Automn'halles - Sète Book Festival
Literature in Sète, Hérault
2026
About Automn'halles - Festival du
Founded in 2010, this literary festival is held every autumn in Sète, organised by the Les Automn'Halles association. Enjoy author meet-and-greets, panel discussions, and readings at the François-Mitterrand media library, the Paul Valéry museum, and various other cultural venues across the city. Admission is free.
Automn'halles - Festival du — edition 2026
The 17th edition of the Sète Book Festival takes place from September 23rd to 27th, 2026, across the Musée Paul Valéry, the Médiathèque François-Mitterrand, the Conservatoire Manitas de Plata, and the Théâtre Molière. Free admission. The opening night is dedicated to George Sand for the 150th anniversary of her death; featured authors include Antoine Compagnon, Léonor de Récondo, Philippe Bordas, Michelle Pédinielli, and Dimitri Rouchon-Borie.
2026 Edition
The Automn'Halles festival celebrates its 17th edition from Wednesday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 27th, 2026, in Sète. The official opening takes place on September 23rd at the Musée Paul Valéry, attended by the Mayor of Sète, featuring an evening dedicated to George Sand to mark the 150th anniversary of her passing.
The festival is hosted across four venues: the Musée Paul Valéry, the Médiathèque François-Mitterrand, the Conservatoire Manitas de Plata, and the Théâtre Molière. On Thursday, September 24th and Friday, September 25th, Anne Loyer will meet with students from Collège Paul Valéry, Lycée Joliot Curie, and Lycée de la mer Paul Bousquet. The weekend is dedicated to public events, including a Local Authors Day on Saturday, September 26th. An exhibition by Françoise Eloire opens on Tuesday, September 15th at the Médiathèque.
Admission is free. As of mid-August 2026, the schedule is still considered a "work in progress," with only the times for the evening of Friday, September 25th currently published.
Highlights Automn'halles - Festival du 2026
- Inaugural evening on September 23rd at the Musée Paul Valéry, dedicated to George Sand for the 150th anniversary of her death
- Round table with Antoine Compagnon of the Académie française and Alain Ferry on Friday the 25th at 7:30 PM
- Musical reading by Léonor de Récondo at the Conservatoire Manitas de Plata on Friday the 25th at 6:00 PM
- Local Authors Day on Saturday the 26th at the Médiathèque François-Mitterrand
- 17th edition, free admission
Programme Automn'halles - Festival du 2026
The 17th edition runs from Wednesday, September 23rd to Sunday, September 27th, 2026. As of mid-August 2026, the organizers describe the schedule as a "work in progress," with only the times for the evening of Friday, September 25th currently confirmed.
Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 — Pre-festival event
- Médiathèque François-Mitterrand — Opening of the Françoise Eloire exhibition
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 — Musée Paul Valéry
- Official opening of the Automn'Halles festival in the presence of the Mayor of Sète
- Inaugural evening dedicated to George Sand to mark the 150th anniversary of her death. A theatrical reading featuring the Compagnie du Moment focusing on George Sand. Guests: Vanessa Roma, author of a fictional autobiography of George Sand, "Moi George Sand – L'amoureuse affranchie" (Hello Éditions, 05/15/2026), and actress Nathalie Barolle
Thursday, September 24th and Friday, September 25th, 2026 — Schools
- Meetings with Anne Loyer regarding her novel "À fleur de flots," for students from Collège Paul Valéry, Lycée Joliot Curie, and Lycée de la mer Paul Bousquet
Friday, September 25th, 2026 — Conservatoire Manitas de Plata
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM — Léonor de Récondo for "Marcher dans tes pas." A musical reading of her novel (L'Iconoclaste, 2025), blending readings with violin performances
- 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM — Round table with Antoine Compagnon of the Académie française for "1966, année mirifique" (Gallimard), and Alain Ferry for "26, Rue Desaix" (éditions Bleu autour). Moderated by Jean Lebrun, historian (Radio France)
Saturday, September 26th, 2026 — Médiathèque François-Mitterrand
- Local Authors Day
- Philippe Bordas discussing his work and his latest book "Les Parrhésiens" (Gallimard)
- Philippe Fusaro: "Solo Tu" (éd. Sabine Wespieser)
- Alain Quella-Villéger, biographer of Pierre Loti, and a film screening with director Michel Viotte
- Aude Walker: "La plage noire" (éd. Stock)
- Mildred Simantov: "Plage arrière" (éd. Les nouveaux éditeurs)
- Amaury Da Cunha, journalist for Le Monde des Livres: "Touche fantôme" (éd. Iconoclaste)
Saturday, September 26th, 2026 — Théâtre Molière (small hall)
- Julia Lepère: "La mer et son double" (éd. Sous-sol)
Sunday, September 27th, 2026 — Médiathèque François-Mitterrand
- Christian Chavassieux: "Cortes," graphic novel (éd. Glénat), with illustrator Cédric Fernandez
- Mye: "Belette" (éditions Le Tripode)
- Michelle Pédinielli: "Un seul œil," crime novel (éd. L'Aube)
- Anouchka Vasak: "Le Lieu du bleu. Enquête sur un ciel de Provence" (éd. Anamosa)
- Dimitri Rouchon-Borie: "Mouette" (Le Tripode)
Prices Automn'halles - Festival du 2026
Practical information — Automn'halles - Festival du
Practical Information
Locations
Sète (34200), Hérault. For the 2026 edition: François-Mitterrand media library, Paul Valéry museum, Manitas de Plata conservatory, and Molière theatre.
Prices
Free admission.
Accessibility
The festival is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
Contact
Association Les Automn'Halles, registered office: 165 chemin du Couchant, 34200 Sète. Phone: 06 71 72 88 71. Email: [email protected]. Website: lesautomnhalles.fr
Les Automn'Halles, Sète Book Festival
The Sète Book Festival was established in 2010. It originally took place in the Sète covered market (Les Halles), with the support of local traders. Now independent, it is organised by the Les Automn'Halles association, a team of volunteers bolstered during the festival by around twenty people, including students from the Publishing Professions master's programme.
Events across the city
Since its 10th edition, the festival has been centred at the François-Mitterrand media library. Events are also held at the Paul Valéry museum, the CRAC Occitanie, Le Réservoir, the MIAM, the Molière theatre, the Maison de la Mer, and the Manitas de Plata conservatory, as well as in local schools and other locations throughout the area, including Balaruc and Mèze.
Short story competition
Les Automn'Halles hosts a French-language short story competition that is free and open to everyone, with two categories: under 16s and over 16s. You can find the rules and registration form at lesautomnhalles.fr.
Support
The festival is supported by the City of Sète, the Occitanie Region, SOFIA, the CNL, Crédit Agricole Languedoc, and local bookshops.
Where does it take place — Automn'halles - Festival du
Automn'halles - Festival du in brief
History of Automn'halles - Festival du
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Sète
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