Festival de la Correspondance de Grignan
2026
Edition 2026 — Finished
Edition 2026 — Correspondance de Grignan
30th anniversary edition of the Festival de la Correspondance de Grignan, from July 6 to 11, 2026, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of Madame de Sévigné around the theme « La Correspondance, portrait d'une époque » (Correspondence, portrait of an era). The program includes: an opening opera, staged readings performed by renowned actors, literary encounters with Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt and Nathan Devers, writing workshops, exhibitions, and the traditional book market, all within the exceptional setting of the Château de Grignan.
30th edition: 400 years of Madame de Sévigné
The 30th edition of the Festival de la Correspondance will take place from July 6 to 11, 2026 in Grignan. This anniversary edition will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Madame de Sévigné (1626-1696) around the theme « La Correspondance, portrait d'une époque » (Correspondence, portrait of an era). An exceptional event that will foster dialogue between centuries and pay tribute to the most illustrious epistolary writer in the French language, within the very castle where she stayed with her daughter, the Countess of Grignan.
As every year, the festival offers a multidisciplinary program: an opening opera, staged readings performed by renowned actors, literary encounters, writing workshops for adults and children (the « Chambres d'écriture » - Writing Rooms), exhibitions, and the antique book market. The complete detailed program is published annually in June.
Programme
Monday, July 6, 2026 — Opening Night
- 7:15 PM — Opera Ninon chez Madame de Sévigné, music by Henri Berton, libretto by Emmanuel Dupaty · Château de Grignan · Orchestre de Chambre du Département de la Drôme, conducted by James S. Kahane, contemporary interludes by Youssra Khechaï · with Anaïs de Faria, Camille Brault, Fabrice Foison, Romain Bazola, Pierre Barret-Mémy and Christian Hohn
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
- 7:15 PM — Aimer son époque, ou pas ? (To love one's era, or not?) · unpublished correspondence read by its two authors, Nathan Devers and Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
- 9:30 PM — Puisse l'âge de la Haine finir (May the Age of Hatred End) · correspondence between Stefan Zweig and Romain Rolland, adaptation by Raphaël Lucchini
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
- 9:30 AM — Literary encounter with Nathan Devers and Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt at the Château
- Starting Wednesday: Book Market, daily from 10 AM to 7 PM
Thursday, July 9, 2026
- 7:15 PM — Simón Bolívar, El Libertador · letters from Simón Bolívar, adaptation by Virginie Berling (subject to change)
- 9:30 PM — Ma chère mère (My Dear Mother) · correspondence between Madame de Sévigné and her daughter Madame de Grignan, with Marie-Christine Barrault and Christelle Reboul, directed by Didier Long
Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026
- Evening staged readings, literary encounters, writing workshops, exhibitions, and book market. Detailed program published in June 2026 on the official website.
In total, the 2026 edition notably offers 1 opera, 11 staged readings, 5 readings, 19 literary encounters, 8 workshops, 4 exhibitions, one conference, one screening, and a literary cabaret.
Highlights
- 30th anniversary edition of the festival
- Celebration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Madame de Sévigné
- Theme: « La Correspondance, portrait d'une époque » (Correspondence, portrait of an era)
- Opening opera Ninon chez Madame de Sévigné at the Château de Grignan
- Encounters and unpublished reading with Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt and Nathan Devers
- Ma chère mère with Marie-Christine Barrault and Christelle Reboul
- Staged readings, writing workshops, exhibitions, and book market
Prices
Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .