Concarneau Book & Sea Festival

The unmissable event for maritime literature

Created in 1985, the Concarneau Book & Sea Festival is the oldest and most important French-speaking maritime literature festival. Each autumn, the port city of Finistère welcomes around fifty authors, illustrators, photographers, and publishers specializing in the marine world. In 2025, the festival celebrated its 40th edition, confirming its status as a reference in the world of maritime publishing.

Prestigious literary awards

Each year, the festival awards several literary prizes that are authoritative in the maritime field, including the Prix Henri Queffélec, the Prix du Beau Livre, and the Prix Mer en Bulles, rewarding the best works of the year. These prizes have become references for publishers and authors, contributing to the festival's renown far beyond Brittany.

A rich and accessible program

The festival offers a packed program: meetings with authors, signing sessions, thematic conferences, scientific round tables, screenings of maritime documentary films, and exhibitions. Workshops for young audiences allow children to discover maritime literature in a fun way. Admission is free, demonstrating the organizers' desire to make maritime culture accessible to everyone.

A festival spread throughout the city

The festival takes place in several locations in Concarneau: the Centre des Arts et de la Culture, the municipal media library, the Musée de la Pêche, the Marinarium, as well as French Navy ships moored in the port. This historic fishing port in Finistère, with its fortified Ville Close, offers an ideal setting for a festival dedicated to the sea.