at 21 January 2026
The year 2026 marks the centenary of the death of Claude Monet, known as the master of Impressionism. He died on 5 December 1926, in the village of Giverny in Normandy.
One century on, the two French regions where he was born and brought up, and where he lived and created, pay homage to this icon of modern art.
With around 2,000 canvases of his on display around the world, there’s no doubting that Monet is the most iconic painter of all the Impressionists. Among his most famous masterpieces are his series of Nymphéas (Water Lilies) and studies of the Cathédrale de Rouen, his Coquelicots (Poppies), and of course Impression, soleil levant (Impression, Sunrise), the painting that would give its name to the entire artistic movement. All of these works are intimately linked to the landscapes and the shifting light and atmospheres that inspired him, from Paris to the Normandy coast.
Through 2026, Normandy and the Paris Region, united under one banner as the Impressionist destination, are celebrating the memory of this truly exceptional artist. Monet wasn’t simply a painter, but also a fine gardener, as well as a gourmet. These celebrations will encourage visitors to (re)visit our museums, housing the
widest collections of his works, plus places where Monet lived, and landscapes that fed his creativity, including picturesque sites, enchanting gardens and stretches of the Seine’s riverbanks bathed in beautiful light.
From March 2026 onwards, over 100 events, among them original exhibitions, unique experiences and opportunities to enjoy unforgettable moments, will be put on across thisexceptional year.
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