Chants Libres Festival
National festival of free choral singing, open to all
About Chants Libres
Chants Libres in Autun: Choral singing in freedom in the city of Autun
Since 2021, the Chants Libres festival has transformed the city of Autun into the capital of choral singing for a weekend in June. Supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, a patron committed to choral singing in France, and supported by the City of Autun, this free event aims to introduce and foster a love for choral singing among the widest possible audience.
A Decentralized National Festival
Chants Libres unfolds simultaneously in several cities across France, making Autun one of the major hubs of this national celebration of singing. The Autun program is particularly ambitious: concerts, musical walks, singing breakfasts, musical aperitifs, and conferences punctuate an intense weekend where the human voice reigns supreme.
Emblematic Venues Filled with Music
Concerts take place in the most emblematic sites of the city of Autun: the Saint-Lazare Cathedral, a jewel of Burgundian Romanesque art with its tympanum sculpted by Gislebertus, the Notre-Dame Church, the Hexagone hall, the kiosk on the Terrasse de l'Europe, the Balthus passage, and the museum garden. This dissemination of concerts throughout the city invites the public to a musical stroll guided by the voices.
A Program Balancing Excellence and Sharing
The festival brings together leading vocal ensembles, such as Les Métaboles directed by Léo Warynski, a benchmark vocal ensemble in France, alongside local amateur choirs — Chorustodunum, La Petite Cantate, Divertimento, L'Aubade, the Maîtrise de la Cathédrale d'Autun — and invited groups like the quintet Têtes de Chien. This mix of professionals and amateurs is the source of Chants Libres' richness and generosity.
Choral Singing as a Social Bond
Beyond the artistic program, Chants Libres carries a strong message about choral practice as a vector for social connection and personal fulfillment. The festival is part of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation's action to promote the development of choral singing in France, supporting over thirty-five choirs across the country.
Chants Libres — edition 2026
The 6th edition of Chants Libres takes place from June 26 to 28, 2026 in Autun. Supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, this entirely free national choral singing festival offers a dense program in Autun: concerts in the Saint-Lazare cathedral and the Roman theater, musical walks, family workshops, and a Mozart Requiem by Les Metaboles and the Republican Guard Orchestra. In total, 39 choirs offer more than 80 musical moments in six regions of France.
6th Edition — From June 26 to 28, 2026
Chants Libres returns to Autun for its 6th edition, from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, 2026. The national choral singing festival of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation is deployed this year in six regions of France (Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France, North Brittany, South Brittany, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur), bringing together 39 professional and amateur choirs for more than 80 musical moments. All events remain free and open access.
A Rich and Varied Autun Program
In Autun, concerts take over the emblematic sites of the Aeduan city: the Saint-Lazare cathedral, the Roman theater, the Hexagone hall, the municipal theater, the Hotel de Ville, the Chapel of the Seven Sleepers, and the kiosk on the Terrasse de l'Europe. The program features a dialogue between Renaissance polyphony, medieval songs, gospel, sacred music, and the great symphonic repertoire. The vocal ensemble Les Metaboles, directed by Leo Warynski, is at the heart of this edition, alongside the Obsidienne ensemble, the Singall gospel choir, and Autun's amateur choirs (L'Aubade, Chorustodunum, Divertimento, La Petite Cantate, A Grand Vent, Reflets, la Maitrise de la Cathedrale d'Autun).
Highlight of the edition: Mozart's Requiem performed on Saturday evening at the Roman theater by Les Metaboles, the Republican Guard Symphony Orchestra, and eight amateur choirs (concert requiring mandatory reservation).
Programme Chants Libres 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026
- 11:00 — 11:30 · Musical Brigade — Les Metaboles · Kiosk on the Terrasse de l'Europe · a cappella repertoire from Burgundy, Cameroon, and China.
- 21:00 — 22:15 · Concert «Voix sculptées» — Les Metaboles · Saint-Lazare Cathedral · from Renaissance polyphony to Debussy's transcriptions for a cappella choir.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 11:00 — 12:15 · Concert «De Coeur Joyeux!» — Ensemble Obsidienne · Chapel of the Seven Sleepers · medieval songs by Guillaume Dufay.
- 14:00 — 14:30 · Musical Walk — Ensemble Obsidienne · in the city · medieval songs, film music, French songs, and Orthodox chants.
- 15:00 — 16:00 · Concert «Queens of Soul and Gospel» — Singall · Hexagone hall · gospel in homage to great female voices.
- 21:30 — 22:45 · Mozart's Requiem — Les Metaboles, Republican Guard Symphony Orchestra, and eight amateur choirs (L'Aubade, Chorustodunum, Divertimento, La Petite Cantate, Singall, A Grand Vent, Reflets, la Maitrise de la Cathedrale d'Autun) · Roman Theater (relocated to l'Hexagone in case of rain) · mandatory reservation.
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- 11:00 — 12:30 · Family Vocal Workshop — led by Madeleine Confais (Les Metaboles) · Salon d'honneur of the Hotel de Ville · from 5 years old, no prerequisites.
- 15:00 — 16:15 · Concert «Après un rêve» — Les Metaboles and amateur choirs · Municipal Theater · from Renaissance to contemporary works.
All concerts are free; Mozart's Requiem on Saturday evening requires a reservation. The complete program and reservations are available via the official ticketing service.
Highlights Chants Libres 2026
- Dates: from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, 2026
- 6th edition of the national choral singing festival of the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
- 39 choirs and more than 80 musical moments in six regions of France
- Les Metaboles (dir. Leo Warynski) at the heart of Autun's program
- Highlight: Mozart's Requiem at the Roman theater with the Republican Guard Orchestra (mandatory reservation)
- Concerts in Saint-Lazare cathedral, the Roman theater, l'Hexagone, and the municipal theater
- Entirely free and open to all
Prices Chants Libres 2026
Practical information — Chants Libres
Access
By car: Autun is accessible via the RCEA (Route Centre-Europe Atlantique) and the D978. The city is located 85 km west of Beaune and 50 km southwest of Dijon.
By train: Autun SNCF station (TER Bourgogne-Franche-Comté from Dijon or Le Creusot TGV).
Prices
Free admission for all concerts and events of the festival.
Contact
Ville d'Autun
Place du Terreau, 71400 Autun
Website: autun.com
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Where does it take place — Chants Libres
Cathédrale Saint-Lazare et divers lieux
Cathédrale Saint-Lazare, 71400 Autun