Reference Festival Opens ‘Freie Kunst’ Edition in Paris

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REFERENCE FESTIVAL has launched a Paris edition, running from October 19 through 25 parallel to Art Basel Paris

Themed “FREIE KUNST,” the program entails immersive installations, live performances, intimate discussions, and all-night music programming dedicated to porous creative practices and approaches

The festival unfolds across four venues: Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe

REFERENCE FESTIVAL first made major headlines as “Berlin’s 24-Hour Fashion Festival.” In the years since its first edition, the German festival has expanded into realms of art, music, and technology, serving as a biannual gathering for some of the most exciting voices in culture.

The festival, run by PR agency Reference Studios, has touched down in France for its first-ever Paris edition, running alongside the ongoing Art Basel from October 22 to 25. Fair week means sorting through hundreds of events, shows, and afters around the city, but if a ritualistic live performance by Michele Lamy or a Fassbinder-inspired collection by GmbH is more your speed, consider adding REFERENCE to your calendar.

Since launching in 2019, the festival has gained a global rep for its eclectic programming and embrace of experimental creative approaches. This year’s edition, titled “FREIE KUNST,” takes after the German phrase for “free art” or “fine art,” and takes the studio’s commitments to creative fluidity one step further.

The 2026 festival features a stacked schedule of live installations, intimate discussions, film screenings, and club nights, bringing together voices across disciplines to “consider the conjunction of freedom and creativity today,” said Mumi Haïati, Reference’s founder. “This is what our studio has been about since day one, and now we are bringing the entire scope of our network together for this meeting of minds around the idea of radical and unhinged exchange of ideas.”

The program unfolds across several locations — Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe — kicking off with an art-filled Open House at DSM Paris and an after-party for Jordan Firstman’s debut feature, CLUB KID, at the David Lynch-envisioned space early on in the week.

A starry slate of panels and salon-style fireside conversations will also crop up throughout the week, featuring the likes of Klaus Biesenbach, Chris Dercon, Isamaya Ffrench, Sky Gellatly, Dozie Kanu, Tariq Krim, Chris Kulendran Thomas, Bettina Milz, Benjamin Paulin, Johannes Schön, Miles Greenberg and more.

Highlights include a 24-hour experience curated by John Gerrard and Richie Hawkin, alongside Institut du Monde Arabe’s full days of live performances, music, and artworks. Immersive pieces by EARTHEATHER and Josh Johnson set the tone for an all-night club program on Friday, and a series of installations by Donna Huanca, Kanu, Gabriel Moses, Kolya Nemoi and Bjarne Melgaard will also be on view.

A film screening with FKA Twigs and director Jordan Hemingway will close out the festival on October 25, followed by a conversation with Twigs and Bettina Milz, produced in collaboration with Arte.

“We wanted a space that doesn’t ask anyone to stay in their lane,” Haïati continued. “For us, freedom is a question mark, particularly in this moment, but also an imperative behind the work that we do.” REFERENCE FESTIVAL has commenced in Paris. Check out the flyers below for more details on the full program.

 

 

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Erin Ikeuchi

Editor, Hypeart

Erin Ikeuchi is a New York-based writer focused on the intersection of contemporary art and culture. Her work spotlights stories, people and moments powering art’s new league, from icons to underground legends. Her formal background in anthropology informs a curious, cross-cultural eye for art where it’s least expected. Since joining Hypebeast in 2024, where she spearheads art-related content, she’s contributed hundreds of articles, including industry news, features and interviews, alongside serving as lead curator for ‘Under the Same Sky,’ Hypeart’s 2026 exhibition with Bonhams.


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Summary

REFERENCE FESTIVAL has launched a Paris edition, running from October 19 through 25 parallel to Art Basel Paris

Themed “FREIE KUNST,” the program entails immersive installations, live performances, intimate discussions, and all-night music programming dedicated to porous creative practices and approaches

The festival unfolds across four venues: Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe

REFERENCE FESTIVAL first made major headlines as “Berlin’s 24-Hour Fashion Festival.” In the years since its first edition, the German festival has expanded into realms of art, music, and technology, serving as a biannual gathering for some of the most exciting voices in culture.

The festival, run by PR agency Reference Studios, has touched down in France for its first-ever Paris edition, running alongside the ongoing Art Basel from October 22 to 25. Fair week means sorting through hundreds of events, shows, and afters around the city, but if a ritualistic live performance by Michele Lamy or a Fassbinder-inspired collection by GmbH is more your speed, consider adding REFERENCE to your calendar.

Since launching in 2019, the festival has gained a global rep for its eclectic programming and embrace of experimental creative approaches. This year’s edition, titled “FREIE KUNST,” takes after the German phrase for “free art” or “fine art,” and takes the studio’s commitments to creative fluidity one step further.

The 2026 festival features a stacked schedule of live installations, intimate discussions, film screenings, and club nights, bringing together voices across disciplines to “consider the conjunction of freedom and creativity today,” said Mumi Haïati, Reference’s founder. “This is what our studio has been about since day one, and now we are bringing the entire scope of our network together for this meeting of minds around the idea of radical and unhinged exchange of ideas.”

