The citizen festival for a just and sustainable world
Created in 1998 under the name Semaine de la solidarité internationale, the Festival des Solidarités (Festisol) is an annual event to raise awareness of international solidarity and sustainable development, held every November across France. In Paris, the festival offers various activities – theatre, debates, concerts, exhibitions, shared meals, solidarity markets – in numerous cultural and associative venues, mobilizing citizens, associations, and local authorities around social and environmental justice issues.
The Festival des Solidarités, commonly known as Festisol, is the largest citizen awareness event for international solidarity in France. Born in 1998 under the name Semaine de la solidarité internationale, it was renamed in 2017 after two years of collective reflection, to better embody the link between local and international solidarity and affirm its festive and committed dimension.
Festisol is not held in a single location but spreads across the entire French territory – and beyond, in about fifteen African countries. In Paris, dozens of events are organized in various districts, led by associations, citizen collectives, schools, community centers, and cultural institutions. The CICP (Centre International de Culture Populaire) in the 11th arrondissement is one of the emblematic venues of the Parisian festival.
The types of activities are as varied as the target audiences: theater performances, awareness games, debates, exhibitions, shared meals, solidarity markets, concerts, dance shows, participatory workshops, and meetings with field actors. Each event is designed within the framework of a charter guaranteeing common values of respect, openness, and solidarity.
At the heart of Festisol is education for global citizenship and international solidarity (ECSI). The festival helps citizens of all ages understand global interdependencies and choose to act for social change. The topics covered include poverty reduction, food security, health, education, inequality, climate protection, the environment, and peace – in line with the UN's 2030 Agenda.
From 2024 to 2026, the festival is placing a particular focus on the theme “Environment and Peoples’ Rights”, examining the links between climate justice and social justice.
Coordinated by the CRID (Centre de Recherche et d'Information pour le Développement), Festisol mobilizes over 4,400 friendly and committed events each year across France and in several African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, and others). It constitutes the largest citizen mobilization movement around international solidarity in France.
The Festival des Solidarités 2026 will be held in November, concluding the thematic cycle “Environment and Peoples’ Rights”. In Paris and across France, hundreds of free events will mobilize citizens and associations for international solidarity.
Festisol 2026 will mark the final year of the thematic cycle “Environment and Peoples’ Rights”, initiated in 2024. In Paris and throughout France, hundreds of events – debates, workshops, concerts, solidarity markets, shared meals – will invite citizens to commit to a more just and sustainable world.
The full program will be available in autumn 2026 on the festival's website.
The Festival des Solidarités takes place in numerous venues in Paris: cultural centers, libraries, community centers, schools, associative spaces, and public places. Events are spread across several districts.
The vast majority of events are free or donation-based. Some activities (shared meals, markets) may have a solidarity contribution.
The complete program of Parisian events is available on the website festivaldessolidarites.org, with a search engine by city, date, and theme.
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