Always an art lover’s paradise, Paris is outdoing itself during the sprawling International Contemporary Art Fair, or FIAC, one of the world’s grandest such events, which is being held this year from October 20 to 23.

Centred in the glorious and recently renovated Grand Palais, the fair also extends to the Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin des Plantes, the Museum of Natural History and other institutions throughout the city. Altogether 168 galleries from 21 countries will show paintings, sculptures, installations and more ephemeral works of art.

According to Valerie Gladstone on the New York Times website, the the fair also presents an expanded performance prgramme and a film series in the Cin-éphemère and the Grand Palais.

Meanwhile, museums have special offerings and the Pompidou Centre will show works by Edvard Munch and Yayoi Kusama; the Jeu de Paume will exhibit Diane Arbus’s photographs; and sculptures by Georg Baselitz will be on view at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.

“It’s a fantastic gathering,” said Jennifer Flay, the event director. “Interaction among the artists, the public, dealers and museums takes place in the broadest sense. There are so many ways of acquiring art from the financial to the emotional.

“It’s a real moment of cultural effervescence. Imagine how lovely it is to wander in the gardens and see works by artists like Lynda Benglis, Antony Gormley, Mathieu Mercier among the fountains, basins, lawns and groves.”

A full-fare ticket is €32; reduced rates for people younger than 25 years is €16, and children under 12 go in for free.

The Grand Palais is open from noon to 8 p.m and the Jardin des Tuileries and Jardin des Plantes from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.