Palais de la Découverte: Closed for Renovation, Reopening Announced for March 2027

Updated on October 8, 2026

The Palais de la Découverte, a science museum housed in the Grand Palais on avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt (8th arrondissement), is closed for renovation. According to its official website, it returns in March 2027 after six years of transformation. In the meantime, its science demonstrations and planetarium are hosted at Les Étincelles, a temporary structure in the 15th arrondissement.

Highlights

A palace born of the 1900 Exposition

The museum occupies part of the Grand Palais, built for the 1900 Universal Exposition, on the avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt side. It has been housed there since 1937.

Science through demonstration

The Palais de la Découverte is known for experiments carried out by science presenters: mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, biology and geosciences. The visitor route is being redesigned for the reopening, with a planetarium.

Practical info

Tips

No visit is possible at the Palais itself before the announced reopening. To see demonstrations, go to Les Étincelles, 186 rue Saint-Charles (15th), near the Parc André-Citroën: Wednesdays 1pm-6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-6pm, with extended hours during school holidays. Online booking is compulsory, activities are held in French and entry is planned from age 6. This temporary structure closes on 31 December 2026; check the official website before you go.

How to get there

The Palais de la Découverte is on avenue Franklin-D.-Roosevelt, 75008 Paris, inside the Grand Palais. Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1 and 9) or Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau (lines 1 and 13). For Les Étincelles: 186 rue Saint-Charles, 75015 Paris, metro Lourmel or Balard (line 8).