Festival de la Biographie
Literature in Nîmes, Gard
2026
About Festival de la Biographie
The Biography Festival is a major literary event held annually at the end of January in Nîmes, in the Gard department, Occitanie. Organized by the City of Nîmes in partnership with Nîmes booksellers, each edition brings together nearly 100 authors — historians, biographers, and journalists — and welcomes approximately 30,000 visitors to the Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet and several partner venues in the city. The event, entirely free, celebrated its 24th edition in January 2026.
Festival de la Biographie — edition 2026
The 24th edition of the Nîmes Biography Festival took place from Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25, 2026, primarily at the Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet, opposite the Maison Carrée. Organized by the City of Nîmes in partnership with Nîmes booksellers, this free literary event brought together nearly 100 authors — historians, biographers, and journalists — around the theme "The Biographer: The Importance of Archives."
Nîmes Biography Festival — 24th Edition (2026)
The 24th edition of the Nîmes Biography Festival took place from Friday, January 23 to Sunday, January 25, 2026, with the Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet, opposite the Maison Carrée, as its central venue. The event, with free admission, is organized by the City of Nîmes in partnership with the association of Nîmes booksellers.
This edition was themed "The Biographer: The Importance of Archives", highlighting the research and interpretation of sources carried out by biographers. The honorary presidents were Anca Visdei (playwright and biographer, Goncourt Biography Prize 2025) and Thierry Lentz (director of the Fondation Napoléon).
For three days, nearly 100 authors — historians, biographers, and journalists — met the public through conferences, debates, book signings, readings, concerts, and screenings, distributed between the Carré d'Art and several partner venues in the city: the Théâtre de Nîmes Bernadette Lafont, the cinema Le Sémaphore, the University of Nîmes (Vauban site), Espace 14, and the Novotel Atria. The event welcomes nearly 30,000 visitors each year.
Highlights and Guests
Among the authors present were notably Pierre Assouline, Dominique Bona (Académie française), Sylvain Tesson, and Gilles Kepel. The Prix de la Biographie du Point 2026, whose jury was chaired by Dominique Bona, was awarded to Amos Reichman for Les morts de Raoul Villain (Seuil) and presented during the festival's inauguration.
The program also included a musical reading Mr Gershwin with Susie Morgenstern and pianist Noam Silvy, a jazz-swing concert by the Gala Swing Quartet, as well as youth workshops and film screenings followed by discussions with the authors.
Next Edition
The 25th edition of the Nîmes Biography Festival is already announced for January 29, 30, and 31, 2027.
Highlights Festival de la Biographie 2026
- 24th edition, from January 23 to 25, 2026, at Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet
- Theme "The Biographer: The Importance of Archives"
- Nearly 100 authors and approximately 30,000 visitors
- Honorary Presidents: Anca Visdei and Thierry Lentz
- Prix de la Biographie du Point 2026 awarded to Amos Reichman (Les morts de Raoul Villain)
- Completely free event, organized by the City of Nîmes
Programme Festival de la Biographie 2026
Friday, January 23, 2026 (2 PM - 7 PM)
- Inauguration of the festival and presentation of the Prix de la Biographie du Point 2026 to Amos Reichman for Les morts de Raoul Villain (Seuil)
- Conferences and first meetings with authors at Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet
Saturday, January 24, 2026 (10 AM - 7 PM)
- Conferences, debates, and book signings with nearly 100 authors (Pierre Assouline, Dominique Bona, Sylvain Tesson, Gilles Kepel…)
- Musical reading Mr Gershwin with Susie Morgenstern and pianist Noam Silvy
- Film screenings followed by discussions with authors · Cinéma Le Sémaphore
- Youth workshop
Sunday, January 25, 2026 (10 AM - 7 PM)
- Continuation of meetings, debates, and book signings in the various partner venues
- Jazz-swing concert by the Gala Swing Quartet
- Screenings and readings
Locations: Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet (central venue), Théâtre de Nîmes Bernadette Lafont, cinema Le Sémaphore, University of Nîmes (Vauban site), Espace 14, Novotel Atria. Detailed program on festivaldelabiographie.com.
Prices Festival de la Biographie 2026
Festival de la Biographie — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 23 January to 25 January 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Festival de la Biographie
Practical Information
Location
Central venue: Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet, opposite the Maison Carrée, in Nîmes (30000), Gard. The event also takes place at the Théâtre de Nîmes Bernadette Lafont, the Le Sémaphore cinema, the University of Nîmes (Vauban site), Espace 14, and the Novotel Atria.
Dates
The festival is held annually at the end of January (24th edition on January 23, 24, and 25, 2026; next edition announced for January 29, 30, and 31, 2027).
Prices
Free admission to all festival events.
Contact
Program and information on the official website festivaldelabiographie.com or from the City of Nîmes.
The Biography Festival in Nîmes
The Biography Festival is an unmissable event in the literary life of Nîmes and the Gard department, Occitanie. Every year, at the end of January, it celebrates the biographical genre in all its forms and brings together nearly 100 authors — historians, biographers, journalists, and novelists — for three days of conferences, debates, book signings, readings, concerts, and screenings.
An event rooted in the city
The festival's central venue is the Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet, opposite the Maison Carrée, and it also takes over several partner venues: the Théâtre de Nîmes Bernadette Lafont, the Le Sémaphore cinema, the University of Nîmes, Espace 14, and the Novotel Atria. Organized by the City of Nîmes in partnership with the association of Nîmes booksellers, the event welcomes approximately 30,000 visitors each year.
A benchmark literary event
Each edition is associated with a theme and welcomes honorary presidents as well as major figures in literature and history. The festival is notably the setting for the presentation of the Prix de la Biographie du Point. Admission is free for all events.
Where does it take place — Festival de la Biographie
Festival de la Biographie in brief
History of Festival de la Biographie
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Nîmes
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