Le Grand Soufflet
Festival in Ille-et-Vilaine
2026
About Le Grand Soufflet
Le Grand Soufflet is a departmental festival of world music and traditional music, organized by the Association Grand Soufflet, based in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine). The event highlights wind instruments — accordions, bandoneons, concertinas, bagpipes — and the music they carry, from Breton trad to Argentinian tango, from Celtic music to Balkan music and beyond. Each autumn, it shines across Rennes and many communes in the department.
Le Grand Soufflet — edition 2026
The 31st edition of Le Grand Soufflet takes place from September 30th to October 11th, 2026, in Rennes and over forty other towns across Ille-et-Vilaine. The day-by-day schedule released by the organizers features 98 events, including concerts by Ladaniva, Imarhan, Lass, Amaro Freitas, David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg, and Lavinia Mancusi. The program also includes a two-day fest-noz and folk dance event in Pont-Péan, film-concerts, short film screenings in libraries, and a closing day by the canal in Rennes. Please note that the Village du Thabor will not return until 2027.
Le Grand Soufflet 2026 — 31st Edition
The festival runs from September 30th to October 11th, 2026, in Rennes and more than forty municipalities throughout Ille-et-Vilaine. Organizers have announced over 100 events—including concerts, workshops, talks, and meet-and-greets—spread across 70+ venues, such as concert halls, libraries, community centers, cafés, and public spaces. As of mid-August 2026, 98 of these are detailed in the daily schedule.
A year without the Village du Thabor
In a statement released on March 16th, 2026, the association explained that it is restructuring its model to adapt to current challenges in the cultural sector. The team has been reorganized, and the Village du Thabor is moving to a biennial format, with a planned return in 2027. The festival remains a strong presence in Rennes, starting with the opening ceremony and hosting events at La Maison Bleue, MJC Bréquigny, Les Champs Libres, and Le Blosne. In 2025, the festival reached 45 municipalities and 13 of the 18 intercommunal authorities in the department, achieving a near 90% attendance rate.
Highlights
- Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, September 30th, at Le Grand Huit, a community hub located in the former SNCF railway warehouses in Rennes. Featuring Roman singer and multi-instrumentalist Lavinia Mancusi and Laura Aubry, whose project "Khoz toujours" was born from a three-year residency in two Breton nursing homes.
- Le Grand Bal, Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th, at Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan: a fest-noz on Saturday night, a folk ball on Sunday afternoon, plus introductory workshops on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with food and drinks available on-site.
- Le GÉANT (Grand Ensemble d’Accordéons Nomade et Transfrontalier), conceived by Benjamin Macke and Birgit Bornauw: a pop-up orchestra of amateur and professional accordionists performing a repertoire of popular songs, from Bella Ciao to L’Estaca, Le Temps des cerises, and L’Hymne des femmes. Its first Breton iteration is supported by FPEA 35, Le Piano à Bretelles, and the Saint-Méen–Montauban community of communes: Sunday, October 4th, in Montauban-de-Bretagne, and Saturday, October 10th, at Place du Parlement in Rennes.
- Closing Day on Sunday, October 11th, at La Capitainerie and Les P’tits Bateaux, in partnership with Les Tombées de la Nuit: featuring Breton palet and traditional games by La Granjagoul, a blind test by Vinyl Lovers, performances by Dawndogz and Maqx, and two sessions on the water with Parveen & Ilyas Khan.
Le Petit Soufflet
Nine additional dates in bars and community venues in Rennes and Langouët round out the program. While the artists have been announced, specific times and ticket prices were not yet available as of mid-August 2026.
