Published on April 24, 2026 by Fabrice Mazoir
During the summer, art is everywhere in the city
© Destination Rennes – Franck Hamon
Every summer Exporama offers a rich program around contemporary art: paintings, photographs, immersive or open-air installations, net-art, street-art… enough to create a tailor-made journey throughout the city. Exporama is deployed in the streets, museums, art centers, galleries, heritage places, with many free offers. All easily accessible on foot, by bus or metro.
1. To get a taste of art in Brittany
Exporama is the contemporary art event not to be missed in Brittany during the summer. With around twenty proposals, carried by Rennes cultural actors. Among the major exhibitions to see this summer from June 19, 2026: the retrospective of the painter Roger Edgard Gillet on the two sites of the Museum of Fine Arts; a group exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of La Criée, Center for Contemporary Art; an exceptional photographic exhibition at the Champs Libres which confronts the gaze of 4 contemporary photographers with that of the Breton explorer Anita Conti around the theme of the sea; and at Frac Bretagne, the astonishing textile works of art by Celina Eceiza which will be visible until the end of the year…
2. To trace a city route according to your desires
When it comes to art, do you prefer immersive and unusual installations, open-air exhibitions, or those that mix art and new technologies? Unless you are a fan of street art, addicted to photography, or looking for a beautiful exhibition linked to Brittany?
Whatever your tastes, you can weave a tailor-made route between the twenty places. And if you see at least 5 exhibitions, by collecting souvenir stamps on the Exporama program, you are even entitled to a gift!
3. To discover astonishing artistic places
Strolling between the exhibition venues (museums, art galleries, contemporary art centers, former Jacques-Cartier prison…) is above all an opportunity to discover the city and the diversity of its places of creation and exhibition. Like the Ateliers du Vent, a former mustard factory converted into a friendly artistic venue, Lplac Éditions which is both a publishing house, bookstore and exhibition gallery, the 40mcube contemporary art center (Rennes is the only French city to have two contemporary art centers), or even Basalt: sounds and curiosities located on the banks of the canal at Prairies Saint-Martin… So many places dedicated to art that you will only see in Rennes.
4. To fill up on exhibitions without taking the car
For this artistic journey, the other good news is that you can do everything without a car. All places are easily accessible on foot, or by public transport. With in particular the two “lines of art”. The C4 bus, which connects the center’s exhibition venues (such as the Museum of Fine Arts on Quai Zola, the Criée) to the Frac Bretagne, passing by the 40mcube contemporary art center and the 4X3 panels. And by metro, with line B, you can travel in a few minutes between the two sites of the Museum of Fine Arts (quai Zola and Maurepas) to get to the Phakt and the Ateliers du Vent. The second metro line is also punctuated by several works of art that are worth a look.
5. To enjoy an accessible cultural event
Almost all Exporama exhibitions and proposals are free. Access to the only two paid exhibitions (at the Museum of Fine Arts and at the Frac Bretagne) remains, like every summer, free for those under 26 and at a low price for other visitors.
Also take the opportunity to take a look at the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Brittany; access is free all year round. With all these savings, you will have some budget left over to treat yourself during your stay in Rennes!
Practical information
- Exporama, un été d’art contemporain à Rennes6ème edition from June 19 to September 20, 2026.
- An event organized by the City of Rennes and Rennes Métropole, with the support of the Brittany Region, which is part of the “This Summer in Rennes” program.
- Exhibition locations: Quai Zola Museum of Fine Arts, Maurepas Museum of Fine Arts, Les Champs Libres, Frac Bretagne, La Criée contemporary art center, 40mcube contemporary art center, Former Jacques-Cartier prison, Les Ateliers du Vent, Lplac editions, L’Église, Basalt: sounds and curiosities, PHAKT – Colombier Cultural Center, Orangerie du Thabor, Oniris Gallery, Jonathan Roze Gallery, Upstairs Workshop-Gallery, L’Antre temps Workshop-gallery, Tami Gallery, Net Plus Gallery.
- En plein air : Parc du Thabor, Panels 4×3, WALL of Rennes, Wall of the Jacobins Convent, Beauregard District
- The complete Exporama 2026 program can be discovered soon on www.exporama-rennes.fr
