The Grand Palais was built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. It stands out with its exceptional architecture, with a 240-metre long main building under an immense barrel-vaulted glass roof, topped with a dome and a cupola supported by pendentives, and with a beautiful colonnade façade designed by architect Henri Deglane. The Grand Palais, closed in 1993 after having hosted numerous shows and other exhibitions, was extensively renovated between 2001 and 2007. Since its reopening, the 15,500 m² of surface area under the largest glass roof in Europe has hosted around 40 events each year. These take various artistic forms, from painting and sculpture to fashion, cinema, theatre, photography, music, and dance. The Salon d'Honneur is one of the stages used by the Comédie-Française.

The Grand Palais always features six exhibits of national or international scale. Each Wednesday, there is a discussion/debate, and each Friday there is a film screening. Shows, sporting events, and fashion shows are also held in this space.