La Folle Journée
International classical music festival in Nantes
2027
About La Folle Journée
La Folle Journée — edition 2027
Programme La Folle Journée 2027
The program for the 2027 edition has not yet been released by the organizers; it will be added as soon as it becomes available.
Practical information — La Folle Journée
Practical Information
Access
By car: The Cité des Congrès is located in the center of Nantes, near the SNCF train station. Nearby parking: Cité des Congrès parking (access via rue de Valmy) and Gare Sud parking.
By train: Nantes station (TGV from Paris in 2h15). The Cité des Congrès is a 5-minute walk from the station, crossing cours John Kennedy.
By tram: Line 1 — stop "Duchesse Anne - Château des Ducs de Bretagne" (5 min walk). Lines 2 and 3 — stop "Gare Nord" or "Gare Sud".
Free transport: Ticket holders for La Folle Journée benefit from free travel on the entire Naolib network (bus and tram) on the day of their concert.
Prices
Prices are intentionally accessible:
- Paid concerts: from 10 to 39 EUR
- Free concerts: open program in the Grande Halle
- Reduced prices: for young people, students, job seekers, and people with disabilities
Ticketing
Online booking at follejournee.fr and on the Themisweb platform. Ticketing usually opens in December.
Accessibility
The Cité des Congrès is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. Specific provisions are in place for the deaf and hard of hearing (vibrating vests) and for visually impaired people (tactile maps, dedicated support).
Contact
La Folle Journée — Cité des Congrès de Nantes
5 rue de Valmy, 44000 Nantes
Email: [email protected]
La Folle Journée: A Revolution in the World of Classical Music
Since its creation in 1995, La Folle Journée has profoundly transformed access to classical music in France and around the world. Conceived by visionary artistic director René Martin, this Nantes festival is based on an unprecedented concept: offering short 45-minute concerts at very affordable prices (starting from €10), in a unique venue where multiple halls operate simultaneously. The public can thus compose their own musical journey and become their own artistic director.
La Cité des Congrès: A Venue at the Heart of Nantes
Each year, the festival takes over the Cité des Congrès de Nantes, transforming it into a vast musical village. The Grande Halle hosts a central kiosk around which bookstores, record stalls, catering areas, and free activities are organized. The various halls—ranging from 200 to 2,000 seats—allow for an exceptionally rich program, with nearly 300 concerts spread over five days.
A Concept Exported Worldwide
The success of La Folle Journée has extended beyond Nantes. The festival has been exported to Japan (Tokyo, since 2005), Spain (Bilbao), Portugal (Lisbon), Poland (Warsaw), Russia (Yekaterinburg), and Brazil. These international versions demonstrate the universality of the concept and its power of cultural democratization.
A Thematic Program Renewed Annually
Each edition of La Folle Journée is built around a theme that guides the entire program. From composers to musical movements, historical periods to geographical inspirations, these themes allow for a renewed festival experience each year and an exploration of classical music from new perspectives. Notable themes include: Beethoven, Mozart, Russian music, chamber music, and the great musical capitals.
A Commitment to All Audiences
La Folle Journée stands out for its commitment to accessibility. Beyond reduced prices, the festival offers free concerts in the Grande Halle, lectures by musicologists, educational workshops, and specific provisions for people with disabilities (vibrating vests for the deaf and hard of hearing, tactile maps). Since 2025, the festival has also expanded to the municipalities of the Nantes metropolitan area and all neighborhoods of Nantes.
CRÉA: The Organizing Association
La Folle Journée is organized by CRÉA (Centre de Réalisations et d'Études Artistiques), an association founded by René Martin dedicated to the widest possible dissemination of classical music. CRÉA coordinates all the Folles Journées in France and internationally, mobilizing approximately 2,000 world-renowned artists each year.
With 140,000 tickets sold each edition and unparalleled international reach, La Folle Journée has established itself as “the most beautiful classical music celebration in the world.”
Where does it take place — La Folle Journée
La Folle Journée in brief
Other festivals near Nantes
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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