From Cannes to Nice, via Grasse and Saint-Paul-de-Vence… 8 Refreshing Exhibitions on the Côte d’Azur

Beaux Arts Magazine highlights eight refreshing exhibitions across the French Riviera from spring to summer 2026. Featured shows include a Carole Benzaken survey at La Malmaison in Cannes, a hotel biennial at the Canopy by Hilton Cannes, a group exhibition on media theorist Nathalie Magnan at Villa Arson in Nice, and a dialogue between Henri Matisse and Yves Saint Laurent at the Musée Matisse in Nice. Other stops include Ellsworth Kelly at Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and shows in Grasse featuring painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard, photography, and costumes.

This roundup matters because it positions the Côte d’Azur as a vibrant, year-round destination for contemporary and modern art beyond its tourist image. By mixing established names like Matisse and Kelly with emerging voices and unconventional venues like a hotel, the article underscores the region’s role in making art accessible to diverse audiences, from collectors to casual visitors, and reinforces the cultural pull of the South of France during the summer season.