Introduction
Festivals are unique events that bring people together around shared passions, whether they are artistic, cultural, religious, or gastronomic. In France, as in other parts of the world, they resonate with hearts, enliven cities, and infuse a spirit of celebration and discovery. So, what are the different types of festivals that can be found? Why are there so many and such a variety? This guide will immerse you in the fascinating world of festivals, from the most classic to the most unusual.
Music Festival
It is impossible to talk about festivals without mentioning music festivals! They are literally everywhere, in every city, at all seasons, and especially for all tastes. Whether you are a fan of raucous rock, enchanting jazz, soothing classical, or electronic beats that keep you dancing until dawn, there is a festival for you. And the experience goes far beyond just music. It is a place for meeting, discovering, and a moment of letting go where one lives in the present.
Major festivals like Les Vieilles Charrues, Rock en Seine, or Jazz à Vienne attract thousands of festival-goers each year. However, there are also smaller local festivals that are worth visiting, often more intimate and authentic.
Rock Festival
Rock holds a prominent place in the world of festivals. With distorted guitars, frenzied crowds, and an electrifying atmosphere …
Rock festivals like Hellfest or the Main Square Festival are true institutions for fans of the genre. You will find international headliners as well as promising young bands.
Jazz Festival
Jazz appeals to an audience of connoisseurs and lovers of improvised music. Festivals like Jazz à Juan or the Montreux Jazz Festival offer a varied programme, featuring both great classics and young talents. The atmosphere is often more subdued, conducive to listening and emotion.
Classical Festival
If you prefer soft sounds and symphonic orchestras, classical music festivals like La Folle Journée de Nantes or the Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise are made for you. They also help to introduce this music to a broader audience through outdoor concerts or affordable ticket prices.
Blues Festival
More niche but equally rich, blues festivals resonate with enthusiasts of this music steeped in history and soul. Blues sur Seine is a must-visit in France for purists.
Country Festival
The country style, very popular in the United States, also finds its place in France, particularly in rural areas. Cowboy hats, leather boots, and line dancing are all part of the experience!
Hip-Hop Festival
For rap enthusiasts, breakdancing, and street art, hip-hop festivals such as Hip Opsession or Festival L’Original in Lyon are convergence points where urban culture is celebrated in all its forms.
Reggae Festival
Reggae, music of peace and revolt, also has its iconic festivals. Reggae Sun Ska and Bagnols Reggae Festival gather a loyal and warm community every summer.
Electronic Festival
Electro beats ignite the stages of numerous festivals. From the Weather Festival in Paris to Astropolis in Brest, techno, house, or trance find their audience, often young and cosmopolitan.
Brass Band Festival
More unusual, brass band festivals, like the Festival de Fanfares in Montpellier, offer a friendly, festive, and completely wacky atmosphere. Between brass and percussion, it’s a guaranteed explosion of good humour!
Film Festival
The film festival is a major artistic event that attracts thousands of enthusiasts, critics, stars, and the curious each year. It provides a showcase for films from all backgrounds, from Hollywood blockbusters to committed documentaries, as well as short films by authors. These festivals allow for the discovery of rare gems, discussions around current themes, and sometimes even encounters with celebrities on the red carpet.
The most famous of them ? The Cannes Film Festival, of course ! It is the unmissable event of the seventh art. But France is brimming with more niche yet equally exciting festivals, such as the American Film Festival in Deauville, the Annecy Festival (specialising in animation), and the Clermont-Ferrand Festival (focusing on short films).
Animation Film Festival
Aimed at both young and old, the animation film festival showcases visual creativity. Independent studios present their masterpieces alongside more well-known productions. In Annecy, every year, animation fans from around the world gather for a magical moment.
Short Film Festival
Shorter but often very intense, the short film has its own universe. The Clermont-Ferrand Festival is its flagship. It allows young filmmakers to gain recognition and to explore innovative narrative formats.
Documentary Festival
Documentaries are increasingly prominent in festivals. These events shine a light on societal issues, from ecology to politics, as well as culture and human portraits. It is a way to learn, reflect, and sometimes to be indignant or moved.
Artistic Festivals
Theatre Festival
This pillar of French culture naturally has its own festivals, where great classics and contemporary creations coexist. The most well-known is undoubtedly the Avignon Festival, a true temple of live performance, where the streets of the city become open-air stages.
These festivals are perfect opportunities to see plays performed in incredible settings, often outdoors, with a unique closeness between the audience and the actors. One discovers new texts, hybrid forms combining dance, music, and video, and complete freedom of expression. Theatre festivals also allow for the revival of ancient texts, the emergence of new voices, and the opening up of theatre to all audiences.
Dance Festival
From classical to contemporary, from hip-hop to traditional dances, dance festivals are a fireworks display of movement, emotion, and encounters. The Montpellier Dance Festival or the Cannes Dance Festival are brilliant examples of this.
These festivals showcase the richness of human gesture, the power of the body as a medium of expression. One also discovers dance performances from around the world, celebrating cultural identities and fusions. And sometimes, the audience is even invited to participate in workshops or performances! Dance is a universal language. And festivals are the perfect place to celebrate it.
