Faites Lire !
The free festival of reading in all its forms in Le Mans
2026
About Faites Lire
Building on the legacy of La 25e Heure du Livre—a Le Mans book fair founded in 1978 and one of the oldest in France—Faites Lire! is the city's premier celebration of reading. Every autumn, a week of city-wide events culminates in an open-air book fair along the Rue du Livre, stretching from Place de la République to the Esplanade des Jacobins. Expect over 150 authors covering general literature, children's books, graphic novels, manga, and comics, alongside public readings, writing workshops, performances, panel discussions, and a grand dictation challenge. Everything is free.
Faites Lire — edition 2026
Faites Lire ! returns to Le Mans from September 28 to October 4, 2026, with free admission. A week of events throughout the city, followed by the open-air book fair on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, between the Place de la République and the Esplanade des Jacobins. The detailed program has not yet been published: only a few events have been announced.
2026 Edition — September 28 to October 4
The festival spans an entire week, from Monday, September 28 to Sunday, October 4, 2026. Weekday events are held primarily in the late afternoon and evening in libraries, bookstores, performance venues, and public spaces throughout Le Mans.
The Book Fair on October 3 and 4
The book fair takes place outdoors during the closing weekend along the Rue du Livre, between the Place de la République and the Esplanade des Jacobins. Comic book signings are held at the Place de la République. Admission is free.
What remains to be announced
As of mid-August 2026, the City of Le Mans has not yet published the list of guest authors or the schedule for meetings, round tables, and shows. The "Program" and "Meetings and Round Tables" pages on the official website still display the 2025 edition. The selection of local authors from the Sarthe region, who were eligible to apply until June 15, 2026, is not yet known.
Highlights Faites Lire 2026
- Open-air book fair on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026, between the Place de la République and the Esplanade des Jacobins
- Sean Murphy (Le Dernier Pilote, Astrolabe editions) at Espace Bis on September 28 at 6:30 PM
- Meeting with Gallmeister and Le Lombard publishers on Friday, October 2 at 6:30 PM, Concert Hall
- Award ceremony for the Prix de la Nouvelle francophone inédite, on the theme "À un détail près"
- Free admission for the entire festival
Programme Faites Lire 2026
The City of Le Mans has not yet released the full schedule: as of mid-August 2026, the "Program" and "Meetings and Round Tables" pages on faiteslire.fr are still showing the 2025 edition. Here are the 2026 events announced so far.
From Monday, September 28 to Friday, October 2, 2026 — Festival Week
Weekday events mainly take place in the late afternoon and evening, spread across libraries, bookstores, and performance venues in Le Mans.
- September 28 · 6:30 PM — Sean Murphy for Le Dernier Pilote (Astrolabe editions) · Espace Bis, 18 rue Saint-Martin. The Bulle bookstore lists this event on a "Thursday, September 28"; since September 28, 2026, falls on a Monday, please confirm the day with the bookstore.
- Friday, October 2 · 6:30 PM — Meeting with Gallmeister and Le Lombard publishers · Concert Hall
Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026 — Book Fair
- Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4 — Open-air book fair along the Rue du Livre, between the Place de la République and the Esplanade des Jacobins. 2026 opening hours have not yet been published.
- Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4 — Comic book signings with authors invited by the Bulle bookstore · Place de la République. Authors generally sign their latest releases.
- Early October, date to be confirmed — Award ceremony for the Prix de la Nouvelle francophone inédite, on the theme "À un détail près" (Down to the last detail). The first prize is €500, the second is €200.
The guest authors, round tables, shows, and the grand dictation have not yet been announced. The selection of local authors from the Sarthe region, who could apply until June 15, 2026, has not been published either.
Prices Faites Lire 2026
Practical information — Faites Lire
Access
The festival is held outdoors in Le Mans city center, along the Rue du Livre, between Place de la République and the Esplanade des Jacobins (72000 Le Mans).
The Setram network provides bus and tram service to the city center and offers bike rentals (setram.fr). For parking information, please visit the Cénovia Park website.
Prices and reservations
Admission to the fair is free, as is the majority of the festival program. Some events have limited capacity and require advance booking. For ticketed sessions, reservations and payments must be made through the organizing entity (e.g., Les Quinconces-L'Espal, Pathé cinema).
Accommodation and dining
The Le Mans Tourist Office provides a list of local accommodation and dining options at lemans-tourisme.com.
Contact
Official website: www.faiteslire.fr
Faites Lire!: Le Mans' celebration of reading
Since 2021, Faites Lire! has carried on the tradition of La 25e Heure du Livre, a book fair established in 1978 by the association of the same name—a nod to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The City of Le Mans organizes and publishes the festival, with artistic direction led by Sylvie Rostain, who also manages book fairs in Vannes, Périgueux, and Courbevoie.
An open-air literary trail
The fair takes place along the Rue du Livre, a pedestrian route connecting Place de la République to the Esplanade des Jacobins. You will find general literature and essays on one side, with children's books, graphic novels, comics, and manga on the other.
A week of festivities
In the week leading up to the weekend fair, the city hosts public readings, performances, street theater, treasure hunts, and a grand dictation. Weekday events primarily take place in the late afternoon and evening. In 2025, the program features nearly 70 events, drawing 65,000 visitors.
Who makes the festival happen
The event is co-programmed by the Le Mans library network, local bookstores Doucet and Thuard (general and children's literature), Bulle (graphic novels), and Siloë (religious culture), the City's Cultural Development department, the founding association La 25e Heure du Livre, the national stage Les Quinconces-L'Espal, and the university stage Eve. Five literary prizes are awarded, including the Prix Le Mans-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, chaired by Daniel Pennac, and the Prix de la Nouvelle francophone inédite.
Free admission
Admission to the fair and most festival events is free. Some events with limited capacity require booking; for the rare ticketed sessions, reservations and payments are handled directly by the organizing venue.
Where does it take place — Faites Lire
Faites Lire in brief
History of Faites Lire
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Le Mans
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