Highlights Le Grand Soufflet 2026
- Ladaniva — Saturday, October 3rd, Espace Bel Air in Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier
- Amaro Freitas — Wednesday, October 7th, MJC Bréquigny in Rennes
- Imarhan — Thursday, October 8th, La Confluence in Betton
- Lass — Friday, October 9th at Victor-Hugo Theater in Fougères, Saturday, October 10th at Pôle Sud in Chartres-de-Bretagne
- David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg — Sunday, October 11th, Jacques-Duhamel Cultural Center in Vitré
- Fest-noz and folk ball on October 3rd and 4th in Pont-Péan: Beat Bouet Trio, Spontus, Madèn, Ivan Rajalu, Le Mange Bal, Mamoutte, Thermostat 4, Duo Artense
- Le GÉANT, pop-up accordion orchestra: Sunday, October 4th in Montauban-de-Bretagne, Saturday, October 10th at Place du Parlement in Rennes
- Free opening ceremony at Le Grand Huit on September 30th, with Lavinia Mancusi and Laura Aubry
Programme Le Grand Soufflet 2026
The day-by-day schedule is published by the organizers in chronological order. Mentions of free entry and event formats are as indicated on the festival's official pages.
Wednesday, September 30th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Accordéon et Souvenirs de Voyages · exhibition · Library in Boisgervilly · free entry
- 10:00 AM — Accordéon et Souvenirs de Voyages · exhibition · Library in Landujan · free entry
- 10:00 AM — Accordéon et Souvenirs de Voyages · exhibition · L’EMPB in Montauban-de-Bretagne · free entry
- 10:00 AM — Accordéon et Souvenirs de Voyages · exhibition · Socio-cultural center in Quédillac · free entry
- 10:00 AM — Accordéon et Souvenirs de Voyages · exhibition · Library in Saint-Méen-le-Grand · free entry
- 10:00 AM — Et de 30 ! · retrospective exhibition · L’Autre Lieu Library in Le Rheu · free entry
- 10:30 AM — Short film program · screening, 35 min, ages 6+ · Socio-cultural center in Quédillac · free
- 12:30 PM — Lavinia Mancusi · Italian singing and folk traditions · Les Champs Libres in Rennes · free
- 14:30 PM — Le Bal du Grand Loup du Bois · children's folk dance ball · Multi-purpose hall in Bourgbarré · free
- 15:00 PM — Short film program · screening · Socio-cultural center in Quédillac · free
- 16:00 PM — Short film program · screening · Ar Miltamm Library in Servon-sur-Vilaine · free
- 17:00 PM — Les Radios · public broadcast, Canal B stage · Le Grand Huit in Rennes
- 18:00 PM — Lavinia Mancusi · opening night · Le Grand Huit in Rennes · free
- 18:30 PM — Laura Aubry · "Khoz toujours", a creation from a three-year residency in a nursing home, with Thomas Le Gallic on accordion · Le Grand Huit in Rennes · free
Thursday, October 1st, 2026
- 12:45 PM — Framboyán · Mexican-French duo, violin and accordion · ESCC in Maen Roch · free
- 20:00 PM — Lavinia Mancusi · La Pie Muette bar in Chantepie · free
Friday, October 2nd, 2026
- 15:00 PM — Laura Aubry · Library in Saint-Méen-le-Grand · free
- 17:00 PM — Les Radios · public broadcast, Euradio stage · Socio-cultural center in La Chapelle-des-Fougeretz
- 19:30 PM — Duo Varis – Le Garff · accordion and oud · Church in Landujan · free
- 20:00 PM — Benjamin Macke · pocket film-concert · Multi-purpose hall in Bourgbarré · free
- 20:00 PM — Lavinia Mancusi · L’Ilot de la Minoterie in Pipriac · food and drinks on-site
- 20:30 PM — Framboyán · Albert Camus Hall in Domloup · bar on-site
- 20:30 PM — Mouk · rock and Breton trad, singing in Breton and French · L’Abri de l’Ise Hall in Brie · family pass €20
- 20:30 PM — The Amber Day · folk americana · Salle des Deux Ruisseaux in Chantepie · Sortir! rate €3.50 on-site