Street Festival
Here, there’s no need for tickets, no red seats or velvet curtains. The spectacle comes to you, directly in the street, in public squares, in gardens or even car parks!
Artists from all over (circus performers, musicians, acrobats, puppeteers) invade urban spaces to enliven everyday life. The Aurillac Festival is undoubtedly the most emblematic, but there are dozens across France.
Comedy Festival
These events celebrate comedians from all backgrounds : stand-up, sketches, comedies, parodies... Enough to spend entire evenings laughing, alone or with friends.
In France, the Montreux Comedy Festival, although international, is very popular with French-speaking audiences. We can also mention the Paris Comedy Festival or the Saint-Raphaël Comedy Festival, where emerging talents share the stage with comedy stars. And what’s great is that these festivals often allow you to witness premieres, trial runs, or even original creations.
Magic Festival
Magic festivals are a concentration of mystery, sleight of hand, illusion, and poetry. Young and old alike come away amazed, their eyes filled with stars.
Among the most famous, the International Magic Festival in Rennes attracts magicians from around the world each year. There is also the Vive la Magie Festival, which travels from town to town with a grand show. You see everything : mentalism, close-up magic, grand illusions, comedic magic... and even lectures for enthusiasts.
Fashion Festival
Fashion is not just about the Fashion Weeks of major capitals! There are also fashion festivals where we celebrate clothing creativity in all its diversity. These events are often more accessible, more experimental, and allow for the discovery of young designers or alternative trends.
In France, the International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères is a reference point. We can also mention events like Who’s Next or more underground festivals organised by fashion schools or independent collectives.
Art Biennale
The biennale, as its name suggests, occurs every two years. It is not a festival like others, as it often lasts several weeks, even months. It is primarily focused on contemporary arts : installations, performances, videos, sculptures, and engaged works.
The Lyon Biennale is one of the most recognised in France. It attracts artists from around the world and transforms the city into an open-air gallery. This type of event encourages reflection, debate, and the confrontation of ideas and aesthetics. It is not necessarily "fun" in the traditional sense, but it is rich, profound, often surprising, and allows for a better understanding of current issues through the lens of artistic creation.
Fire Arts Festival
Fireworks, artistic foundry, pyrotechnic shows, ceramics, glass blowing… fire arts festivals celebrate a fascinating element: fire. These festivals are visually spectacular and highly sensory.
They showcase ancestral know-how, rare trades, and fiery performances that captivate both young and old. One of the most iconic is the Les Arts du Feu Festival in Rouen, which transforms the city into an incandescent theatre every winter.
Craft Festival
Whether it’s pottery, leatherwork, weaving, jewellery making, or wood sculpting, these events highlight passionate and talented artisans. In often picturesque locations, the public can not only admire the creations but also watch demonstrations, participate in workshops, and even leave with a unique handmade piece. It’s a true return to authenticity, far from mass consumption.
Events like the European Days of Crafts or the International Festival of Crafts in Baccarat demonstrate just how innovative, sustainable, and above all, profoundly human craftsmanship can be. In addition to supporting the local economy, these festivals cultivate a love for beauty and quality craftsmanship.
Literary Festival
Literary festivals are places of exchange and reflection where authors, readers, publishers, illustrators, journalists, and literature enthusiasts of all kinds come together.
In France, one immediately thinks of the Salon du Livre de Paris (renamed "Festival du Livre de Paris"), but also of increasingly popular events such as Étonnants Voyageurs in Saint-Malo, le Livre sur la Place in Nancy, or Les Correspondances de Manosque. These festivals are not limited to readings and signings ; they also offer debates, performances, writing workshops, and sometimes even competitions for young talents.
Folklore Festival
Folklore festivals celebrate the identity, traditions, and customs of a people, a region, or an era. It is a true return to the roots, where traditional costumes, old dances, popular music, tales, and local gastronomy blend together.
In France, the Festival Interceltique de Lorient is an emblem of this popular culture. Every summer, it brings together the Celtic nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Galicia, Brittany…) for a grand celebration full of colour and emotion. Other events, such as the Festival of World Cultures in Gannat, highlight the world's folklore heritage with delegations from all corners of the globe.
Religious Festival
Religious festivals are often the origin of major traditional celebrations. They mark sacred moments, rites of passage, or significant spiritual events. We think of celebrations such as the Feast of St. John, pilgrimages to Lourdes, or the processions of Corpus Christi in certain regions. These events bring entire communities together in a spirit of reflection, sharing, and also celebration.
In other cultures or religions, these festivals take on very diverse forms: sacred fires, songs, dances, communal meals, or spectacular ceremonies. Even for non-believers, these moments often provide an opportunity to discover traditions rich in meaning and history.
Historical Festival
Historical festivals recreate a past era with an impressive level of detail and authenticity. The Historical Festival of Provins is a magnificent example. For an entire weekend, the town transforms into a living medieval city with its knights, jugglers, and falconers… An immersive and educational experience not to be missed.
There are also festivals dedicated to Roman antiquity, the Renaissance, or even the French Revolution. These events are generally organised by history enthusiasts, reenactment associations, or living museums. They allow for a better understanding of our past while having fun.
