and a smile ready to break through.

From 10 October 2026 to 24 January 2027

Can art change the way we see power and freedom? At La Piscine in Roubaix, Ni Dieu ni maître ! explores the links between artistic creation and anarchist thought, from the 19th century to the present day. From Courbet to Banksy, via Signac and Pissarro, discover how painters, illustrators and street artists have turned their work into a space for protest, experimentation and freedom.

From 11 December 2026, in an exclusive partnership with FRAC Picardie

A drawing can be made with just a few lines… or challenge everything we thought we knew about the medium. At MUba Eugène Leroy in Tourcoing, FRAC Picardie presents 90 works from its contemporary drawing collection. From Jean-Michel Basquiat to Nina Childress and William Kentridge, the exhibition traces more than fifty years of artistic creation. A wonderful opportunity to discover just how freely artists can reinvent the art of drawing!

At the same time, FRAC Picardie in Amiens will present a complementary selection of historic drawings by Eugène Leroy from the reserves of the Tourcoing museum, creating a genuine cultural bridge across the region.