- 21:00 PM — Fluencia Quartet · singing, nyckelharpa, accordion, and dance · Socio-cultural center in La Chapelle-des-Fougeretz · food and drinks on-site
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
- 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM — Ivan Rajalu · avant-deux workshop, Haute-Bretagne dances (requires prior experience) · Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan · Sortir! rate €8 on-site
- 11:00 AM — Benjamin Macke · film-concert · Library in Acigné · free
- 14:00 PM — Trucs & Astuces · accordion repair workshop with Quentin and François from Le Piano à Bretelles · Le Piano à Bretelles in Mordelles
- 15:00 PM — The COAT-ALBRET springboard · accordion competition, 10 candidates, doors at 2:30 PM, duration 2h; winner performs at the Yaouank festival and Le Grand Soufflet 2027 · Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan
- 15:00 PM — Les Radios · public broadcast, Radio Rennes stage · Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan
- 17:45 PM — Mériadec Surzur · diatonic accordion · Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan · free
- 20:30 PM – 11:55 PM — Fest-noz at Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan, single ticket for all four sets (Sortir! rate €5 on-site, free for under 12s, bar and food available): Beat Bouet Trio · Breton ball, rap and human beatbox — Ivan Rajalu · ball — Madèn · trad, hurdy-gurdy, accordion and singing — Spontus · fest-noz
- 20:30 PM — Fluencia Quartet · L’Archipel in Laillé · Sortir! rate €4 on-site
- 20:30 PM — Ladaniva · electro-Balkans · Espace Bel Air in Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier · bar and light snacks on-site
- 20:30 PM — The Amber Day · Le Sabot d’Or in Saint-Gilles · Sortir! rate €4, Sortir en bus rate €11
Sunday, October 4th, 2026
- 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM — Marion Purple · workshop "Couple dances: spicing up your dance and adapting to space", limited spots · Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan · Sortir! rate €8 on-site
- 13:30 PM – 21:00 PM — Folk ball at Espace Beausoleil in Pont-Péan, single ticket for all four sets (Sortir! rate €5 on-site, free for under 12s, bar and food available): Duo Artense · Auvergne ball, violin and accordion — Le Mange Bal · electro-trad — Mamoutte · folk ball, quartet from the Redon region — Thermostat 4 · trad ball, veuze, saxophone, double bass, cello and drums
- 16:00 PM — The Amber Day · Cultural center in Montours – Les Portes du Coglais · free
- 18:00 PM — Le Géant, with Benjamin Macke · Grand Ensemble d’Accordéons Nomade et Transfrontalier, pop-up accordion orchestra conducted by Benjamin Macke · Village hall in Montauban-de-Bretagne
- 18:00 PM — Fluencia Quartet · Jean Rochefort Cultural Center in Saint-Lunaire
Monday, October 5th, 2026
- 19:30 PM — History of the Jewish Labor Bund / Nora Bisele · lecture by Constance Pâris de Bollardière (American University of Paris) followed by a concert by Nora Bisele Trio, blues, klezmer and folk; evening hosted with the Sholem association, as part of the European Days of Jewish Culture · La MIR in Rennes
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026
- 18:30 PM — Benjamin Macke · film-concert · Library in Piré-Chancé · free
- 20:30 PM — La Selva Canta Quartet · Mexican music, jarana, zapateado and diatonic accordion · Le Grand Logis in Bruz · free
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026
- 14:30 PM — Short film program · screening · Ménouvel Library in La Bouëxière · free
- 15:00 PM — Short film program · screening · L’Odyssée Library in Ossé · free
