Drawing Now Paris 2027 – France

What to expect in 2027

Drawing Now Paris 2027 will celebrate the 20th edition of the contemporary drawing fair at the Carreau du Temple in Paris. Founded in 2007 by Christine Phal, the fair is dedicated exclusively to contemporary drawing and has developed into an international platform for galleries, artists, collectors, institutions, curators and drawing enthusiasts. The official 2027 information states that more than 70 international galleries are expected to participate.

The fair focuses on drawing as an independent contemporary-art medium while also examining how it connects with photography, animation, architecture, history, research and digital technologies. Its programme is designed to show the diversity of drawing practices, from traditional works on paper to experimental, process-based and technology-related approaches.

The 2027 edition will be organised around four principal sectors:

• General
• Process
• Inception
• Digital

The General sector focuses on galleries presenting an artist in focus on at least 30% of their stand. Process explores drawing’s relationships with other media and disciplines, Inception highlights emerging galleries, artists and projects, while Digital examines the intersection between drawing and new technologies.

Alongside gallery presentations, visitors can expect a programme of talks, performances, professional meetings, curated projects and activities connected with the wider contemporary-drawing scene.

Event dates

March 18 to March 21, 2027

The official practical information confirms public opening during this period at the Carreau du Temple. The fair’s official information also identifies a separate preview reserved for invitations and VIP passes.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

Drawing Now Paris 2027 will take place at Carreau du Temple, a historic covered-market building in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement.

Venue: Carreau du Temple

Address: 4, rue Eugène Spuller, 75003 Paris

The building provides a distinctive architectural setting for the fair, with exhibition areas arranged across its different levels. The sector structure uses both the main exhibition level and the lower level, allowing the fair to separate different approaches to contemporary drawing.

The General sector is located on the main level, while Process, Inception and Digital are presented on the lower level. This arrangement makes it possible for visitors to move from established gallery presentations toward emerging, interdisciplinary and technology-oriented practices.

Carreau du Temple is also conveniently located within central Paris, making it possible to combine a visit to the fair with museums, galleries, restaurants and other cultural attractions in the surrounding districts.

Full exhibition programme

The complete 2027 artistic programme has not yet been published in full. However, the official fair structure confirms the main components that visitors can expect.

The gallery exhibition will form the central part of the event, with more than 70 international galleries presenting contemporary drawing and related practices. The fair also organises curated projects, talks, performances and professional encounters.

The programme is expected to include the following areas:

• Gallery presentations
• General sector
• Process sector
• Inception sector
• Digital sector
• Drawing Now Prize
• Talks and artist interviews
• Performances
• Curated projects
• Professional meetings
• Guided tours
• Parallax programme
• Related contemporary-drawing activities

Drawing Now Paris also works with curators and art professionals to examine how drawing is changing as an artistic practice. The CURARE programme, for example, has been developed in partnership with C-E-A, the French Association of Curators, to examine contemporary forms of drawing across the Inception, Process and Digital sectors.

Featured artists & designers

The full list of artists participating through the 2027 galleries has not yet been announced. The fair’s official exhibitor-selection process states that selected galleries will be responsible for proposing artists and projects for their stands.

The previous edition featured more than 300 artists represented by participating galleries. Examples included artists such as Guénaëlle de Carbonnières, Roman Moriceau, Chloé Vanderstraeten and Maxime Verdier, who were selected as nominees for the Drawing Now Prize.

The fair’s gallery structure means that artists are presented through professional galleries rather than applying individually. Independent artists are not accepted as direct exhibitors, and participating galleries must meet the organiser’s professional requirements.

For visitors, this creates an opportunity to discover both established artists and emerging practices within a concentrated contemporary-drawing environment.

Galleries & exhibitors

Drawing Now Paris 2027 is expected to bring together more than 70 international galleries. The official exhibitor information confirms that the fair is open to professional galleries capable of demonstrating regular exhibition activity in their own exhibition spaces.

The final 2027 gallery list is to be announced by the organiser after the selection process. The selection committee is independent and includes personalities from the international art world.

The previous edition included galleries from France and other countries, with exhibitors from cities including Paris, Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Rome, Tokyo, Montreal, Bologna, Luxembourg, Cologne, Barcelona, Portland and The Hague.

Examples from the previous exhibitor list included:

• Galerie Lelong
• Galerie Martel
• Galerie Nathalie Obadia
• Galerie Papillon
• Galerie Templon
• Galerie Maubert
• Galerie Binome
• Archiraar Gallery
• Galerie Barbier
• Richard Saltoun Gallery
• Purdy Hicks Gallery
• Maurits van de Laar
• Gallery KITAI
• Chiguer Art Contemporain
• Analix Forever

These names illustrate the international character of the fair, although the previous exhibitor list should not be interpreted as the confirmed 2027 list.

