Cultissime Festival
The international festival of cult works in the heart of Angers' heritage
About Cultissime
Cultissime: A Unique Festival Dedicated to Cult Works
Born in 2024 in Angers, the Cultissime Festival is the first international festival entirely dedicated to cult works: novels, comic strips, comics, manga, and their multimedia adaptations. The ambition is to celebrate works that have marked generations of readers and viewers, returning to the fundamental notion of the pleasure of reading.
An Exceptional Heritage Setting
The festival is distinguished by its prestigious venues. The first edition took place at the Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jean, a jewel of Plantagenet Gothic architecture. The second edition is held in several emblematic sites: the towers, the chapel, and the Apocalypse gallery of the Château d'Angers, the Collégiale Saint-Martin, the Salons Curnonsky, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. This unique heritage setting enhances the cultural experience.
Prestigious Guests
Cultissime hosts internationally renowned authors. The first edition brought together James Ellroy, Bernard Werber, Douglas Kennedy, Bernard Minier, Jean Van Hamme, and Mark Millar. The patrons of this inaugural edition were Alain Ayroles, Clémentine Beauvais, and Bernard Werber. Each edition features about thirty authors for meetings and signings.
A Rich and Festive Program
In addition to meetings and signings, the festival offers shows, concerts, exhibitions, creative workshops for children and adults, youth activities (storytelling, illustration contests, escape game), outdoor entertainment (scenes recited by a wandering Cyrano, sword fights, slam poetry), and food trucks. The goal is to encourage reading by combining culture and entertainment for all ages.
Cultissime — edition 2026
The 3rd edition of the Cultissime Festival will be held from September 25 to 27, 2026, in the heritage heart of Angers. An international festival dedicated to cult works of literature and comics, this edition is sponsored by Marc Levy and co-sponsored by Marie-Aude Murail and Marion Montaigne, with about thirty authors announced.
Cultissime 2026 — 3rd edition
The Cultissime Festival returns from September 25 to 27, 2026, for its 3rd edition, spread across several heritage sites in Angers city center. After two initial editions that gathered 8,000 then 5,000 visitors, the cult works festival expands its program and multiplies its formats: meetings, round tables, signings, exhibitions, award ceremonies, and workshops.
Sponsor and Co-sponsors
The 2026 edition is sponsored by Marc Levy and co-sponsored by Marie-Aude Murail and Marion Montaigne.
About thirty invited authors
Among the announced authors are Karine Giébel, Agnès Martin-Lugand, Katherine Pancol, Thomas Schlesser, Claire Duvivier, Évelyne Brisou-Pellen, Ambre Chalumeau, Julia Thévenot, Marie Aubinais, Mathilde Beaussault, Mélanie Guyard, Laurent Hopman, Renaud Roche, Constance Robert-Murail, and Pendragon.
Several heritage sites in Angers
The festival takes over five buildings in the city center: the Collégiale Saint-Martin (major meetings and award ceremony), the Musée des Beaux-Arts (round tables and exhibition around the newspaper « Le 1 des libraires »), the Tour Saint-Aubin (exhibition dedicated to the illustrator Benjamin Rabier), the Galerie David d'Angers and the Salons Curnonsky (bookstore, signings and activities, the festival's nerve center).
The Cultissime Awards
The Cultissime Awards ceremony takes place on Friday evening at the Collégiale Saint-Martin, with four distinctions awarded: book prize, comic book prize, re-edition prize, and adaptation prize. The 2026 edition also develops a school component, with days of meetings between authors and establishments in Angers and its agglomeration prior to the festival.
Highlights Cultissime 2026
- 3rd edition, September 25-27, 2026
- Sponsor Marc Levy, co-sponsors Marie-Aude Murail and Marion Montaigne
- About thirty invited authors
- 5 heritage sites in Angers city center
- Cultissime Awards ceremony (book, comic book, re-edition, adaptation)
Prices Cultissime 2026
Practical information — Cultissime
Festival Venues
- Château d'Angers: 2 promenade du Bout du Monde, 49100 Angers
- Collégiale Saint-Martin: 23 rue Saint-Martin, 49100 Angers
- Salons Curnonsky: 1 place Monseigneur Chappoulie, 49100 Angers
- Musée des Beaux-Arts: 14 rue du Musée, 49100 Angers
Access
The various festival venues are located in the historic center of Angers, close to each other and accessible on foot. Tram line A, stops Château or Ralliement.
Opening Hours
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Prices
- Prices from 8 to 150 euros depending on the type of pass and ticket
Contact
Website: www.cultissime.org
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Where does it take place — Cultissime
Plusieurs lieux du centre-ville d'Angers (Collégiale Saint-Martin, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tour Saint-Aubin, Galerie David d'Angers, Salons Curnonsky)
42 rue Rabelais, 49000 Angers, 49100 Angers