France 2026: The Year of Monet, A Once-in-a-Lifetime Celebration

There are years when France is simply France, breathtaking, romantic, endlessly compelling. And then there are years when France becomes something even more extraordinary. 2026 is one of those years.

This year marks the centenary of the death of Claude Monet, the master of Impressionism, who passed away on December 5, 1926, in his beloved village of Giverny. To honor his legacy, France has organized over 100 events spanning Normandy and the Paris Region, including exhibitions, river cruises, open-air concerts, lectures, garden walks, and immersive experiences that bring Monet's world to life in ways never seen before.
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I have walked the gardens at Giverny. I have stood in the oval rooms of the Musée de l'Orangerie, surrounded by the Water Lilies. There is nothing quite like experiencing Monet's world firsthand, and in 2026, that experience has been elevated to something truly exceptional.

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