Exhibition halls & sections

Drawing Now Paris is divided into four principal sectors, each addressing a different aspect of contemporary drawing.

General

The General sector is dedicated to galleries presenting artists in focused presentations. Participating galleries are required to devote at least 30% of their booth surface to an artist focus. This creates opportunities for deeper presentations rather than only broad multi-artist displays.

Process

Process examines the expanded territory of drawing. Projects can combine drawing with photography, animation, architecture, pedagogy, research, history and other disciplines. The sector is designed for practices that challenge conventional definitions of drawing.

Inception

Inception focuses on emerging proposals. It provides a platform for new galleries, developing projects and artists who are contributing to emerging trends in national and international contemporary drawing.

Digital

Digital explores the relationship between drawing and new technologies. The official exhibitor information specifically identifies areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and generative practices as part of this sector’s scope.

Talks, workshops & special events

Drawing Now Paris complements its gallery presentations with talks, artist interviews, performances and professional discussions.

The talks programme brings together curators, institutional directors, independent art professionals and artists to discuss contemporary drawing and wider questions in contemporary art. Previous programming has covered subjects including performance, women in drawing and representations of economic worlds.

The CURARE programme is another important component. Developed with C-E-A, it examines the Inception, Process and Digital sectors through artist questions and answers, curatorial analysis and talks involving artists from the different sectors.

Guided tours are also available. These are led by contemporary-art specialists and provide visitors with a structured introduction to the fair and its galleries.

Drawing Now Paris is also connected with Le Printemps du Dessin, a wider French contemporary-drawing initiative involving museums, art centres, monuments, artists and cultural organisations. Its programme has included exhibitions, workshops, conferences, performances, drawing walks and drawing concerts.

Ticket types

The official 2027 practical information currently publishes the following admission prices, converted to approximate US dollars:

• Full admission: $18.88
• Reduced admission: $10.62
• Children under 18: Free
• Group admission for groups of 10 or more: $7.08 per person
• Combined ticket with Salon du Dessin: $29.50
• Guided tour supplement: $11.80
• Cloakroom: $4.72 per item

The reduced rate applies to eligible visitors including students under 25, jobseekers, ICOM members, holders of certain culture cards, Maison des Artistes members and people with disabilities.

The fair’s official ticketing information states that visitors can purchase admission online. Guided tours require a separate ticket in addition to the admission ticket.

VIP & collector access

Drawing Now Paris provides a dedicated preview for invited guests and VIP pass holders. This offers professional visitors, collectors and invited guests an opportunity to see the fair before the general public opening.

The fair is particularly relevant to collectors because visitors can meet galleries directly and view works presented for sale. The organiser describes the event as a platform connecting contemporary-drawing galleries with collectors and institutions.

The fair does not currently publish a separate public premium-seating system because this is an art fair rather than a seated performance event. VIP access is instead associated with the preview and professional environment.

Professional visitors can also benefit from the fair’s networking opportunities, meetings with galleries and access to the wider contemporary-art community.

Event rules

Visitors must comply with the venue and organiser’s admission and security rules.

The official practical information states that large luggage and certain oversized bags are prohibited. Suitcases, travel bags and backpacks larger than A3 are not permitted inside the fair, and drawing boxes are also prohibited.

Visitors should therefore travel light and use the cloakroom when appropriate.

Tickets are subject to the organiser’s published conditions. The official ticketing information states that admission tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

Visitors should also follow instructions from staff concerning circulation, photography, artwork handling and access to gallery booths.

How to get there

Drawing Now Paris takes place at Carreau du Temple in central Paris, making public transport one of the easiest ways to reach the fair.

The closest metro station listed by the organiser is Temple on Line 3. République station is also nearby and is served by Lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11.

The central location means visitors arriving by train can connect through Paris’s extensive metro network rather than needing a private vehicle.

Visitors staying in central Paris can also reach the venue on foot or by bicycle depending on their accommodation location.

Public transport & parking

The official access information lists several public transport options.

Metro

Temple: Line 3

République: Lines 3, 5, 8, 9 and 11

Bus

Square du Temple: Routes 75 and 20

Jean-Pierre Timbaud: Routes 91 and 96

République – Voltaire: Routes 56 and 91

Parking

The organiser lists several nearby parking facilities, including Alhambra, Temple Alizés, Hôtel Renaissance Paris République and Garage Bretagne.

