Discover the Source Code Exhibition at Télécom Paris
24 August 2026
From 01 Sep. to 15 Oct., 2026, at Télécom Paris, 19 place Marguerite Perey F-91120 Palaiseau [getting there]
The exhibition takes an unusual approach: it treats the source code as the central focus of the exhibition, rather than merely as a contextual element.
Beyond its technical purpose, source code holds multiple layers of meaning. It can reveal the author’s intentions, reflect the historical, social and cultural context of its creation, and even express a personal style, creativity or aesthetic choices.
The exhibition aims to showcase a wide variety of voices and perspectives. Fifteen contributions are organised around three thematic strands: source code as a historical record (early programmes, the evolution of programming languages), as a reflection of society (code and diversity, code and activism), and as a cultural artefact (the aesthetic beauty of code, its artistic dimension).
This diversity serves to illustrate the many different ways in which source code can be understood and appreciated.
The exhibition is intended as a starting point to stimulate reflection and discussion on the role of source code in society, as well as on the challenge of encouraging engagement with it beyond its purely technical aspects.
Stefano Zacchiroli is a professor at the Information Processing and Communication Laboratory (LTCI) at Télécom Paris and co-founder of the Software Heritage project. His work contributes to securing the open-source software supply chain and to European sovereignty in this field. Find out more: When the code changes (IP Paris)