HÉBÉ! Festival

HÉBÉ!: The feminist festival making its voice heard in the Landes

Born in 2021 from the vision of two committed women—journalist Margaux Labarthe and activist Salima Sensou—the HÉBÉ! festival was created based on a simple observation: feminism is often confined to big cities, leaving those in rural areas disconnected. HÉBÉ!'s ambition is to create a space for meeting, reflection, and celebration for the people of the South-West, grassroots activists, and today's feminist figures.

The Team Sama Association

HÉBÉ! is organized by the Team Sama association, founded in 2019, which has rallied nearly 200 volunteers in just a few years around issues regarding the role of women in society. The association's name, Sama, means "to listen" in Arabic, embodying this commitment to listening and dialogue. Team Sama organizes the festival and carries out feminist initiatives throughout the year in the Landes region.

An eclectic and committed program

Each edition of HÉBÉ! offers a dense program centered around an annual theme. The 2025 edition, for example, explored the theme of anger: the legitimacy of feeling, expressing, and showing it, depending on who you are (a woman, a person of color, a gender minority, or a person with a disability). The program typically includes:

• Concerts: A musical lineup highlighting female and minority artists across various genres (pop, rock, rap, electro, chanson)
• Creative and political workshops: Feminist writing, screen printing, self-defense, discussion circles, and empowerment workshops
• Conversations and round tables: Debates on current feminist issues, featuring activists, researchers, and journalists
• Literary meet-ups: Book presentations, readings, and exchanges with feminist authors
• Designer market: Stalls featuring craftswomen, creators, and small ethical brands
• Clothing swap: A space for exchanging clothes as part of an eco-friendly initiative
• Tattoos: Tattoo sessions provided by guest artists
• Children's activities: Fun and educational workshops on equality and respect
• Food truck and bar: On-site catering available throughout the festival

A festival rooted in the parks of Mont-de-Marsan

Over the years, HÉBÉ! has taken over the green spaces of Mont-de-Marsan, notably the Château de Nahuques and the popular Peyrouat neighborhood. Choosing these locations, right in the heart of the community, is a powerful political statement: anchoring feminism in the center of the city. In 2026, the festival will be held at the Auberge Landaise in Mont-de-Marsan.

An entirely free festival

True to its values of accessibility, HÉBÉ! is free and open to all. However, the festival invites those who are able to contribute via a "pay-what-you-want" system to support the association and ensure the event's future. This free access is made possible by the work of volunteers, the support of institutional partners, and donations from participants.