Franco-Quebecois Humor Festival

ℹ️ Festival discontinued — event currently on hold. No edition is announced for 2026, neither in the official agenda of the city of Lourdes nor on the Tourist Office website. The last publicly documented edition dates back to spring 2013 (from May 28 to June 1, 2013). Should a new edition be organized in the future, we will update this page.

Franco-Quebec Humour Festival: when laughter crossed the Atlantic

From 2012 to 2013, Lourdes hosted a unique humour festival that fostered dialogue between French and Quebec comedic traditions. The Franco-Quebec Humour Festival, created at the initiative of Mayor Jean-Pierre Artiganave, aimed to give a modern and festive image of the Pyrenean city, better known for its grotto and pilgrimages.

A partnership with Quebec

The festival was organized in partnership with the École nationale de l'humour du Québec, then directed by Louise Richer, guaranteeing the quality of the programming and the arrival of talented Quebec artists. The first edition, in July 2012, brought together 14 artists, including seven Quebecers, among whom were Les Nanas Coustiques, Adib Alkhalidey, Mario Jean, Olivier Martineau, and François Bellefeuille.

La Battle: France vs. Quebec

One of the highlights of the festival was «La Battle», a competition pitting three Quebec comedians against three French comedians before a jury of five professionals. This original and friendly format allowed for the discovery of new talents and the comparison of humour styles from both sides of the Atlantic. Adib Alkhalidey won the first edition of La Battle in 2012.

A springboard for emerging artists

The festival helped reveal talents such as Montreal comedian Adib Alkhalidey, winner of the first edition of La Battle, who was noticed by several producers present in Lourdes. A second edition was held from May 28 to June 1, 2013.

The end of an adventure

No edition after 2013 has been publicly documented. The festival no longer appears in the cultural agenda of the city of Lourdes or in the highlights of the Tourist Office. Lourdes continues to offer occasional humour events (notably the «Week-end du rire» at Espace Robert Hossein), but the Franco-Quebec format in partnership with the École nationale de l'humour du Québec no longer seems active.