Grand Palais Set to Reopen After Extensive Renovations

The Grand Palais, one of Paris's most iconic exhibition spaces, is finally reopening this year after more than three years of renovations. This highly anticipated reopening marks a significant moment in the venue's history.

From July 26 to August 11, the Grand Palais will partially open its doors to host the fencing and taekwondo events of the 2024 Summer Olympics. This initial opening will allow ticket holders to see the newly renovated nave, a prelude to the full reopening scheduled for October 2024, when it will host Art Basel Paris.

Following the Olympic events and Art Basel, the Grand Palais will host Paris Photo in November 2024, the world's largest international art fair dedicated to photography. In 2025, several areas within the Grand Palais, including the central plaza, rotunda, and a section with a shop, restaurant, and children's play area, will be open to the public for free, enhancing the venue's accessibility.

The partial reopening offers a glimpse into the extensive renovations that have transformed the Grand Palais. These changes include significant updates to the nave, the central feature of the space, renowned for its vast glass ceiling. After Art Basel, the venue will close again to finalize the remaining renovations, with a permanent reopening scheduled for 2025.

Those eager to see the renovations this year will need tickets to specific events. However, according to Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais, the space will be fully accessible to the general public starting in 2025.

Renovations began in March 2021 with the goal of improving accessibility, restoring original exterior statues, and refurbishing parts of the building that had been inaccessible for decades. Chatillon Architectes, an urban planning, architecture, and interior design studio, led the renovation efforts. The firm aimed to preserve the building's historical integrity while updating it to meet modern safety and accessibility standards.