Festival de Sully et du Loiret

The Festival de Sully et du Loiret: over fifty years of music in the Loire Valley

Born in 1973 from the passion of a group of music lovers from Sully, united within the association Les Amis du Festival, in collaboration with the Cultural Animation Committee of the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, the festival began as "musical evenings" organized in the halls and the main courtyard of the castle, as well as in the Saint-Ythier collegiate church.

The first official season took place from June 16 to July 26, 1974, marking the beginning of a cultural adventure that would span decades. For thirty-three years, from 1973 to 2006, the festival experienced considerable development, organizing concerts for nearly a month each summer.

A festival that became departmental

In 2007, after supporting the festival for many years, the Department of Loiret took over the management of the event, in partnership with the town of Sully-sur-Loire. The festival then became the *Festival de Musique de Sully et du Loiret*, extending its programming to several towns in the department: Beaugency, Olivet, Pithiviers, Montargis, Gien, La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, and other remarkable heritage sites.

Internationally renowned artists

Over the years, the festival has hosted leading artists:

• Miles Davis (1991), Ray Charles (1992), Barbara Hendricks (1993 and 2015)
• Michel Legrand (2018), Olivia Ruiz, Christophe Maé, Pascal Obispo (2024)
• Bigflo et Oli, Natasha St-Pier, Louis Bertignac, Earth, Wind & Fire Experience (2025)

A touring and festive format

The festival takes place in two main phases. The touring phase offers concerts in heritage locations across the Loiret: abbeys, churches, open-air theaters, and community halls. The three closing evenings are held in the park of the Château de Sully-sur-Loire, transformed into a festive village with two stages, food trucks, and bars, welcoming the public from 5 PM to midnight.

Commitment to all audiences

The festival also develops educational programs with concerts reserved for schoolchildren, in partnership with educational institutions and cultural associations in the department. Accessibility is a priority, with dedicated services for people with disabilities: PMR platform, headphones, earplugs, and assistance for guide dogs.

50 years of festival in 2023

In 2023, the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary with an exceptional edition reflecting the vitality and reach of this major cultural event in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Nearly 14,000 to 15,000 spectators attend this musical celebration each year, which combines architectural heritage and artistic diversity.