Beside their crucial role in xenobiotic biotransformation, AhR and Nrf2 are involved in the regulation of energetic metabolism. Nrf2, as a cytoprotective transcription factor, supply energy for detoxification and antioxidant response. AhR is ligand-activated transcriptional factor implicated in several physiological function. Following pollutant exposure, it acts as a chemosensor to eliminate harmful chemicals. Altogether, AhR and Nrf2 cooperate to contribute to protective responses upon contaminant exposure, including metabolic remodelling. This fine-tuned energetic coupling with detoxification can lead to prominent dysfunction under a chronic exposure to pollutants, and promote a long-term reprogramming that affects multiple cellular activities. In the article, we review the involvement of Nrf2 and AhR in the metabolic adaptations that occur during the short-term cell defence upon toxicant exposure, and in the metabolic reprogramming caused by their sustained activation. We also provide several clues to highlight the potential role of the Nrf2/AhR-induced metabolic changes in environmental carcinogenesis. © 2017