Interceltic Festival of Lorient
The world's largest gathering of Celtic cultures
About Interceltic Festival
The Interceltic Festival of Lorient: a global crossroads of Celtic cultures
Since its creation in 1971 by Polig Monjarret, the Interceltic Festival of Lorient (FIL) has established itself as the unmissable event for Celtic cultures. Born from a reflection on the links uniting the Celtic peoples of Europe, it is today the largest Celtic cultural event in the world, bringing together artists, musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts from Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Galicia, and Asturias every summer.
Ten days of festivities in the heart of Lorient
The festival takes over the entire city of Lorient for ten days in August. Iconic venues such as the Stade du Moustoir, the Palais des Congrès, the Grand Théâtre, the Espace Marine, and numerous outdoor stages host over 300 shows and events. From traditional and contemporary Celtic music concerts to lively fest-noz, and bagpipe, gaïta, and accordion competitions, the program is exceptionally rich.
The Great Parade of Celtic Nations
A highlight of the festival, the Great Parade of Celtic Nations takes place on the first Sunday and brings together over 3,500 musicians, dancers, and artists from the eight Celtic nations. This spectacular parade crosses the streets of Lorient in front of more than 50,000 spectators, in a whirlwind of kilts, tartans, and banners, to the sound of bagpipes, bombards, and Celtic harps. It is a moment of emotion and pride shared by all Celtic communities.
A rich and eclectic program
The Interceltic Festival is not limited to music: it also offers visual arts exhibitions, Celtic cinema (CinéFIL), conferences and literary meetings, Celtic instrument master classes, a Celtic book fair, and a gastronomy area showcasing the produce of the Celtic countries. The show Horizons Celtiques, presented at the Stade du Moustoir, offers a grandiose show combining music, dance, lights, and video, bringing together artists from all Celtic nations in a breathtaking artistic fresco.
Fest-noz and Celtic nights
The fest-noz, these traditional Breton balls inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, are one of the most convivial moments of the festival. Organized every evening in different locations in the city, they invite you to dance to the rhythm of the musicians and Breton music groups until the early hours of the morning. The festival also offers Interceltic Nights at the Grand Théâtre and evenings at Kleub, a venue dedicated to concerts in a more intimate atmosphere.
Each year, a Celtic nation in the spotlight
Each edition of the Interceltic Festival highlights an invited Celtic nation or region, allowing the public to discover in depth the cultural, musical, and artistic richness of this territory. This thematic thread runs through the entire program, from concerts to exhibitions, including gastronomy and cinema.
Interceltic Festival — edition 2026
The 55th edition: Cornwall in the spotlight
From July 31st to August 9th, 2026, the Festival Interceltique de Lorient celebrates its 55th edition on the theme « Cornwall, at the heart of the Celtic Sea ». For the first time in eleven years, Cornish culture (Cornwall, in the southwest of England) is honored: traditional music, sea shanties, tales, dances, and Celtic maritime heritage are on the program for this invited nation.
Ten days of shows throughout the city
For ten days, Lorient lives to the rhythm of the eight Celtic nations (Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia, and Asturias). The main festival venues host concerts, fest-noz, and shows: the Stade du Moustoir, the Grand Théâtre de Lorient, the Espace Marine, the Quai de la Bretagne, Le Palais, and Le Kleub hall. The opening night on July 31st honors Cornwall with « Kernowcopia ».
The 2026 highlights
The Grand Parade of Celtic Nations takes place on Sunday, August 2nd at 10:00 AM: approximately 3,500 musicians, dancers, and artists from the eight Celtic nations parade through the streets of Lorient in front of tens of thousands of spectators before reaching the Stade du Moustoir. The nocturnal show Horizons Celtiques, which brings together more than 500 artists on the Moustoir lawn in a fresco combining music, dance, song, lights, and video, is presented on Saturday, August 1st, Sunday, August 2nd, Tuesday, August 4th, Wednesday, August 5th, and Thursday, August 6th. The Championnat National des Bagadoù, daily fest-noz, and Nuits Interceltiques complete the program.
