Festival de Saint-Céré
Festival of opera, opera and chamber music in the Dordogne Valley
About Festival de Saint-Céré
The Festival de Saint-Céré: opera at the heart of the Lot heritage
Since 1980, the Festival de Saint-Céré has established itself as one of the major opera events in France. Born in the wake of the international choral singing sessions orchestrated by Pierre Host and Pierre de Miramon from the 1960s onwards, the festival was founded and directed by Olivier Desbordes until 2019, in a spirit of cultural decentralization supported by the Ministry of Culture.
Guided by the desire to promote access to culture for all in rural areas, the festival has produced and broadcasted operas and operettas by the company Opéra Éclaté for decades. Today led by ScénOgraph, a National Interest Conventioned Stage, it is directed by Véronique Do, accompanied since 2021 by Jean-Baptiste Henriat as artistic advisor.
Exceptional venues as a setting
The unique feature of the Festival de Saint-Céré lies in its exceptional performance venues. The shows come to life in remarkable historical sites in the Dordogne Valley:
- Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, a 12th-13th century fortress, a National Monument, where operas are performed outdoors at sunset
- Château de Montal, a Renaissance jewel built in 1519 by Jeanne de Balsac
- Théâtre de l'Usine in Saint-Céré, the permanent venue of ScénOgraph
- Abbey Church of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, for chamber music concerts
- Numerous heritage sites: churches, courtyards and castle gardens dotted across the north of the Lot and the south of Corrèze
An ambitious and eclectic program
Every summer, for two weeks, the festival offers a rich program combining opera, chamber music, recitals, musical theatre and contemporary creations. The repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary creation, with a particular focus on young performers among the best of their generation.
The festival creates a dialogue between genres and eras, offering both grand classical operas and more intimate or experimental forms. The productions are designed specifically for the venues that host them, creating a unique symbiosis between architectural heritage and artistic creation.
A commitment to new creations
The Festival de Saint-Céré is distinguished by its active support for young artists and emerging artistic companies. It serves as a real springboard for singers, instrumentalists and directors at the beginning of their careers, while also inviting established artists from the international opera scene.
A festival rooted in its territory
Deeply rooted in the local fabric, the festival contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of the Dordogne Valley. It benefits from the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Occitanie Region, the Lot Department and the City of Saint-Céré. The Rendez-vous des Curieux (Meetings for the Curious), moments of exchange with the artists, public rehearsals and aperitif-meetings strengthen the link between the festival and its audiences.
Festival de Saint-Céré — edition 2026
The 46th edition of the Saint-Céré Festival takes place from July 26 to August 7, 2026, in the heritage hotspots of the Dordogne Valley. The program includes: Beethoven's Fidelio at the Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux, Puccini's La Bohème at Place du Mercadial, Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon, as well as numerous recitals, chamber music concerts, and musical shows in the castles, churches, and abbeys of Lot.
46th edition — focusing on voice and heritage
The Saint-Céré Festival returns from July 26 to August 7, 2026, for its 46th edition, true to its vocation of lyrical art, opera, chamber music, and musical theater at the heart of the heritage sites of the Dordogne Valley (Châteaux de Castelnau-Bretenoux and Montal, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne Abbey, churches of Loubressac, Gramat, and Saint-Céré, etc.).
Two major lyrical productions structure this edition: Beethoven's Fidelio, directed by Pauline Laidet and under the musical direction of Gabriel Pidoux with the Le Chapitre ensemble (Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux), and Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème, performed at Place du Mercadial in Saint-Céré. The festival also honors forgotten female composers, with Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon and a program dedicated to Marie Jaëll.
The program is complemented by recitals and concerts (Stéphane Degout, Birds on a Wire, Manon Galy & Léa Hennino, Ensemble Théodora, Quatuor Zahir, Walid Ben Selim), free events, coffee meetings, and a family musical tale, Histoires comme ça, accessible from 3 years old. The complete program was unveiled on March 20, 2026, at the Théâtre de l'Usine.
