In 1971, they merged to form the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), which has become one of the largest centers of French–American culture and education in the United States.

[6] FIAF presents a mix of programs in music, dance, theater, cinema, and visual arts in addition to two annual festivals, Crossing the Line, in the fall, and World Nomads, in the spring.

FIAF also offers a variety of programs throughout the year including its longstanding weekly cinema series, CinémaTuesdays, Art de Vivre, a lifestyle series bringing the art and style of French living to New York audiences with evenings devoted to food, wine, fashion, and gardening, and the Gallery, which presents exhibitions of French and Francophone contemporary art and photography.

Crossing the Line, FIAF's fall festival, was launched in 2007 as a platform to present new works by a range of trans–disciplinary artists from both sides of the Atlantic.

Initiated, conceived, and produced by FIAF in partnership with leading New York cultural institutions the festival presents original work with a specific focus on the artist's role as a thinker and catalyst for social change.

This series includes events such as fashion talks and wine tastings, culinary workshops as well as gardening, and has brought to FIAF Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Fürstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, and Mireille Guiliano.

Music concerts, plays, and literary talks, are also among FIAF's yearly cultural programming.

Artists such as singer Jane Birkin, and actor Édouard Baer have performed in FIAF's Florence Gould Hall, and authors such as Paul Auster, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Francine du Plessix Gray, and Edmund White, have come to FIAF to discuss their respective works.

The dinner and auctions raise funds to support FIAF’s mission to teach French and celebrate francophone cultures and creativity around the world.

Notable recipients include Louis Malle, Jerome Robbins, Isabelle Huppert, Angelique Kidjo, Jeff Koons, and Jane Fonda.

Beginning in 2006, the Pilier d’Or began recognizing a leading business figure for their outstanding contributions to the French-American relations.

2005: Daniel Lamarre on behalf of Cirque du Soleil Contemporary Circus Performer.

2021: Pierre-André de Chalendar Chairman of Saint-Gobain 2022: Dr. Ilham Kadri CEO and President of the Executive Committee of Solvay Established in 2014, FIAF’s Art de Vivre Award recognizes influential leaders from the food, wine, beauty, and fashion industries for their outstanding contributions to the promotion of the French art of living.

2014: Elisabeth Holder Raberin and Pierre-Antoine Raberin Co-presidents of Ladurée USA 2015: Frédéric Malle Perfume Expert 2016: Martine and Prosper Assouline Founders of Assouline 2017: Carine Roitfeld Fashion Editor 2018: Frédéric Fekkai Founder & CEO of FEKKAI Brands 2019: Ariane Daguin CEO of D'Artagnan 2020: No ceremony.

2022: Anne Fontaine and Ari Zlotkin Fashion Designer 2023: The Chantecaille Family – Founders of Chantecaille 2024: Laure Hériard Dubreuil - Founder of The Webster While most of the events at FIAF are held in English, many events, such as the social event Rendez–Vous, FIAF's annual celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau and Bastille Day, are held in French and offer opportunities to speak French and meet Francophiles Florence Gould Hall is a 361-seat, proscenium stage theatre and concert hall operated by the French Institute Alliance Française at 55 East 59th Street (between Madison and Park Avenues).

It is often the site of New York Theatre Ballet productions such as the Nutcracker, but is mostly home to French cultural events, as per the mission of FIAF.

[8][9] Completely renovated by architect Michael Graves in 1998, FIAF's Haskell Library offers over 40,000 books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs for both adults and children.

Since 2007, the FIAF Gallery has been exhibiting contemporary French and Francophone artists such as Arman, Visual System, Greg Lauren, Ryoji Ikeda, and Matthew Pillsbury.