La Malmaison
Contemporary art center run by the City of Cannes, housed in a villa on the Croisette, with temporary exhibitions and a rooftop café.
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About the museum
The history of La Malmaison is linked to that of the Grand Hôtel de Cannes, whose foundation stone was laid in 1863. In 1868, a villa was built near the Cercle nautique and served as an annex to the hotel. In 1901, its owners replaced it with a larger building, comfortable and modern for its time, with four floors.
From 1902, the villa housed a private club for golfers. It bore the name Villa Dubosc until the 1930s, when it was renamed Malmaison. In 1946, the gardens and salons of the hotel and the villa served as the setting for the first edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
In 1969, the city bought the villa. From 1970 it hosted art exhibitions under the name Centre d’art La Malmaison, and the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs set up its team there every May. Since 2018, the entire building has been devoted to contemporary art.
In July 2023, the city launched a major modernization project. On January 31, 2025, an international contemporary art center opened in the building: exhibition space grew from 207 to 600 m². The center presents exhibitions of artists from the 20th and 21st centuries, with an average of around one hundred works from public or private collections.
Highlights
- Belle Époque villa on the Croisette, the last surviving witness of that era on this spot
- Exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, with important loans of works
- 600 m² of exhibition space since the 2025 opening
- Café Olympe on the rooftop terrace, with a view of the bay
- Founded
- 1970
- Operated by
- Ville de Cannes (Pôle d'Art Contemporain)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3.50Young people aged 18 to 25, holders of the Cannes Pass Culture, members of Cannes Seniors Le Club (with proof) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for under-18s (with proof). |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free for people with disabilities and their companion (with proof). |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree for students (with proof). |
Free admission: The first Sunday of every month, from November through March inclusive
Also free for job seekers, leisure centers, holders of the ICOM card and teachers with their class (with proof). The website also mentions the Cannes Pass Culture, the Cannes Pass Expo and the Pass Côte d’Azur France.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website shows an elevator for people with reduced mobility. Large luggage is not allowed in the exhibition rooms.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Workshops for children during temporary exhibitions. Free for under-18s.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Malmaison
Bus stop “Malmaison”.
The art center is located on the Croisette in Cannes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Café Olympe on the rooftop terrace: light homemade food (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, aperitifs). Open September to June, Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00; in July and August daily 10:00–19:00. Access to the roof is free through the main entrance.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
La Malmaison is one of the prestigious venues that the City of Cannes rents out for events.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | During exhibitions, the center offers guided tours, tours with the curator, thematic tours and workshops for children. Classes from Cannes take part as part of the city’s arts and cultural education programme. |
