Festival Anne de Bretagne
Itinerant festival of Breton culture in Loire-Atlantique — 4 events from May to September 2026
About Anne de Bretagne
The Anne de Bretagne Festival is an itinerant cultural event created in 1994 to demonstrate the attachment of the inhabitants of Loire-Atlantique to their history and Breton culture. Traditionally organized every year in May in a different town in the department during the Fête de la Bretagne (Brittany Festival), the festival reinvents itself in 2026 and for the first time offers four events spread from May to September in four communes of Loire-Atlantique: Nantes (May 16), Saint-Herblain (May 22), Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef (July 5), and Saint-Nazaire (September 12). More than 200 artists will participate in this expanded edition, with concerts, fest-noz, traditional costume parades, Breton and Irish dance shows, exhibitions, conferences, and activities for the whole family, bringing together Celtic circles, bagadoù, and choirs from the department.
Anne de Bretagne Festival: Breton culture celebrated in Loire-Atlantique
Created in 1994 by the Festival Anne de Bretagne association, this cultural festival was born from its founders' desire to reaffirm Loire-Atlantique's belonging to historical Brittany with its five departments. Named in homage to Anne de Bretagne, the last sovereign duchess of the duchy whose main residence was Nantes, the festival has become a key player in the conservation, transmission, and promotion of intangible Breton cultural heritage in the department.
A nomadic festival across Loire-Atlantique
The Anne de Bretagne Festival is an itinerant event that traditionally moves each year to a different town in Loire-Atlantique, alternating between coastal and inland communes. Since the first edition in Guérande in 1995, the festival has crisscrossed the department: Clisson (1996), Pornic (1997), Châteaubriant (1998), Ancenis (1999), Blain (2000), Nantes (2001), Herbignac (2002), Pornichet (2005), La Turballe (2006), Le Croisic (2010), Vallet (2014), Pornic (2023), Châteaubriant (2024) and Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu (2025). Its duration usually varies from one to five days depending on the host city.
New for 2026: the festival reinvents itself and for the first time offers four events spread from May to September in four communes of Loire-Atlantique (Nantes, Saint-Herblain, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef and Saint-Nazaire), with more than 200 artists mobilized.
A rich program of Breton and Celtic expressions
The festival offers a multidisciplinary program highlighting all facets of Breton and Celtic culture:
- Concerts of Breton and Celtic music, with renowned artists and local groups
- Fest-noz and fest-deiz, the traditional Breton dance parties
- Irish dance shows with guest companies
- Commented parades of traditional costumes from the Comté nantais, presenting fashion styles from the mid-19th to the 20th century
- Concerts by Breton choirs performing songs in Breton and French
- Parades of bagadoù (traditional Breton music ensembles with bombardes, bagpipes, and percussion)
- Exhibitions on the heritage, photography, costumes, and traditions of Brittany
- Activities for young audiences and discovery of traditional Breton games
A mobilized Breton associative network
The Festival Anne de Bretagne association, chaired by Sylvie Boisnard, brings together the Breton cultural associations of the department: Celtic circles (traditional dance groups), bagadoù, choirs, and associations of traditional Breton games. The festival thus mobilizes hundreds of volunteers — dancers, musicians, singers — who keep Breton culture alive in Loire-Atlantique throughout the year. The event is part of the Fête de la Bretagne (Gouel Breizh), an annual highlight of Breton cultural life celebrated in spring in the five historical departments.
The Géantes de Kenleur: a living heritage
Since the 2024 edition in Châteaubriant, the festival has hosted the Géantes de Kenleur, five giant figures 4 meters high dressed in traditional costumes representing the five historical regions of Brittany. This spectacular parade, presented for the first time in Loire-Atlantique, adds a festive and heritage dimension to the festival's procession.
Anne de Bretagne — edition 2026
32nd edition of the Anne de Bretagne Festival, reinventing itself in 2026 with four itinerant events in Loire-Atlantique from May 16 to September 12: Nantes, Saint-Herblain, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, and Saint-Nazaire. Over 200 artists mobilized to promote Breton culture through choir concerts, fest-noz, fest-deiz, a stage of the Kenleur Tour, and a concert by the Bagad de Saint-Nazaire.
32nd Edition — 4 Events in Loire-Atlantique (May to September 2026)
The 32nd edition of the Anne de Bretagne Festival marks a major evolution: instead of a single host city over 1 to 5 days, the festival now offers four events spread from May to September across four communes in Loire-Atlantique. Over 200 artists will participate in this expanded edition, which is notably part of the Fête de la Bretagne 2026 (Gouel Breizh).
May 16, 2026 — Nantes: Opening with the arrival of the Redadeg
The festival kicks off in Nantes at the Parc des Chantiers (Esplanade des Traceurs de Coques), starting at noon, in synergy with the arrival of the Redadeg 2026, the relay race for the Breton language that departed from Lannion on May 8. On the program: introductions to Breton dance, shows, entertainment, stalls, catering. The arrival of the last runners is expected around 4 PM, followed by the public reading of the secret message transported from Lannion. Evening concerts under Les Nefs, in partnership with Les Machines de l'Île and Voyage à Nantes.