The program unfolds across several locations — Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe — kicking off with an art-filled Open House at DSM Paris and an after-party for Jordan Firstman’s debut feature, CLUB KID, at the David Lynch-envisioned space early on in the week.

A starry slate of panels and salon-style fireside conversations will also crop up throughout the week, featuring the likes of Klaus Biesenbach, Chris Dercon, Isamaya Ffrench, Sky Gellatly, Dozie Kanu, Tariq Krim, Chris Kulendran Thomas, Bettina Milz, Benjamin Paulin, Johannes Schön, Miles Greenberg and more.

Highlights include a 24-hour experience curated by John Gerrard and Richie Hawkin, alongside Institut du Monde Arabe’s full days of live performances, music, and artworks. Immersive pieces by EARTHEATHER and Josh Johnson set the tone for an all-night club program on Friday, and a series of installations by Donna Huanca, Kanu, Gabriel Moses, Kolya Nemoi and Bjarne Melgaard will also be on view.

A film screening with FKA Twigs and director Jordan Hemingway will close out the festival on October 25, followed by a conversation with Twigs and Bettina Milz, produced in collaboration with Arte.

“We wanted a space that doesn’t ask anyone to stay in their lane,” Haïati continued. “For us, freedom is a question mark, particularly in this moment, but also an imperative behind the work that we do.” REFERENCE FESTIVAL has commenced in Paris. Check out the flyers below for more details on the full program.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FVTVR (@fvtvr_paris)

Read Full Article

Find out more for Paris

COMME des GARÇONS Revives Its Cult Magazine, ‘Six’

COMME des GARÇONS Revives Its Cult Magazine, ‘Six’

Rei Kawakubo’s iconic imprint returns after 35 years with global installations, a tee collection, and, of course, an ultra-exclusive print mailer.

Barbara Kruger Traces ‘The History of Tears’ in New Bourse de Commerce Installation

Barbara Kruger Traces ‘The History of Tears’ in New Bourse de Commerce Installation

The massive artwork floods the famed rotunda with warnings of complicity and control.

Looking for more suggestions for Paris?

Text By

Erin Ikeuchi

Share this article

Erin Ikeuchi

Erin Ikeuchi

Editor, Hypeart

Erin Ikeuchi is a New York-based writer focused on the intersection of contemporary art and culture. Her work spotlights stories, people and moments powering art’s new league, from icons to underground legends. Her formal background in anthropology informs a curious, cross-cultural eye for art where it’s least expected. Since joining Hypebeast in 2024, where she spearheads art-related content, she’s contributed hundreds of articles, including industry news, features and interviews, alongside serving as lead curator for ‘Under the Same Sky,’ Hypeart’s 2026 exhibition with Bonhams.



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Summary

REFERENCE FESTIVAL has launched a Paris edition, running from October 19 through 25 parallel to Art Basel Paris

Themed “FREIE KUNST,” the program entails immersive installations, live performances, intimate discussions, and all-night music programming dedicated to porous creative practices and approaches

The festival unfolds across four venues: Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe

REFERENCE FESTIVAL first made major headlines as “Berlin’s 24-Hour Fashion Festival.” In the years since its first edition, the German festival has expanded into realms of art, music, and technology, serving as a biannual gathering for some of the most exciting voices in culture.

The festival, run by PR agency Reference Studios, has touched down in France for its first-ever Paris edition, running alongside the ongoing Art Basel from October 22 to 25. Fair week means sorting through hundreds of events, shows, and afters around the city, but if a ritualistic live performance by Michele Lamy or a Fassbinder-inspired collection by GmbH is more your speed, consider adding REFERENCE to your calendar.

Since launching in 2019, the festival has gained a global rep for its eclectic programming and embrace of experimental creative approaches. This year’s edition, titled “FREIE KUNST,” takes after the German phrase for “free art” or “fine art,” and takes the studio’s commitments to creative fluidity one step further.

The 2026 festival features a stacked schedule of live installations, intimate discussions, film screenings, and club nights, bringing together voices across disciplines to “consider the conjunction of freedom and creativity today,” said Mumi Haïati, Reference’s founder. “This is what our studio has been about since day one, and now we are bringing the entire scope of our network together for this meeting of minds around the idea of radical and unhinged exchange of ideas.”

The program unfolds across several locations — Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe — kicking off with an art-filled Open House at DSM Paris and an after-party for Jordan Firstman’s debut feature, CLUB KID, at the David Lynch-envisioned space early on in the week.

A starry slate of panels and salon-style fireside conversations will also crop up throughout the week, featuring the likes of Klaus Biesenbach, Chris Dercon, Isamaya Ffrench, Sky Gellatly, Dozie Kanu, Tariq Krim, Chris Kulendran Thomas, Bettina Milz, Benjamin Paulin, Johannes Schön, Miles Greenberg and more.

Highlights include a 24-hour experience curated by John Gerrard and Richie Hawkin, alongside Institut du Monde Arabe’s full days of live performances, music, and artworks. Immersive pieces by EARTHEATHER and Josh Johnson set the tone for an all-night club program on Friday, and a series of installations by Donna Huanca, Kanu, Gabriel Moses, Kolya Nemoi and Bjarne Melgaard will also be on view.

