Festival Escales du Monde

A Festival of World Cultures in Hauts-de-France

The Festival Escales du Monde is a multidisciplinary cultural event held in Saint-Quentin, the prefecture of Aisne, in the Hauts-de-France region. Dedicated to world music and cultures, the festival offers a rich program combining concerts, dance performances, film screenings, discovery workshops, and encounters with artists from all over the world. Each edition is an opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity and promote intercultural dialogue in a city with remarkable Art Deco heritage.

An International Musical Program

The festival's program highlights world music in all its forms: African music (afrobeat, mandingue, gnawa, highlife), Latin music (salsa, cumbia, son cubano, bossa nova), oriental music, Celtic music, mixed jazz, and contemporary creations blending tradition and modernity. Invited artists come from West Africa, the Maghreb, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe, offering the public a true musical world tour. Local and regional groups complete the lineup, creating a bridge between international music scenes and the cultural fabric of Hauts-de-France.

Performances and Activities for All Audiences

Beyond the concerts, the Festival Escales du Monde offers a program of multidisciplinary activities: traditional and contemporary dance performances, African percussion workshops, world dance initiations, storytelling and travel tales, photographic exhibitions, and an international craft market. Specific activities are planned for young audiences, with educational workshops for discovering world cultures. The festival aims to raise awareness about cultural openness and living together.

Saint-Quentin, a Host City with Rich Heritage

The festival takes place in the iconic venues of Saint-Quentin, a city of art and history renowned for its exceptional Art Deco heritage and its Gothic basilica. Concerts and performances are held in the city''s halls and spaces, providing a remarkable setting for international artists. Saint-Quentin's geographical location, at the crossroads of the Paris-Brussels and Reims-Lille routes, makes it an ideal meeting place for an internationally focused festival. The event contributes to the cultural influence of the city of Aisne and the entire department of Aisne.

A Unifying and Friendly Event

The Festival Escales du Monde relies on a network of local associations and volunteers committed to promoting cultural diversity. The event is supported by the City of Saint-Quentin, the Department of Aisne, and the Hauts-de-France Region. An associative village, international food stalls, a bar, and convivial spaces complete the setup, making each edition a moment of sharing and popular celebration, open to all.