May 22, 2026 — Saint-Herblain: Grand choir concert
At 8 PM in the Église Saint-Hermeland in Saint-Herblain, a concert bringing together the Breton choirs Anna Vreizh, Orvez, Choralines Choralen, and Kan Ar Vro, accompanied by students of traditional music from the Nantes conservatory.
July 5, 2026 — Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef: Kenleur Tour stage
Stage of the Kenleur Tour (itinerant festival organized by the Kenleur federation, with a mobile stage installed in a 1975 Airstream caravan) at the Esplanade du Port de Comberge, boulevard de l'Océan. On the program: introductions to Breton dance with the Galet's Jade circle, children's Breton dance, brass band with Krapayatok, dance festival demonstrations, concerts, and a grand fest-deiz ha noz in the evening. Free admission, accessible to people with reduced mobility.
September 12, 2026 — Saint-Nazaire: Closing with the Bagad
Closing of the edition in Saint-Nazaire with introductions, demonstrations, the concert of the Bagad de Saint-Nazaire, and an immense fest-deiz ha noz.
Detailed program for each stage (times, invited artists, potential prices) will be progressively communicated on the official festival Facebook page (facebook.com/festAnnedeBretagne) and on the ACB44 website (acb44.bzh).
Programme Anne de Bretagne 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026 — Nantes
Parc des Chantiers — Esplanade des Traceurs de Coques
- From 12:00 PM — Site opening: introductions to Breton dance, entertainment, stalls, catering
- Around 4:00 PM — Arrival of the last runners of the Redadeg 2026 (relay race for the Breton language, departed from Lannion on May 8) — handover of the baton containing the secret message written at the start
- Evening — Concerts under Les Nefs (in partnership with Les Machines de l'Île and Voyage à Nantes)
Friday, May 22, 2026 — Saint-Herblain
Église Saint-Hermeland
- 8:00 PM — Grand concert of Breton choirs: Anna Vreizh, Orvez, Choralines Choralen, Kan Ar Vro, accompanied by students of traditional music from the Nantes conservatory
Sunday, July 5, 2026 — Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef
Esplanade du Port de Comberge — Boulevard de l'Océan — Kenleur Tour Stage (free admission)
- Introductions to Breton dance for children with the Galet's Jade circle
- Introductions to Breton dance for all audiences
- Brass band entertainment with Krapayatok
- Dance demonstrations by dance festivals
- Concerts on the mobile stage (1975 Airstream caravan)
- In the evening — Grand fest-deiz ha noz
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — Saint-Nazaire
- Introductions to Breton dance
- Demonstrations by Celtic circles
- Concert by the Bagad de Saint-Nazaire
- Immense closing fest-deiz ha noz
Precise times, additional invited artists, and potential prices will be progressively communicated on the official festival Facebook page and on acb44.bzh.
Highlights Anne de Bretagne 2026
- Reinvented 2026 edition: 4 events spread from May 16 to September 12 instead of a single city
- 4 host communes: Nantes, Saint-Herblain, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, Saint-Nazaire
- Over 200 artists mobilized
- Opening on May 16 in Nantes with the arrival of the Redadeg 2026
- Exceptional concert by 4 Breton choirs on May 22 in Saint-Herblain
- Free Kenleur Tour stage on July 5 in Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef
- Closing on September 12 in Saint-Nazaire with the Bagad de Saint-Nazaire
Prices Anne de Bretagne 2026
Practical information — Anne de Bretagne
Practical Information
Period and locations — 2026 edition
The 2026 edition of the Anne de Bretagne Festival will take place over four events in four communes of Loire-Atlantique, from May 16 to September 12, 2026:
- May 16, 2026 — Nantes (Parc des Chantiers, Esplanade des Traceurs de Coques): arrival of the Redadeg, activities, dance initiations, shows, and stands
- May 22, 2026 — Saint-Herblain (Église Saint-Hermeland, 8 PM): concert by the choirs Anna Vreizh, Orvez, Choralines Choralen, and Kan Ar Vro accompanied by traditional music students from the Nantes conservatory
- July 5, 2026 — Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef (Esplanade du Port de Comberge, boulevard de l'Océan): Kenleur Tour stop with activities, shows, concerts, and a grand fest-deiz ha noz
- September 12, 2026 — Saint-Nazaire: initiations, demonstrations, concert by the Bagad de Saint-Nazaire, and a grand fest-deiz ha noz
Prices
Most daytime activities and exhibitions are free and open access. The Kenleur Tour stop in Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef is free. Some evening concerts may be subject to a fee; detailed prices are communicated for each date on the festival's Facebook page and on the ACB44 website.
Access
Each stage is accessible by car and public transport (TAN network in Nantes and Saint-Herblain, STRAN network in Saint-Nazaire, Aléop bus line for Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef from Nantes/Pornic). SNCF train stations near each host city.
Contact
Association: Festival Anne de Bretagne
President: Sylvie Boisnard
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/festAnnedeBretagne
Partner website: acb44.bzh (Agence Culturelle Bretonne de Loire-Atlantique)
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Where does it take place — Anne de Bretagne
Itinérant — 4 villes de Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique (édition 2026 itinérante : Nantes, Saint-Herblain, Saint-Michel-Chef-Chef, Saint-Nazaire), 44310 Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu