The Pompidou Centre opens a branch in Foz do Iguaçu: Art and nature on the triple border

The Centre Pompidou , that monument to contemporaneity in Paris , is closing for a transformation until 2030. It bids farewell with a magnificent exhibition of Paris Noire, Black art as never before seen. But at the start of its transformation, the Pompidou is moving to Foz do Iguaçu , on the triple border of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, starting in 2027 .

The Brazilian Pompidou woven with bricks The Paraguayan architect Solano Benítez is in charge of designing the new headquarters of the Pompidou Center in Latin America, located in Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil), in the Triple Frontier region, where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet.… pic.twitter.com/ViBUYYOdv8

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The famous Parisian institution will open a branch in Foz do Iguaçu, in southern Brazil , a stone's throw from the majestic Iguaçu Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The announcement, made official by the French Ministry of Culture , consolidates a five-year collaboration agreement . The project seeks to highlight South American creativity in the heart of a territory where the borders of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay converge.

"Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, welcomes the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Centre Pompidou and the State of Paraná (Brazil) for the creation of the Centre Pompidou x Paraná in Foz do Iguaçu," the ministry said in a statement.

Scheduled to open in November 2027 , the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art aims to become a major cultural center in South America, showcasing both the collections of the renowned Parisian institution and South American artistic creation. This project is part of the Centre Pompidou's international expansion strategy.

In this "triple border," art becomes a link between cultures . Called the Centre Pompidou x Paraná, this new 10,000 m² cultural center will offer a multidisciplinary program.

Paraguayan architect Solano Benítez , winner of the Golden Lion at the 2016 Venice Biennale, has been chosen to design this new tropical gem.

A materials specialist , Benítez promises an architecture that speaks the language of the place, maintaining the values ​​of modernity, diversity, and openness that the Pompidou Center has embodied since its inception. The construction budget is estimated at 200 million reais (31 million euros).

The museum will be characterized by its woven brick structure , which connects the interior and exterior spaces. With a covered area of ​​10,000 square meters, the building integrates art, nature, and local architecture.

This South American expansion comes at a pivotal time for the Centre Pompidou: its historic headquarters, located in the heart of Paris's Marais district, will close its doors on September 22, 2025 , for at least five years, to allow for major asbestos removal and renovation work.

On the eve of its 50th anniversary , the iconic building designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers is undergoing a major renovation. This enforced break coincides with a strategic international relocation.

The project for a branch of the Pompidou Centre near New York , considered too expensive, is suspended .

Because behind this new location , a whole expansion plan is brewing . While the Parisian project is estimated at over €350 million, the international branches , which already generate around €20 million annually, represent a valuable source of income that the museum's management hopes to increase to between €25 and €30 million in the medium term.

The state of Panama has signed a protocol for its construction, and it was the brainchild of President Lula and the Pompidou curators . It will be built very close to the Foz do Iguaçu airport, accessible to Argentina and Paraguay, as well as all tourists visiting the region.

Every year, two million visitors come to admire the Iguazu Falls. Tomorrow, they'll also come for the art. Between the roar of the waters and the artistic resonances, Brazil's future Pompidou Center aims to build a bridge between nature and culture, establishing itself as a major new tourist destination.

Brazil thus joins the growing circle of Pompidou locations already established in Malaga, Shanghai, Brussels, and, soon, Seoul.