The Centre Pompidou has signed a five-year partnership with Brazil to open its first South American outpost near the Iguaçu falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the city of Foz do Iguaçu. Scheduled to launch in November 2027, the 10,000 sq. m. museum will be designed by Paraguayan architect Solano Benitez, with a construction budget of R$200 million ($36 million). The venue will host exhibitions, live performances, festivals, film screenings, lectures, and artist residencies focused on the cultures of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.
The expansion is part of Pompidou chairman Laurent Le Bon's strategy to generate revenue from international outposts—which brought in €19.3 million in 2024—to help cover the €262–358 million renovation of the Paris flagship, now closed for five years. The move also aligns with France's cultural season dedicated to exchanges with Brazil. However, the project faces financial challenges, as Le Bon still needs €180 million for interior redesign, with Saudi Arabia pledging up to €50 million toward the renovation.