Montrouge Paris Guitar Festival

Guitares au Beffroi: Guitar at the Crossroads of Worlds

Born from a passion for the guitar in all its forms, the Montrouge Paris Guitar Festival — commonly known as Guitares au Beffroi — has established itself over the years as one of the most important events in the guitar world. Organized by the eponymous association, it is held annually in March at the imposing Beffroi de Montrouge, a stone's throw from Paris, and attracts amateurs and professionals from all over Europe and beyond.

Its reputation extends far beyond French borders: the festival is now recognized as the 2nd largest European gathering for guitar, after the Salon de la Belle Guitare in Barcelona. With over 110 exhibitors spread across four exhibition halls — luthiers, amplifier makers, effects creators, string and accessory manufacturers — it offers an unparalleled panorama of global lutherie.

A Festival for All Styles

The strength of the Montrouge Paris Guitar Festival lies in its refusal to rank aesthetics. Classical guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, jazz guitar, flamenco guitar, contemporary or experimental guitar: all forms of the instrument are represented and celebrated with equal dignity. This openness attracts a diverse audience: seasoned luthiers and young apprentices, professional guitarists and Sunday enthusiasts, collectors and the simply curious.

Over 50 free demonstration concerts are organized throughout the festival in the exhibition spaces, allowing visitors to hear the guitars in real playing situations. Soundproofed testing rooms complement the offering by allowing everyone to try out instruments away from ambient noise. Conferences on instrument making, guitar history, and new lutherie technologies enrich the intellectual program.

The Great Beffroi Concerts

At the heart of the festival, the evening concerts are the most anticipated moments. On the main stage of the Beffroi, internationally renowned artists perform memorable performances. For the 13th edition in March 2025, the festival notably hosted the father-son duo Gérard Lanvin and Manu Lanvin, jazz guitarist Nina Attal, Paraguayan classical virtuoso Berta Rojas, and the master of gypsy jazz Angelo Debarre.

The festival also hosts the Roland Dyens Competition, an international classical guitar competition that attracts young talents from around the world, and an educational program called "Osez la Guitare" (Dare to Play Guitar) aimed at introducing the general public to the instrument. A platform for showcasing young artists, "La Fabrique de Talents" (The Talent Factory), complements this support system for new generations.

The 14th Edition in 2026

From March 4 to 8, 2026, the festival celebrates its 14th edition with an even more ambitious program. Four exhibition halls, over 110 international exhibitors, dozens of demonstration concerts, and major evening concerts: the 2026 edition promises to surpass all its predecessors in ambition. The Beffroi de Montrouge, with its modular spaces, is ideally configured to host both the lutherie exhibition and musical performances.