Exhibitions of the moment in Lille

From 18 September to 5 January 2026

The Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the inclusion of the Northern Giants in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Reuze, Gayant, Jehan, Lydéric and Phinaert… these iconic figures of our popular festivities take centre stage in one of France’s finest museums.

You’ll discover rare pieces from the museum’s collections, artworks by François Boucq, and even a “small” Lydéric measuring 3.7 metres, straight from Ath. A unique behind-the-scenes look at these festive colossi, blending craftsmanship and living heritage.

And since a giant never parades alone, the exhibition comes with a festive programme: giant gatherings, brass bands, Heritage Days, Halloween… Get ready to look up – and rediscover your inner child.

From 26 April to 9 November 2025

Immerse yourself in modern and contemporary art with the Pom Pom Pidou exhibition at Tripostal! Discover the Centre Pompidou’s masterpieces and the fascinating evolution of artistic creation from the 20th century to the present day. In each room, relive the effervescence of the avant-garde (Delaunay, Kupka, Duchamp), then the rise of the New Realists, the Fluxus movement and Pop Art, before plunging into today’s digital art, from algorithmic pieces to NFT.

From 26 April to 9 November 2025

As part of Fiesta, the 7ᵉ edition of lille3000, the Hospice Comtesse museum presents The Distorted Party from 26 April to 9 November 2025. This exhibition revisits celebration and conviviality in the face of contemporary challenges. Between celebration and reflection, chaos and beauty, it explores the contrasts of a changing world: climate change, social inequalities, political instability and human fragility.

The former hospital, originally medieval, becomes a striking backdrop where the peaceful architecture dialogues with a modern scenography and vibrant, sometimes disturbing works. A unique immersion in the heart of a multi-faceted festival.

From June 27 to January 11, 2026

• agnès b. on aime le graff !!

The exhibition curated by agnès b. celebrates graffiti as a vibrant and powerful form of urban art. A stylist, gallerist, and collector, she shares her passion for this street-born culture through a selection of works from her personal collection, archival garments, and collaborations with renowned graffiti artists. Blending fashion and street art, the show offers an immersive journey into a constantly evolving visual world, where the city becomes both canvas and playground.

From October 11 to January 11, 2026

• Odette Pauvert. Painting as Ambition in the Age of Art Deco

Step into the refined and little-known world of Odette Pauvert, through a major retrospective presented as part of Fiesta (lille3000). The first woman to be awarded the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome in painting in 1925, this trailblazing artist of the Roaring Twenties followed her own path — from Paris to Rome and the Mediterranean — guided by a classical and decorative vision of art. A thoughtful and ambitious exhibition, enriched by exceptional loans, that shines a spotlight on women artists of the interwar period.

From October 11 to February 15, 2026

• Roaring Twenties. A 1920s Wardrobe

Head back to the Roaring Twenties, when fashion embraced sparkle, fluidity and boldness. With shimmering beads, delicate feathers, elegant fabrics and dazzling evening wear, La Piscine reveals a 1920s wardrobe full of flair and modernity. In parallel, the newly restored furniture of designer Robert Mallet-Stevens adds a modernist touch to this immersive journey through an era where style met innovation.

From September 12 to November 8, 2025

Welcome to a world where celebration becomes a science, a form of poetry, and a collective adventure. At Gare Saint Sauveur, the Institut Grand Festif sets up its “nouba” laboratory, imagined by the creative minds of the La Briche Foraine collective. An immersive, whimsical, and joyful exhibition where you’re both test subject, explorer, and festive creature.

What’s in store? A delightfully offbeat timeline, archaeological relics of ancient parties, a cabinet of metamorphoses, and wild sensory experiences. Put on a mask, sprinkle yourself with glitter, and get ready to vibrate, laugh, and dance!

From 19 September to 4 January 2026

Every year, Le Fresnoy – National Studio for Contemporary Arts – opens its doors with Panorama, its flagship exhibition. Dive into more than 50 brand-new works: films, installations, performances and digital creations by Le Fresnoy’s artists.

This new generation explores, disrupts and reinvents artistic forms by blending technology, storytelling and sensory experience. The works are arranged thematically, offering an immersive journey through visual poetry, thought-provoking content and innovation.

Curated by Dirk Snauwaert, director of the Wiels contemporary art centre in Brussels, the exhibition shines a spotlight on a contemporary creative scene that is both sensitive and socially engaged, deeply rooted in its time.