Vélib

Nearby bicycle-sharing stations include Mairie du 3e, Sainte-Elisabeth – Turbigo, Temple – Jean-Pierre Timbaud and Filles du Calvaire – Turenne.

Because Drawing Now Paris is in a dense central neighbourhood, public transport and cycling can be more convenient than driving directly to the venue.

Accommodation areas

Visitors can stay in several parts of Paris depending on their preferred balance between convenience, accommodation type and budget.

The 3rd arrondissement is particularly convenient because Carreau du Temple is located there. Staying around the Temple, République or Marais areas allows visitors to reach the fair relatively easily while also providing access to restaurants, cafés, museums, galleries and shops.

Other practical areas include:

• Le Marais
• République
• Oberkampf
• Bastille
• Arts-et-Métiers
• Châtelet
• Central Paris around major railway connections

Visitors attending the fair primarily for contemporary art may also consider accommodation near central gallery districts, allowing them to combine Drawing Now Paris with visits to other Parisian galleries and museums.

Food & refreshments

Carreau du Temple is located in a central Paris neighbourhood with a wide selection of cafés, bakeries, restaurants and casual dining options.

Visitors can plan meals around their fair visit without needing to travel far from the venue. The surrounding Marais and République areas provide options ranging from quick lunches to longer meals.

For collectors and professionals attending talks and meetings, nearby cafés and restaurants can also provide convenient places for informal discussions between appointments.

The fair itself focuses primarily on art exhibitions and programming, so visitors should check the latest venue information for any refreshments or temporary food services available inside the event.

Accessibility

Drawing Now Paris provides a reduced admission category for people with disabilities, and the official practical information specifically identifies disabled visitors among those eligible for reduced-rate admission.

The organiser should be contacted in advance for detailed accessibility information relating to the venue, entrances, circulation and individual visitor requirements.

Carreau du Temple is a permanent cultural venue in central Paris, and visitors with mobility requirements should confirm the most suitable entrance and access arrangements before travelling.

For visitors requiring additional assistance, the official Drawing Now Paris contact details are +33 1 45 38 51 15 and info@drawingnowparis.com.

Must-see exhibitions

The complete 2027 exhibition programme has not yet been announced, so specific curated exhibitions cannot yet be confirmed.

Visitors should nevertheless pay particular attention to the four fair sectors because each provides a different perspective on contemporary drawing.

The General sector is suited to visitors interested in focused presentations by established galleries. Process is particularly relevant for those interested in interdisciplinary practices. Inception provides an opportunity to discover emerging projects and artists, while Digital focuses on drawing’s relationship with new technologies.

The Drawing Now Prize is another key element to follow. The award has been running for many years and recognises contemporary artists presented by participating galleries. The previous edition included several artists under 50 selected by the fair’s committee.

Guided tours can also be useful for first-time visitors because they provide an organised overview of the fair’s galleries and artists.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition brought together 71 international galleries representing more than 300 artists at Carreau du Temple. The exhibitor list included galleries from France and a wide range of international art centres.

The Drawing Now Prize was a major programme feature, with Guénaëlle de Carbonnières, Roman Moriceau, Chloé Vanderstraeten and Maxime Verdier among the selected nominees. The prize structure also included financial and material support connected with the winning artist and production opportunities.

The curated exhibition Numérique lyrique: Nouvelles origines du dessin was conceived by curator Joana P. R. Neves in partnership with the Frac Picardie and Centre national des arts plastiques. The exhibition examined relationships between drawing, technology and other forms of artistic experimentation.

The fair also presented the CURARE programme in partnership with C-E-A, focusing on the Inception, Process and Digital sectors. Talks, artist interviews and performances added a discursive and live dimension to the gallery presentations.

The previous edition demonstrated the breadth of contemporary drawing, with works using graphite, ink, watercolor, pencil and other materials alongside experimental approaches involving technology, volume, animation and unconventional supports.

Official tickets

Official ticketing is available through the Drawing Now Paris website.

Drawing Now Paris official ticketing (https://www.drawingnowparis.com/en/ticketing/)

The currently published 2027 practical information lists full admission at approximately $18.88, reduced admission at approximately $10.62, free admission for visitors under 18, and group admission at approximately $7.08 per person. The combined ticket with Salon du Dessin is approximately $29.50.

The official event contact details are:

Telephone: +33 1 45 38 51 15

Email: info@drawingnowparis.com

Venue: Carreau du Temple, 4 rue Eugène Spuller, 75003 Paris

Visitors should use the official ticketing system for admission and check the latest programme information before planning individual gallery visits, guided tours or special events.