Programme Festival de Saint-Céré 2026
Sunday, July 26
- 11:00 AM & 6:00 PM — Cendrillon (Pauline Viardot) · Théâtre de l'Usine, Saint-Céré
- 8:00 PM — Le Bal'Ograph de Cendrillon · Cour du Théâtre de l'Usine, Saint-Céré
Monday, July 27
- 9:00 PM — Shakespeare Song(e)s (Marie Oppert) · Château des Plas, Curemonte
Tuesday, July 28
- 9:00 PM — Birds on a Wire (Rosemary Standley & Dom La Nena) · Théâtre de l'Usine, Saint-Céré
Wednesday, July 29
- 6:00 PM — Birds on a Wire · Théâtre de l'Usine, Saint-Céré
- 9:00 PM — Lia Naviliat 4tet · Jardin public, Saint-Céré
Thursday, July 30
- 9:30 PM — La Bohème (Puccini) · Place du Mercadial, Saint-Céré
Friday, July 31
- 9:30 PM — Fidelio (Beethoven, dir. Gabriel Pidoux) · Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
Saturday, August 1
- 9:30 PM — Recital Stéphane Degout · Château de Montal, Saint-Jean-Lespinasse
Sunday, August 2
- 9:00 PM — Marie Jaëll · Abbatiale Saint-Pierre, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
- 9:30 PM — Fidelio · Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
Monday, August 3
- 9:00 PM — Manon Galy & Léa Hennino · Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Loubressac
- 9:30 PM — Fidelio · Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
Tuesday, August 4
- 9:00 PM — Manon Galy & Léa Hennino · Église des Récollets, Saint-Céré
Wednesday, August 5
- 5:00 PM — Histoires comme ça (Marc-Olivier Dupin), musical tale from 3 years old · Théâtre de l'Usine, Saint-Céré
- 9:30 PM — Walid Ben Selim · Château de Montal, Saint-Jean-Lespinasse
Thursday, August 6
- 9:00 PM — Ensemble Théodora · Église Sainte-Spérie, Saint-Céré
Friday, August 7
- 9:00 PM — Ensemble Théodora · Chapelle du Grand-Couvent, Gramat
- 9:30 PM — Une Rhapsody in Blue (Quatuor Zahir) · Château de Montal, Saint-Jean-Lespinasse
Coffee meetings, workshops, and visits complete the program. Full program and detailed schedules on festival-saint-cere.com.
Highlights Festival de Saint-Céré 2026
- Beethoven's Fidelio at Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux (directed by Pauline Laidet, conducted by Gabriel Pidoux / Le Chapitre ensemble)
- Puccini's La Bohème outdoors, at Place du Mercadial
- Focus on forgotten female composers: Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon and Marie Jaëll program
- Stéphane Degout recital at Château de Montal
- Family musical tale Histoires comme ça from 3 years old
Prices Festival de Saint-Céré 2026
Practical information — Festival de Saint-Céré
Practical Information
Ticketing
Online: billetterie.scenograph.fr
By phone: 05 65 38 28 08
On-site: Théâtre de l'Usine, 18 avenue du Docteur Roux, 46400 Saint-Céré. Open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 12 pm and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm. During the festival, also open on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm and from 1:30 pm to 4 pm.
Payment methods: check, holiday vouchers, Pass Culture, bank card.
Access
By car: Saint-Céré is located in the Dordogne valley, halfway between Brive-la-Gaillarde and Aurillac, 10 km from Padirac, 20 km from Rocamadour and 50 km from Cahors.
By train: Bretenoux-Biars station (4 km from Saint-Céré) on the Brive-Aurillac line.
By plane: Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne Airport, with daily flights.
Parking
The Théâtre de l'Usine does not have a dedicated car park, but several car parks are available nearby (5 to 10 minutes on foot). A drop-off point is accessible on the forecourt for people with reduced mobility.
Dining
The Bistrot de l'Usine opens at 7 pm on show nights and offers light seasonal catering. At the castle sites, menus are available (17 to 24 €) by prior reservation.
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Where does it take place — Festival de Saint-Céré
Théâtre de l'Usine / Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux
18 avenue du Docteur Roux, 46400 Saint-Céré