Art Exhibitions in Provence: Our Summer Selection in the Var
La Falaise Art Centre
Located on Cours Gambetta in the former Chapel of the White Penitents, La Falaise Art Centre hosts exhibitions across a wide range of artistic disciplines within a 140 m² exhibition space.
Regards actuels sur la figuration narrative
4 July – 19 September 2026
Emerging in the 1970s as a response to the growing influence of advertising imagery, Narrative Figuration left a lasting mark on art history through its critical perspective on consumer society. Bringing together several leading artists associated with the movement, this exhibition highlights the enduring relevance of its themes and concerns.
Le Thoronet Abbey
Renowned for the purity of its Cistercian architecture and its remarkable acoustics, Le Thoronet Abbey hosts a rich cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions and talks throughout the year.
Floraison majeure
27 June – 27 September 2026
Around one hundred enamelled lava-stone daisies bloom throughout the cloister and surrounding grounds of the abbey. Created by Alain Chevalier, this monumental installation celebrates the perpetual cycle of plant life while echoing the floral motifs of Romanesque art, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens.
Châteauvert Art Centre
A striking black metal cube overlooking a sunlit meadow on the banks of the River Argens, the Châteauvert Contemporary Art Centre invites visitors to explore its exhibitions and the sculptures that populate its gardens.
Skies, Lands, Seas, Fires
11 July – 29 November 2026
At the crossroads of elements and worlds, the Mediterranean shapes a landscape where forms, beliefs and traditions have constantly evolved. Artists Sara Ouhaddou and Younes Rahmoun explore this heritage through a practice rooted in craftsmanship, spirituality and experimentation.
La Celle Abbey
Listed as a Historic Monument since 1886, La Celle Abbey hosts temporary exhibitions each year, creating a dialogue between its Romanesque architecture and contemporary creation.
Island Solitudes
Commanderie de Peyrassol
Set within a vineyard estate in Flassans-sur-Issole, the Commanderie de Peyrassol combines contemporary art with the Provençal art of living. The Philippe Austruy Collection unfolds among vineyards and woodland.
Philippe Austruy Collection: 25 Years of Art at Commanderie de Peyrassol
1 April – 30 September 2026
In 2026, one of southern France’s most significant private collections is unveiled through a new presentation. From the sculpture park and art centre to the reserve, now open to visitors, this journey reveals the richness and diversity of a collection assembled since the 1980s.
HDE Var
Behind the walls of a 19th-century building in Draguignan, the Hôtel Départemental des Expositions du Var presents two exhibitions each year, inviting visitors to explore the history of civilisations.
INCAS: Sacred Heritage of the Andes
Draguignan Museum of Fine Arts
Housed in the former summer residence of the Bishop of Fréjus, the Draguignan Museum of Fine Arts has been home to remarkable collections since 1888, ranging from archaeology to the decorative arts.
The Red Rocks
22 May – 31 October 2026
Venet Foundation
The Venet Foundation brings together more than fifty years of work by Bernar Venet, a leading figure of Minimal Art, alongside one of the most significant private collections of contemporary art in southern France.
Simple fluorescent tubes
8 May – 3 October 2026
Three Other Must-Visit Art Destinations in the Var
Villa Noailles
Built on the hills above Hyères in the 1920s for patrons Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, Villa Noailles is one of France’s masterpieces of modernist architecture. It hosts exhibitions dedicated to contemporary art, design, photography and architecture.
Musée de l’Annonciade
A landmark of modern art in Provence, the Musée de l’Annonciade in Saint-Tropez houses a remarkable collection of works by Signac, Matisse, Derain, Bonnard and Marquet. Together, they bear witness to the pivotal role the town played in the history of modern painting.
Carmignac Foundation
Nestled on the island of Porquerolles, the Carmignac Foundation brings together contemporary art and Mediterranean nature. Each summer, a major exhibition unfolds across the villa and its gardens, overlooking one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Var coastline.