A film screening with FKA Twigs and director Jordan Hemingway will close out the festival on October 25, followed by a conversation with Twigs and Bettina Milz, produced in collaboration with Arte.

“We wanted a space that doesn’t ask anyone to stay in their lane,” Haïati continued. “For us, freedom is a question mark, particularly in this moment, but also an imperative behind the work that we do.” REFERENCE FESTIVAL has commenced in Paris. Check out the flyers below for more details on the full program.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FVTVR (@fvtvr_paris)

Read Full Article

Find out more for Paris

COMME des GARÇONS Revives Its Cult Magazine, ‘Six’

COMME des GARÇONS Revives Its Cult Magazine, ‘Six’

Rei Kawakubo’s iconic imprint returns after 35 years with global installations, a tee collection, and, of course, an ultra-exclusive print mailer.

Barbara Kruger Traces ‘The History of Tears’ in New Bourse de Commerce Installation

Barbara Kruger Traces ‘The History of Tears’ in New Bourse de Commerce Installation

The massive artwork floods the famed rotunda with warnings of complicity and control.

Looking for more suggestions for Paris?

Text By

Erin Ikeuchi

Share this article

Erin Ikeuchi

Erin Ikeuchi

Editor, Hypeart

Erin Ikeuchi is a New York-based writer focused on the intersection of contemporary art and culture. Her work spotlights stories, people and moments powering art’s new league, from icons to underground legends. Her formal background in anthropology informs a curious, cross-cultural eye for art where it’s least expected. Since joining Hypebeast in 2024, where she spearheads art-related content, she’s contributed hundreds of articles, including industry news, features and interviews, alongside serving as lead curator for ‘Under the Same Sky,’ Hypeart’s 2026 exhibition with Bonhams.


Art



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Comments



Prefer Hypebeast on Google


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Art



Art



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Comments



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Summary

REFERENCE FESTIVAL has launched a Paris edition, running from October 19 through 25 parallel to Art Basel Paris

Themed “FREIE KUNST,” the program entails immersive installations, live performances, intimate discussions, and all-night music programming dedicated to porous creative practices and approaches

The festival unfolds across four venues: Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe

REFERENCE FESTIVAL first made major headlines as “Berlin’s 24-Hour Fashion Festival.” In the years since its first edition, the German festival has expanded into realms of art, music, and technology, serving as a biannual gathering for some of the most exciting voices in culture.

The festival, run by PR agency Reference Studios, has touched down in France for its first-ever Paris edition, running alongside the ongoing Art Basel from October 22 to 25. Fair week means sorting through hundreds of events, shows, and afters around the city, but if a ritualistic live performance by Michele Lamy or a Fassbinder-inspired collection by GmbH is more your speed, consider adding REFERENCE to your calendar.

Since launching in 2019, the festival has gained a global rep for its eclectic programming and embrace of experimental creative approaches. This year’s edition, titled “FREIE KUNST,” takes after the German phrase for “free art” or “fine art,” and takes the studio’s commitments to creative fluidity one step further.

The 2026 festival features a stacked schedule of live installations, intimate discussions, film screenings, and club nights, bringing together voices across disciplines to “consider the conjunction of freedom and creativity today,” said Mumi Haïati, Reference’s founder. “This is what our studio has been about since day one, and now we are bringing the entire scope of our network together for this meeting of minds around the idea of radical and unhinged exchange of ideas.”

The program unfolds across several locations — Dover Street Market Paris, Reference Salon, Silencio, and Institut du Monde Arabe — kicking off with an art-filled Open House at DSM Paris and an after-party for Jordan Firstman’s debut feature, CLUB KID, at the David Lynch-envisioned space early on in the week.

A starry slate of panels and salon-style fireside conversations will also crop up throughout the week, featuring the likes of Klaus Biesenbach, Chris Dercon, Isamaya Ffrench, Sky Gellatly, Dozie Kanu, Tariq Krim, Chris Kulendran Thomas, Bettina Milz, Benjamin Paulin, Johannes Schön, Miles Greenberg and more.

Highlights include a 24-hour experience curated by John Gerrard and Richie Hawkin, alongside Institut du Monde Arabe’s full days of live performances, music, and artworks. Immersive pieces by EARTHEATHER and Josh Johnson set the tone for an all-night club program on Friday, and a series of installations by Donna Huanca, Kanu, Gabriel Moses, Kolya Nemoi and Bjarne Melgaard will also be on view.

A film screening with FKA Twigs and director Jordan Hemingway will close out the festival on October 25, followed by a conversation with Twigs and Bettina Milz, produced in collaboration with Arte.

“We wanted a space that doesn’t ask anyone to stay in their lane,” Haïati continued. “For us, freedom is a question mark, particularly in this moment, but also an imperative behind the work that we do.” REFERENCE FESTIVAL has commenced in Paris. Check out the flyers below for more details on the full program.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FVTVR (@fvtvr_paris)

Read Full Article

Text By

Erin Ikeuchi

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