Paris, September 22, 2025 — The Europe Today: The Pompidou Centre, one of the world’s most iconic modern art museums and celebrated for its unique architectural design, will close to visitors on Monday for a comprehensive five-year renovation, with costs estimated at nearly €460 million.
Famed for its multicoloured exterior, exposed piping, and prominent escalators, the museum attracts millions of visitors annually, drawn as much by its architecture as its extensive modern art collection. Designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, the Centre opened in 1977 and was named in honour of former French President Georges Pompidou.
Preparations for the renovation began earlier this year, with the permanent collection already closed since March as specialists carefully removed masterpieces, including paintings by Francis Bacon and Frida Kahlo, as well as Marcel Duchamp’s sculptures. Temporary exhibitions have continued, with Monday marking the final day for the ongoing retrospective of German artist Wolfgang Tillmans. The Centre is expected to reopen around 2030.
To mark the closure, the museum will remain open exceptionally until 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Monday with free entry and will also host a musical and artistic event from 22-25 October during Paris Contemporary Art Week.
The renovation will address multiple priorities, including asbestos removal, enhanced accessibility, security upgrades, and a complete interior redesign. Climate protection improvements, such as new waterproofing, aim to reduce energy costs by 40 percent. While the external framework will remain intact, the interior—from basement to top floor—will undergo a total transformation. A new public terrace on the seventh floor will provide panoramic views of Paris.
Laurent Le Bon, President of the Pompidou Centre, stated, “We hope visitors will experience a similar sense of shock and wonder as when the Centre first opened in 1977.”
The total renovation cost of €460 million will be partly funded by the French state with €280 million. An additional €100 million has already been secured, with efforts underway to raise the remaining €80 million over the next five years. Saudi Arabia has contributed €50 million towards the project.