Medieval Festival
Medieval festivals are a particular form of historical festivals, but with an even more immersive and festive atmosphere. They feature knights in armour, epic tournaments, musicians with ancient instruments, craft markets, and period dishes served in wooden stalls.
Cities like Provins, Sainte-Suzanne, and Château-Thierry host annual reenactments that attract crowds eager to experience an adventure out of time. It is a perfect outing for families, with activities for children and captivating performances for adults.
Thematic Festival
Thematic festivals are very varied and centred around a specific subject: a universe (science fiction, manga, medieval), a passion (travel, video games, plants), a cause (disability, ecology), or even a TV series or cult film!
For example, the Geekopolis Festival in Paris celebrates pop culture in all its glory : cosplay, role-playing games, conferences, escape games… The same goes for Japan Expo, a temple of Japanese culture, or the International Games Festival in Cannes, which attracts board game enthusiasts. These festivals often provide an opportunity for communities to come together, exchange ideas, create connections, and celebrate their passion with intensity and creativity.
Ecological Festival
Ecological festivals combine celebration and environmental commitment. Here, everything is designed to minimise ecological impact: compost toilets, reusable cups, renewable energy, organic and local catering, waste sorting… but without sacrificing the atmosphere!
Festivals like We Love Green in Paris or Terres du Son near Tours are examples of this new generation of responsible events. People come for the music, of course, but also for the conferences, eco-citizen workshops, debates, and artistic installations.
Children's Festival
The little ones also have their festivals! These events are entirely designed for children: adapted shows, creative workshops, storytelling, games, and educational and fun activities. Parents can also find stands featuring children's literature, responsible childcare products, or educational activities.
Kidexpo, Mômes en fête, or the Festival of Children of the World are perfect examples. These festivals allow children to discover culture, the arts, and develop their imagination while having fun. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to share quality family time away from the daily routine.
Seasonal Festivals
Spring Festival
Spring heralds the return of outdoor festivals. With the fine weather, we see joyful, colourful events, often focused on nature, music, or local cultures. It’s an ideal time for cultural outings with family or friends.
Summer Festival
It is THE festival season par excellence. Programmes follow one another in all regions, with a majority of music, theatre, and dance festivals. Summer evenings lend themselves to celebration, meeting, and discovery.
Autumn Festival
Autumn is a time for gastronomic, literary, and more "cosy" cultural festivals. It is also the season for grape harvesting, with numerous festivals centred around wine, beer, or local produce.
Winter Festival
Even in winter, festivals continue! We think of light festivals, Christmas celebrations, and events centred around the mountains, snow, and fire. Warm moments in the chill of winter, often punctuated by mulled wine and fairy tales.
Popular and Festive Festivals
Carnival
Carnival is probably one of the oldest festivals in the world. It is an explosion of colours, costumes, music, and dance. From Nice to Dunkirk, passing through Granville, carnivals in France offer incredible shows.
Popular Celebration
Popular celebrations vary by region but share a common goal: to celebrate together! Midsummer bonfires, village fêtes, traditional balls… these are convivial moments rooted in local life.
Light Festivals
Light festivals, such as the Festival of Lights in Lyon, attract millions of visitors. Bright works transform the city into an ephemeral artistic stage, between dream and reality.
Nautical Festival
Organised around ports or lakes, nautical festivals celebrate the sea, boats, and water-related professions. Maritime parades, demonstrations, concerts, and family activities are on the agenda.
Funfair
Traditionally linked to agricultural fairs, the funfair is now a festival in its own right. Rides, games, confectionery, and attractions of all kinds create a festive universe that children adore.
Conclusion
Festivals are much more than mere cultural events: they are moments of life, sharing, discovery, and sometimes even transformation. Whether they are artistic, historical, gastronomic, religious, or ecological, they enrich our daily lives, strengthen our social bonds, and celebrate the diversity of our world. So, what will your next festival be ? Pack your bag, open your mind, and let yourself be carried away by the magic of these unique gatherings.
Q&A
What is the difference between a carnival and a festival ?
A carnival is a form of festival, generally linked to a popular tradition where costumes, parades, and music are at the heart of the celebration. A festival, on the other hand, can encompass an infinite range of fields: music, cinema, theatre, gastronomy, etc.
What are the must-see festivals in France ?
Among the most iconic are: the Cannes Film Festival, Les Vieilles Charrues, Hellfest, the Avignon Festival, the Festival of Lights in Lyon, and the Interceltic Festival of Lorient.
Can you organise a festival at home ?
Yes, but it requires adhering to certain rules: municipal permits, managing the neighbourhood, security, and logistical organisation. Small private or community festivals can be very successful!
What are the festivals suitable for children ?
Children's festivals such as Mômes en fête, Kidexpo, and storytelling and puppet festivals offer programmes specifically designed for the youngest.
How to properly prepare for attending a festival ?
Research the programme in advance, book your ticket, plan an appropriate outfit, stay hydrated, and remember to bring a portable charger! A good backpack and a dose of good humour will take care of the rest.
