One of the most important museums in the world, the Louvre Museum in Paris, hosts as of 10 February 2026 the archaeological exhibition entitled “Cyprus at the Louvre”, as part of the Cultural Programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Wednesday, 10 February 2026, by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, in the presence of the First Lady of France Brigitte Macron, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marilena Raouna, and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of France, Ms Rachida Dati, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr Khaled El-Enany, as well as by prominent figures from France’s cultural sector.
The exhibition, which will be open to visitors until 22 June 2026, is the outcome of the cooperation between the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, the University of Cyprus, the CYENS Centre of Excellence and the Louvre Museum, which have joined forces and have temporarily transferred a number of Cypriot antiquities from the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus to Paris, such as picrolite figurines and terracotta votive statues. In halls 300 and 316 of the Museum, the Cypriot antiquities of the permanent collection are juxtaposed in a creative manner with 16 selected ancient objects that travelled all the way from Cyprus.
At the same time, the exhibition is accompanied by new, scientifically documented information material, through which the antiquities are integrated into their historical and cultural context, as this has emerged from recent archaeological research. The long and pioneering contribution of the French archaeological missions in Cyprus has a special place in the narrative of the exhibition.
The visitor experience is further enriched with innovative digital applications – 3D representations, interactive screens and augmented reality experiences – which shed light on aspects of ancient life, writing and language, worship practices, as well as exchange networks, medical knowledge and the intangible cultural heritage of Cyprus, transforming knowledge into a personal experience.
Poems by renowned Greek poets, who were inspired by the island, such as Giorgos Seferis, as well as traditional Cypriot songs, are incorporated into the exhibition through digital technology, bridging the past with the present and inviting the audience not only to observe, but to “listen” and experience the cultural memory, and to realise its deep roots.
It is noted that during the exhibition, public lectures will be held, aiming to disseminate the results of archaeological research in Cyprus to the public internationally.
The exhibition is accompanied by a trilingual edition, featuring contributions from 37 archaeologists, historians and scientists from diverse fields, who provide insights on multiple aspects of the exhibition, Cypriot archaeology and the Cypriot collection of the Louvre.
The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the ancient culture of the island on a European and international level.
