Magic

From 13 October 2026

Between surprise and wonder, the temporary exhibition Magic isn’t done questioning and fascinating you! How does contemporary magic draw its inspiration from science and technology? How do we convince ourselves of the impossible? How can it sharpen our critical thinking? The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is all set to call our perception of reality into question, on the border between seeing, knowing…and believing!

Image
© Universcience

The exhibition

Image
© H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images

A real entertainment exhibition, Magic explores the connection between illusion and perception, bringing the arts of magic into dialogue with the cognitive sciences. Designed in collaboration with contemporary magic companies, it cross-references the most cutting-edge forms of illusion with recent research on brain function and shows how magicians have always appropriated scientific and technological advances in order to reinvent their practices.

Extraordinary powers, mentalism, appearance/disappearance, levitation… Through such spectacular experiences and installations, your certainties are shattered and questions start rolling in: what do you see, understand, believe? Interweaving wonder, disturbance and critical thinking, Magic delves deeply into our relationship with reality and the way in which our brains construct it.

Practical information

  • €15 | €12 | Our prices

  • From age  9

  • Trilingual exhibition (French, English, Spanish)

  • The Cité is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 am - 6.00 pm and 10.00 am - 7.00 pm on Sunday.

Accessibility

  • Accessible to visitors with reduced mobility
  • Accessible to deaf and hard of hearing visitors
  • Accessible to signing deaf visitors

Plan your visit

This exhibition area can be accessed by lift (level 2). Small pushchairs are allowed inside the museum. 

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