Programme Interceltic Festival 2026
Friday, July 31st, 2026 — Opening Night
- 9:30 PM — Cornwall Evening « Kernowcopia » (sea shanties, traditional music, tales, and dances) · Le Palais
Saturday, August 1st, 2026
- 3 Daft Monkeys · Le Kleub
- Show Horizons Celtiques (more than 500 artists from the 8 Celtic nations) · Stade du Moustoir
Sunday, August 2nd, 2026 — Grand Parade
- 10:00 AM — Grand Parade of Celtic Nations (~3,500 musicians and dancers) · city center → Stade du Moustoir
- Show Horizons Celtiques · Stade du Moustoir
Tuesday, August 4th, 2026
- Show Horizons Celtiques · Stade du Moustoir
Wednesday, August 5th, 2026
- Show Horizons Celtiques · Stade du Moustoir
Thursday, August 6th, 2026
- Show Horizons Celtiques · Stade du Moustoir
Friday, August 7th, 2026
- 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM — Carlos Núñez « Celtic Sea » (master of the Galician gaita) · Le Théâtre
- Barrett's Privateers · Skillywidden
Saturday, August 8th, 2026
- Seim · Le Kleub
- Horizons Celtiques · Le Quai de la Bretagne
Throughout the festival
- Headliners announced: Agnès Obel, Yann Tiersen, Capercaillie, Carlos Núñez, Denez (presentation of his album « Toenn-vor »), Cécile Corbel, Susana Seivane
- Championnat National des Bagadoù · Stade du Moustoir
- Daily fest-noz, Nuits Interceltiques at the Grand Théâtre, concerts at Le Kleub
Highlights Interceltic Festival 2026
- 55th edition — Cornwall, guest nation of honor 2026
- Grand Parade of Celtic Nations — Sunday, August 2nd at 10:00 AM
- Horizons Celtiques show (500+ artists) — August 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Stade du Moustoir
- Carlos Núñez « Celtic Sea » — Friday, August 7th at Le Théâtre
- Championnat National des Bagadoù, daily fest-noz, and Nuits Interceltiques
Prices Interceltic Festival 2026
Practical information — Interceltic Festival
Access to the festival
By car: Lorient is accessible via the RN24 expressway from Rennes (2h) and the RN165 from Nantes (2h) or Brest (1h30). During the festival, free park-and-ride facilities are available on the outskirts of the city with free shuttles to the city center. Parking in the city center is very limited during the festival.
By train: Lorient station is served by TGV from Paris-Montparnasse (3h30) and by TER Bretagne from Rennes, Quimper, Vannes, and Brest. The station is a 10-minute walk from the city center and the main festival venues. Additional trains are scheduled during the festival.
By plane: Lorient Bretagne Sud airport is located 10 km from the city center. Regular flights are available to Paris-Orly and Lyon.
Ticketing and prices
The festival collector's badge is offered at 10 euros and gives access to free events for 10 days. Paid concerts and shows are available at variable prices: CinéFIL from 5 euros, fest-noz at 10 euros, concerts at Kleub from 15 to 20 euros, Horizons Celtiques from 25 to 50 euros depending on the category. Tickets are available on the official website festival-interceltique.bzh and at the Palais des Congrès ticket office. A supplement of 1.80 to 2 euros applies to on-site ticket purchases. Reduced rates for people with disabilities and groups of more than 20 people.
Festival venues
The festival takes place in numerous sites across the city: the Stade du Moustoir (Horizons Celtiques, Great Parade), the Palais des Congrès (ticketing, exhibitions), the Grand Théâtre (Interceltic Nights), the Espace Marine (concerts, fest-noz), as well as numerous outdoor stages in the city center. A festival map is available at the Tourist Office and on the official website.
Accommodation
The city of Lorient and its surroundings offer a wide choice of accommodation: hotels, campsites, bed and breakfasts, and seasonal rentals. It is strongly advised to book very early, as accommodation is quickly fully booked during the festival. The Lorient Bretagne Sud Tourist Office can help you with your search.
Accessibility
The festival provides accessibility services for people with disabilities: reserved seating, free companions for holders of the Mobility Inclusion Card, magnetic loops, and LSF interpretation for certain shows.
Contact: Interceltic Festival of Lorient – Tel: 02 97 21 24 29 – Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Interceltic Festival
Stade du Moustoir et centre-ville de Lorient
Stade du Moustoir, Rue Sarah Bernhardt, 56100 Lorient