Atlantide, The Words of the World
Festival of Literatures in Nantes
About Atlantide
Created in 2013, Atlantide is the festival of world literatures in Nantes, co-produced by La Cité des Congrès de Nantes and Le Lieu Unique, a center for contemporary culture. Under the artistic direction of the Franco-Congolese writer Alain Mabanckou since 2016, the festival brings together around fifty French and international authors each year, representing about twenty nationalities, who come to share their imaginations, their visions, and their commitments in their original language. Whether in the form of fiction, essays, poetry, or noir novels, all literatures create spaces for encounters over four days where literary and societal debates flourish. At Le Lieu Unique, the festival's headquarters, major meetings, conversations, readings, book signings, and school events multiply. The festival also extends throughout the city thanks to a network of bookstores, libraries, cultural centers, and partner venues.
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Atlantide: The Festival of World Literatures in Nantes
Since 2013, Atlantide has brought together writers from around the world in Nantes to celebrate the diversity of literatures and imaginations. Co-produced by La Cité des Congrès de Nantes and Le Lieu Unique, this literary festival has established itself as a must-attend event on the French and international literary scene.
An Exceptional Artistic Direction
Since 2016, the Franco-Congolese writer Alain Mabanckou, winner of the 2006 Renaudot Prize for Mémoires de porc-épic and the first author to hold the chair of artistic creation at the Collège de France, has been the festival's artistic director. Under his leadership, Atlantide has strengthened its international dimension and its commitment to freedom of expression.
A Rich and Accessible Program
Each edition brings together around fifty authors from about twenty countries. The program includes round tables, conferences, readings aloud, book signings, and meetings in bookstores. The festival also offers events for schoolchildren, from primary to high school, as well as a professional day dedicated to book mediators.
Recurring highlights include the inaugural lecture entrusted to a leading author, the evening against censorship organized in partnership with the French PEN Club, and the closing reading. The festival also houses the Cabinet of Curiosities, a collection of 273 objects offered by invited authors over the years.
A Festival Open to the City
While Le Lieu Unique is the festival's headquarters, Atlantide spreads throughout the city of Nantes: independent bookstores, municipal libraries, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Maison de l'Afrique, La Libre Usine, neighborhood centers, cultural associations, hospitals, retirement homes, and correctional facilities. This diffusion throughout the urban fabric reflects the festival's desire to make literature accessible to all audiences.
National and International Reach
Atlantide has established itself as one of the major literary festivals in France, attracting world-renowned authors alongside emerging voices each year. The festival addresses contemporary divides—shifting identities, exiles, colonial memory, freedom of expression, cultural resistance—through the prism of literature and intercultural dialogue.
Atlantide — edition 2026
The 14th edition of the Atlantide festival takes place from March 19 to 22, 2026, at Le Lieu Unique and throughout the city of Nantes. Under the artistic direction of Alain Mabanckou, around fifty authors from twenty nationalities gather to celebrate world literatures. Laurent Mauvignier, winner of the 2025 Goncourt Prize, delivers the inaugural lecture.
14th Edition — March 19 to 22, 2026
The Atlantide festival returns for its 14th edition from March 19 to 22, 2026. Under the artistic direction of Alain Mabanckou, around fifty French and international authors, representing twenty nationalities, will gather in Nantes to share their imaginations and commitments.
Inaugural Lecture: Laurent Mauvignier
The inaugural lecture is entrusted to Laurent Mauvignier, winner of the 2025 Goncourt Prize for his novel La Maison vide. His talk, titled "Je est un nous" (I is a we), opens the festival and sets the tone for this edition.
Evening Against Censorship
True to its tradition, the festival dedicates an evening to the fight against censorship, this year honoring Nour Elassy, a Palestinian writer and journalist.
Invited Authors
Among the authors present at this edition are: Laurent Mauvignier, David Diop, Alice Ferney, Vanessa Schneider, Victor Jestin, Coline Pierré, DOA, Feurat Alani, Colin Thibert, Louise Rose, Nedjma Kacimi, Rouda, Anne-Sophie Dumeige, Steve Aganze, Katia Belkhodja, Marie Charrel, Ahmet Altan (Turkey), Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin (Sudan), Cristian Fulaș (Romania), Jacinta Kerketta (India), Mirinae Lee (South Korea), and Karim Kattan (Palestine/France).
A Festival Throughout the City
Beyond Le Lieu Unique, the festival's headquarters, Atlantide 2026 will take over about twenty venues across Nantes: independent bookstores, municipal libraries, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Maison de l'Afrique, La Libre Usine, neighborhood centers, cultural associations, pediatric wards, retirement homes, and correctional facilities.
Programme Atlantide 2026
2026 Edition Program
- Thursday, March 19: Meetings in Nantes' independent bookstores. Events in partner venues throughout the city.
- Friday, March 20: Opening at Le Lieu Unique. Inaugural lecture by Laurent Mauvignier: "Je est un nous".
- Saturday, March 21: Major meetings and round tables at Le Lieu Unique. Meetings in municipal libraries. Evening against censorship dedicated to Nour Elassy.
- Sunday, March 22: Final meetings, book signings, and closing reading at Le Lieu Unique.
Themes
- Shifting identities and exiles
- Colonial memory and cultural resistance
- Freedom of expression and engaged literature
- Emerging voices and new global writing
Highlights Atlantide 2026
Highlights of the 2026 Edition
- Laurent Mauvignier, 2025 Goncourt Prize winner, delivers the inaugural lecture "Je est un nous"
- Around fifty authors from twenty nationalities
- Evening against censorship dedicated to Nour Elassy, Palestinian writer and journalist
- David Diop, Alice Ferney, Ahmet Altan, Vanessa Schneider among the guests
- About twenty venues across Nantes
- Free admission
Prices Atlantide 2026
Practical information — Atlantide
Practical Information
Access and Main Venue
Le Lieu Unique, quai Ferdinand-Favre, 44000 Nantes. The festival primarily takes place at Le Lieu Unique as well as in about twenty partner venues across Nantes.
Access to Le Lieu Unique
On foot: 5 minutes from Nantes SNCF train station.
By tram/bus: Tram line 1 or BusWay line 4, Duchesse Anne stop. Bus C2, C3, C8, Lieu Unique stop.
By bike: Bicloo stations at Le Lieu Unique or Duchesse Anne.
By car: Nearby parking at Château, Cité des Congrès, or Allée Baco.
Prices
Admission to the festival is free for all meetings, readings, and book signings, subject to availability.
Accessibility
All festival areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Opening Hours at Le Lieu Unique
- Bookstore: Friday 2:00 PM-8:30 PM; Saturday 10:30 AM-8:00 PM; Sunday 10:30 AM-6:30 PM
- Reading room: Thursday 2:00 PM-6:00 PM; Friday 1:00 PM-7:00 PM; Saturday 12:00 PM-7:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
- Bar: Thursday 11:00 AM-2:00 AM; Friday-Saturday 10:00 AM-3:00 AM; Sunday 10:00 AM-8:00 PM
- Restaurant: Thursday-Saturday 12:00 PM-2:30 PM and 7:00 PM-10:30 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM-2:30 PM
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Official website: www.atlantide-festival.org
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Atlantide at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Atlantide
Le Lieu Unique
Quai Ferdinand-Favre, 44000 Nantes