Époque — Festival and Book Fair of Caen
The book fair that illuminates our time, in Caen
About Époque
A Literary Fair Rooted in Current Events
Époque, Caen's festival and book fair, was created in 2015 by the City of Caen. Each edition revolves around a strong theme that opens avenues for reflection on contemporary issues. In 2024, the theme was courage; in 2025, the festival celebrated the Millennium of Caen with the guiding thread "taking time".
A Free and Popular Event
Époque is an entirely free event, open to all. Each edition brings together nearly 25,000 visitors for around a hundred events: author encounters, round tables, debates, readings, shows, exhibitions, and signing sessions. The fair is held at the Caen City Hall and its surroundings, as well as in partner venues in the city.
Literature in All Its Forms
The festival hosts renowned authors in various genres: novels, essays, comics, poetry, children's literature. In 2025, medievalist historians Michel Pastoureau and Michel Zink highlighted Caen's 1,000 years, alongside Marie Ndiaye, Belinda Cannone, Lola Lafon, and Olivier Adam. About twenty comic book guests were also present, including Sixtine Dano, Antoine Guilloppé, and Caen's own Xavier Coste.
A Rich Youth Program
Époque places great importance on children's literature, with musical and illustrated readings, shows for toddlers, exhibitions, and activities. The entire youth program takes place at the City Hall, creating a dedicated space for families at the heart of the fair.
Époque — edition 2026
The 12th edition of Époque, Caen's book festival and fair, takes place from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, 2026, primarily at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes. Under the theme "Partir" (To Leave), it brings together novelists, essayists, youth authors, and comic book authors — including Cécile Coulon, Timothée de Fombelle, Lydie Salvayre, Rémi David, Bertrand Guillot, and Renaud Meyer, winner of the Caen City Literary Prize 2026 — for round tables, readings, signings, and entirely free activities.
Époque 2026 — 12th Edition, Theme "Partir" (To Leave)
The 12th edition of Époque, Caen's book festival and fair, takes place from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, 2026. For this edition, the festival is primarily held at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes and also takes over the Conservatoire, the Centre chorégraphique de Normandie–Caen, the écuries Lorge, and IMEC. The ephemeral bookstore remains hosted at the Hôtel de Ville (open from 10 AM to 7 PM on Saturday and from 10 AM to 6 PM on Sunday).
The theme "Partir" (To Leave) gives pride of place to travel and elsewhere — chosen journey or forced exile, dreamed elsewhere or necessary escape — without renouncing the festival's identity: to shed light on the major issues of our time. For three days, novelists, essayists, youth authors, illustrators, and comic book authors will engage with the public through round tables, readings, signings, and activities.
Highlights and Guests
Among the announced guests: Cécile Coulon, Timothée de Fombelle, Lydie Salvayre, Rémi David, Bertrand Guillot, Glen James Brown, Samuel Deshayes, Catherine Leroux, Sylvain Kermici, Zadig Hamroune, Alfred de Montesquiou, Lucie Barette, Nicolas Sorel, Renaud Meyer (winner of the Caen City Literary Prize 2026), Evelyne Bloch-Dano, as well as illustrator Elene Usdin and musician Boni. Comic books are notably represented by Tébo, accompanied for the first time by Caen-based YouTuber Ben Névert, discussing Captain Biceps.
The festival is preceded by a pre-festival event on Thursday, May 28 at 8 PM at IMEC (musical reading Mr Gershwin, les gratte-ciels de la musique by Susie Morgenstern and Noam Silvy) and opens with a festive evening on Friday, May 29 from 6 PM at the écuries Lorge. A professional day, organized with Normandie Livre et Lecture, will be held on Thursday, May 28 at the Alexis de Tocqueville library on the theme of the place of women in the world of books.
As every year, Époque is entirely free and open to all. The full program can be consulted on the dedicated website festival-epoque.caen.fr.
Programme Époque 2026
Thursday, May 28, 2026 — Pre-festival and Professional Day
- 8 PM — Musical reading Mr Gershwin, les gratte-ciels de la musique by Susie Morgenstern and Noam Silvy · IMEC (festival preview)
- Professional Day "The place of women in the world of books" with Isabelle Antonutti (Bâtisseuses de la lecture publique) and Shane Haddad, concluded by a musical reading about Françoise Sagan · Alexis de Tocqueville Library
Friday, May 29, 2026 — Opening Night
- 6 PM — Festive opening night, with a live karaoke hosted by Le Scuik · Écuries Lorge
- Illustrated and musical reading of Detroit Roma by Elene Usdin and Boni · Écuries Lorge
Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 2026 — Free Program
Meetings, round tables, readings, signings, and youth activities at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, the Conservatoire, and the Centre chorégraphique de Normandie–Caen. Among the announced meetings:
- Musical reading of Alma by Timothée de Fombelle, accompanied by François Chesnel (Conservatoire)
- Meeting about Captain Biceps with Tébo and Caen-based YouTuber Ben Névert
- Round table on the Middle Ages with Bertrand Guillot, Glen James Brown, and Samuel Deshayes
- Meeting Du côté de chez Proust with Renaud Meyer (Caen City Literary Prize 2026 winner) and Evelyne Bloch-Dano
- Round table with Cécile Coulon, Sylvain Kermici, and Catherine Leroux
- Literary talk about Stevenson by Nicolas Sorel
- Cross-cultural meeting on exile with Zadig Hamroune and Lydie Salvayre
- Round table on the history of the press with Lucie Barette and Alfred de Montesquiou
- Literary exchange between Rémi David and Cécile Coulon
Ephemeral bookstore at the Hôtel de Ville: Saturday 10 AM-7 PM, Sunday 10 AM-6 PM. Detailed program on festival-epoque.caen.fr.
Highlights Époque 2026
- 12th edition on the theme "Partir" (To Leave): travel, exile, dreamed elsewhere
- New central venue: the Abbaye-aux-Hommes (+ Conservatoire, Centre chorégraphique, écuries Lorge, IMEC)
- Literary headliners: Cécile Coulon, Timothée de Fombelle, Lydie Salvayre, Bertrand Guillot
- Musical reading of Alma by Timothée de Fombelle at the Conservatoire
- Comic books in the spotlight: Tébo and Caen-based YouTuber Ben Névert discussing Captain Biceps
- Festival entirely free and open to all
Prices Époque 2026
Practical information — Époque
Practical Information
Location
Hôtel de Ville de Caen, Esplanade Jean-Marie Louvel, 14000 Caen, Calvados, Normandy.
Access
- By car: Parking in Caen city center (Château, Résistance).
- By train: Caen SNCF station, a 15-minute walk from the City Hall.
- By tram: Saint-Pierre or Château stop, nearby.
Prices
- Completely free admission
- All events are free access
Ticketing
No ticketing: free and open access to all events.
Contact
- Website: caen.fr/epoque
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Époque
Hôtel de Ville de Caen
Esplanade Jean-Marie Louvel, 14000 Caen