Paris, with its anarchic elegance, offers so much more than just Art Basel during its Art Week. In the French capital, we wandered through book launches, alternative fairs, offbeat events, and independent programs, sharing with you some of the best we encountered. Underground venues hosted previews of international collectives and emerging artists, creating a vibrant ecosystem of music, theater, exhibitions, and performances around the clock.

Forget the clean, carpeted floors of the big fairs—this was all about brutalist, industrial backdrops that brought the scene to life.

OFFSCREEN

At the Grand Garage Haussmann, a brutalist car park, OffScreen returns for its third year, featuring 28 carefully selected artists and galleries exploring image practices, decolonial poetics, and political themes. This cross-city trajectory spans all eight floors of the venue and includes collaborations with Publishing Matters, the Artforum Dossier pop-up, and evening gatherings at Hotel Eldorato. Guest of honor, Chantal Akerman.

@Offscreen @Maison offscreen @Cultish_collective #grandgaragehaussmann

Partner: @lombardodier @dior @cultish_collective

PERFORMISSIMA

Right in front of the bustling Pompidou, the first edition of @Performissima brings 12 hours of non-stop international performances for this a-trans-disciplinary arts festival. Expect an exciting mix of theater, music, and dance from young, emerging talents. This cross-disciplinary ecosystem extends to the unmissable Centro Wallonie-Bruxelles, featuring a bunker-like theater and an outdoor terrace.

@Performissima @Cwb_paris Curated by @caterinarezola

YBDG AT SILENCIO

How could you possibly miss the high-energy, sweat-drenched show by the Young Boy Dancing Group on the 19th? This is a performance you can't describe—you have to live it, packed in tight with the crowd at the (not so exclusive anymore) Club Silencio, designed by David Lynch. It’s raw, to the point, and unapologetically direct. Think sexual chaos reimagined for a new kind of intimacy.

@silencioclub @ybdg_4

THE SALON - NADA

Running from October 17 to 20, the salon by Paris’s non-profit Nada (New Art Dealers Alliance) and the US-based The Community is one of the most dynamic cross-disciplinary art fairs out there. Expect a colorful lineup of over 50 international and emerging galleries, artist projects, talks, and outdoor DJ sets. There's even a day focused on independent publishing—a perfect moment for collectors and art world networking.

@thesalon.nada @newartdealers @thecommuntyparis

PARIS INTERNATIONALE

One of the highlights this year, the fair celebrates its 10th edition by launching the new generation of galleries in the post-industrial space of Central Bergère. With engaging talks featuring leading voices in art and publishing, it's an ecosystem of collaborations that’s definitely worth discovering.

@aaaahhhparisinternationale

AZIIMUT

One to watch is Aziimut’s double opening, both at Nada and on Boulevard Voltaire. This nomadic Parisian project is known for its pop-ups and temporary shows in unusual urban spots. Bonus points for their problem-solving skills—even in the midst of a fire!

@aziimutaziimut

LAFAYETTE ANTICIPATION - MARTINE SYMS

The Fondation Galeries Lafayette has dedicated all its floors to "Total," the first French retrospective of American artist Martine Syms. Focused on the theme of image surveillance, the exhibition is designed like a new kind of store, combining elements from her studio and personal life, merging intimacy with commerce in a unique sales setting.

@lafayetteanticipations @martinesyms

PERROTIN - JEAN-MARIE APPRIOU

"Exonaut Horizon," the second solo exhibition of French artist Jean-Marie Appriou at Perrotin, reveals an intriguing mix of cyber-dystopian and mythological art. The sculptures—crafted from lava, glass, and metals—transform into human faces and disturbing posthuman hybrids, narrating a tale of fantastic archaeology and daring space odysseys.