Fête de Malakoff

Malakoff en Fête: three days of free popular celebration

Malakoff (92240) is a town in Hauts-de-Seine with a well-established popular and artistic character. Bordering the 14th arrondissement of Paris and Montrouge, it has about 31,000 inhabitants and is distinguished by a strong tradition of associative and cultural life, inherited from its working-class history. Its great annual festival, Malakoff en Fête, perfectly reflects this identity: popular, open, multicultural, free, and festive.

Three days of open-air celebration

Malakoff en Fête takes place every year over a weekend at the end of June, from Friday to Sunday. Recent editions have been held in June, taking over Parc Léon-Salagnac, Stade Marcel-Cerdan, and the streets and squares of the town for three consecutive days of entirely free entertainment, concerts, and shows.

The typical program for the three days

Friday (musical evening): The first evening kicks off with a big musical night with Afro-Caribbean vibes. Dancehall, African music, hip-hop, and electro groups perform one after another on the main stage, with the participation of local artists and nationally renowned guest groups. The evening culminates with an electro set that extends the festivities late into the night.

Saturday (World Day of Street Arts): Saturday is the most spectacular day, with street company parades throughout the town. African dance shows, Congolese drumming, street theater, and acrobatics precede the Great African Parade, an emblematic moment of the festival, which crosses the main streets of Malakoff in a surge of colors, music, and dances. World music concerts—particularly from the Maghrebi and sub-Saharan scenes—conclude the evening.

Sunday (Family and Guinguette Day): Sunday is dedicated to conviviality and families. A big popular picnic is organized on the lawn of Stade Marcel-Cerdan starting at noon. Culinary workshops, children's rides, outdoor games, and open-air Cuban salsa sessions precede a musical guinguette in the late afternoon. The afternoon concludes in a warm and festive atmosphere.

A festival committed to cultural diversity

Malakoff en Fête is deliberately built as a space for the meeting of cultures and generations. The programming favors Afro-Caribbean music, world dances, and street arts, reflecting the diversity of the Malakoff population. Local associations, shopkeepers, and residents are involved in the organization, making the event a true collective co-construction.

The Nina Simone Conservatory

One of the flagship venues of Malakoff en Fête is the Nina Simone Conservatory, named in homage to the great African-American singer. During the festival, the conservatory opens its doors for concerts and performances by its students, offering residents a special encounter with local musical practice.