Festival du Livre de Mouans-Sartoux

A major literary festival on the French Riviera

The Festival du Livre de Mouans-Sartoux was born in 1988 on the initiative of Marie-Louise Gourdon, deputy mayor for culture of the town of Mouans-Sartoux. Initially dedicated to regional publishing, the event quickly won over an audience far beyond Provence, opening up to national and international publishers. Today, ranked among the most important literary events in France, it welcomes around 50,000 visitors each year — five times the population of the commune.

A humanist and ecological commitment

The festival is distinguished by its resolutely committed positioning. Each edition revolves around a unifying theme that questions major contemporary issues: human rights, climate change, artificial intelligence, social justice. Debates, round tables, and meetings offer a space for civic reflection where authors, intellectuals, and the public exchange freely. Admission is completely free, in line with the desire to make culture accessible to all.

A rich and multidisciplinary program

Beyond the traditional book signings and author meetings, the festival offers a varied program: live performances, screenings of committed films, writing workshops, youth activities, and writer residencies. The "Les Pichouns s'affichent" competition invites young readers to participate actively. Nearly 300 volunteers mobilize each year to ensure the smooth running of this essential event.

In the heart of Mouans-Sartoux

The festival takes over the Centre Culturel des Cèdres and its surroundings, in a warm Provençal setting. Tents, outdoor reading areas, and performance stages transform the town center into a true book village for three days. Its proximity to Cannes, Grasse, and Nice makes it an easily accessible event for all literature lovers in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Prestigious guests

Over the years, the festival has hosted many personalities from the literary and intellectual world. Recent guests include Marc Levy, Erik Orsenna, Nancy Huston, Fatima Daas, and Paul Watson. This diversity of authors reflects the festival's openness to all forms of writing and thought.