Festival Cordes sur Ciel

55th Edition — Africa in the Spotlight

The Festival Cordes sur Ciel returns for its 55th edition from July 17 to 23, 2026, with a bold theme: Africa. This edition will explore the dialogue between Western classical music and African sounds, following the line of geographical themes that make the festival unique.

For a week, the Saint-Michel church, the medieval Halle, and the city's inner courtyards will host chamber concerts, organ recitals, contemporary creations, and musical encounters. Artistic residencies, a signature of the festival since 1997, will allow composers and young soloists to present new works inspired by this intercultural dialogue.

55th edition · Theme « Africa » · From July 17 to 23, 2026 (preview on July 10). Official program published by the ACADOC association. Ticketing on Festik (opening on June 8, 2026).

Preview — Friday, July 10

• 8:00 PM — Château de Saurs (Lisle-sur-Tarn) · Rebeca Omordia (piano): Chopin, Rachmaninov, Ayo Bankole, Salim Dada, Florence Price. Picnic at 6:30 PM and wine tasting.

Friday, July 17

• 6:00 PM — Musée d'Art Moderne, Cordes-sur-Ciel · Opening of the exhibition « Africa Beyond Masks » (Galerie Africaine de Paris).
• 7:00 PM — Place Charles Portal · Opening of the foyer with music: brass band on the Triumphal March from Aida (Verdi). North African cuisine.
• 8:30 PM — Église Saint-Michel · Opening concert: Ensemble Vocal Dulci Jubilo (dir. Christopher Gibert) and Thomas Ospital (piano) — Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Boulanger, Ravel, Berlioz.

Saturday, July 18

• 12:00 PM — Théâtre Le Colombier, Les Cabannes · Composer's workshop (free admission): Nigji Sanges and Sandrine Chatron (harp) present « Mosaics » with Antoine Pecqueur.
• 5:00 PM — Château-Musée du Cayla, Andillac · Guided tour.
• 6:00 PM — Château-Musée du Cayla, Andillac · Family concert: Le Concert Impromptu (wind quintet) and Myriam Raeme (slam) — « Peter and the Wolf » and « The Carnival of the Animals » African version. African street food.
• 8:30 PM — Château-Musée du Cayla, Andillac · « African Variations »: Chérif Soumano (kora) and Sébastien Giniaux (guitar, cello), jazz and tradition.

Sunday, July 19

• 12:00 PM — Musée d'Art Moderne · Impromptu « To the Sound of the Harp » (free admission): Sandrine Chatron (harp).
• 6:00 PM — Ancien Couvent · Percussion recital: Marin Lambert — « Steve Reich's Journey to Ghana ». Caribbean cuisine.
• 8:30 PM — Église Saint-Michel · « Mozart and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges »: Elisabeth Moussous (soprano), Yanis Benabdallah (tenor), ensemble Les Affranchi.e.s (period instruments) — excerpts from Idomeneo, Così fan tutte, violin concerto.

Monday, July 20

• 12:00 PM — Dunes de Maraval, Labarthe-Bleys · Musical hike (free admission): Le Concert Impromptu and Marin Lambert (drum).
• 6:00 PM — Théâtre Le Colombier, Les Cabannes · Sound conference « Geopolitics in Music »: Antoine Pecqueur, Ba Banga Nyeck (balafon), Le Concert Impromptu, Marin Lambert. Afro-American cuisine.
• 8:30 PM — Église Saint-Michel · Violin-piano recital: Claire Dassesse (violin) and Sodi Braide (piano) — Coleridge-Taylor (24 Negro Melodies), Jessie Montgomery, creation by Nigji Sanges, Beethoven (Sonata « Kreutzer »/Bridgetower).

Tuesday, July 21

• 12:00 PM — Chapelle du Saint-Crucifix · Impromptu « Balafon solo! » (free): Ba Banga Nyeck (chromatic balafon).
• 6:00 PM — Église Saint-Michel · « Music and Cinema »: Quatuor Zaïde, Sodi Braide (piano), Antoine Pecqueur (bassoon) — Brahms (Piano Quintet), film music by Nigji Sanges. Sub-Saharan African cuisine.
• 8:30 PM — Église Saint-Michel · « The Divas of Africa »: Elisabeth Moussous (soprano), Camille-Taos Arbouz (mezzo), Yanis Benabdallah (tenor), Francis Paraïso (piano) — Bizet, Verdi, Offenbach, Gershwin, spirituals and African songs.

Wednesday, July 22

• 12:00 PM — Musée d'Art Moderne · Impromptu « Journey to Egypt » (free): Johan Samy (ney) and Wadie Naim (Egyptian percussion).
• 4:00 PM — Médiathèque · Conference « Composition Process » (free): Nigji Sanges and Antoine Pecqueur.
• 6:00 PM — Église Saint-Michel · « Bach Griot — The Mandingo Cantata »: Trio Mandé, Les Affranchi.e.s, Adja Thomas-Mbaye (soprano) — Bach (excerpts) and traditional griot music. Egyptian cuisine.
• 8:30 PM — Église Saint-Michel · Opera evening: « The Magic Flute » (Mozart) arranged by the Zaïde Quartet, with Johan Samy (ney) and Wadie Naim (percussion).

Thursday, July 23

• 12:00 PM — Château de Mayragues, Castelnau-de-Montmiral · Wine tasting with music « From Gaillac to South Africa »: Antoine Pecqueur (bassoon), Ba Banga Nyeck (balafon), Claire Lefilliâtre (soprano), Stéphane Fuget (harpsichord), Marin Lambert (percussion). Local and South African wines.
• 6:00 PM — La Halle, Cordes-sur-Ciel · Tarn Baroque Academy: Claire Lefilliâtre (soprano), Stéphane Fuget (harpsichord) and young musicians — Purcell (« Dido and Aeneas »), Telemann. South African cuisine.
• 8:30 PM — Église Saint-Michel · Closing evening « The Lion King »: Marin Lambert and Nils Wekstein (percussion), Ntethelelo Nhlapho (vocals), Fé Avouglan (soprano/dancer) — music by Elton John and traditional African influences.

Practical Information

Access

By car: Cordes-sur-Ciel is located 25 km northwest of Albi, accessible via the D600. Free parking is available at the foot of the city, with shuttle service or a walk up through the various medieval gates.

By train: Cordes-Vindrac station (TER Occitanie from Toulouse or Albi), then shuttle or taxi to the upper city.

Ticketing

Tickets are available on the official website festivalcordessurciel.com and at the festival reception. Weekly passes and single tickets are offered. Reduced rates for students and those under 18.

Accommodation

Cordes-sur-Ciel offers numerous accommodation options: B&Bs within the medieval city, hotels, gîtes, and campsites in the surrounding area. Booking is strongly recommended during the festival period.