- 16:00 PM — Le Bal du Grand Loup du Bois · La Maison Bleue in Rennes · free
- 16:00 PM — Short film program · screening · L’Autre Lieu Library in Le Rheu · free
- 16:00 PM — Short film program · screening · Totems Library · free
- 17:00 PM — Benjamin Macke · solo · L’Autre Lieu Library in Le Rheu · free
- 18:30 PM — Duo Cavez – Paulson · trad ball, accordion and nyckelharpa · Thabor Lucien-Rose Library in Rennes · free
- 19:00 PM — Nayan Samba Jazz · bossa nova and samba · MJC Bréquigny in Rennes · free
- 20:30 PM — Amaro Freitas · piano, Brazilian jazz · MJC Bréquigny in Rennes · Sortir! rate €5 on-site
- 20:30 PM – 23:00 PM — Les Frères Bléjean & Nicolas Quemener · Irish music, uilleann pipes, accordion, guitar and singing · André-Blot Multi-purpose hall in La Bouëxière · bar on-site
Thursday, October 8th, 2026
- 17:00 PM — Les Radios · public broadcast, Radio CoreLab stage · Carrefour 18 Social Center in Rennes
- 17:15 PM — Le Bal du Grand Loup du Bois · MJC in Pacé · free
- 17:15 PM — Nicolas Rozé · trad ball for children, steps explained on-site · MJC in Pacé · free entry
- 18:00 PM — Duo Cavez – Paulson · Carrefour 18 Social Center in Rennes · free
- 20:00 PM — Benjamin Macke · film-concert · Le Baranoux in Saint-Senoux · pay what you want
- 20:30 PM — Duo Varis – Le Garff · Jehan-de-Derval Hall, City Hall in Châteaugiron
- 20:30 PM — Imarhan · Tuareg blues · La Confluence in Betton · Sortir! and youth rates available at the La Confluence box office
- 21:00 PM — Brama · psychedelic trad rock, hurdy-gurdy · Le Coquelicot in Fougères · €8 for members, free for under 12s on-site
Friday, October 9th, 2026
- 09:30 AM — Harmattan Brothers · kora, guitar and trumpet · Ty-Blosne in Rennes · free
- 12:45 PM — Duo Varis – Le Garff · La Passerelle, RAFCOM headquarters in Retiers · free
- 16:00 PM — Short film program · screening · Library in Baulon · free
- 17:00 PM — Short film program · screening · Lagirafe Library in Montfort-sur-Meu · free
- 18:00 PM — Benjamin Macke · solo · City Hall in Boisgervilly · free
- 18:30 PM — Short film program · screening · Library in Boisgervilly · free
- 20:00 PM — Brama · Agora Cultural Center – Le Quai in Le Rheu · Sortir! rate €4 on-site, free for under 3s
- 20:00 PM — La Selva Canta Quartet · Le Coupé Décalé in Rennes · Sortir! rate €5 on-site
- 20:00 PM — Lass · afro-electro vocals · Victor-Hugo Theater in Fougères · Collector membership rate €16 at the theater box office
- 20:00 PM — Naïen · quinton and chromatic accordion · City Hall in Bourgbarré · free
- 20:30 PM — Bagad Cesson & Monsi3ur G · bagad of about fifty pipers · Le Triptik in Acigné · Sortir! rate €5, free for under 12s on-site
- 20:30 PM — Caribombo Live · global bass, cumbia and afro-house · L’Avant-Scène in Montfort-sur-Meu · €6 for under 18s
- 20:30 PM — Harmattan Brothers · L’EMPB in Montauban-de-Bretagne · bar on-site
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Short film program · screening · Library in Baulon · free
- 10:30 AM — Short film program · screening · L’Ilot de la Minoterie in Pipriac · free
- 11:00 AM — Lass · meet-and-greet · Pôle Sud Cultural Center in Chartres-de-Bretagne · free entry
- 16:00 PM — Le Géant, with Benjamin Macke · pop-up accordion orchestra in the open air · Place du Parlement in Rennes
- 20:30 PM — Brama · La Maison Bleue in Rennes · Sortir! rate on-site, free for under 12s
- 20:30 PM — Caribombo Live · MJC in Pacé · Sortir! rate €6 on-site
- 20:30 PM — Harmattan Brothers · Aquazic, cultural center in Liffré
- 21:00 PM — Lass · Pôle Sud Cultural Center in Chartres-de-Bretagne · Sortir! rate €5, under 12s and subscribers €9 at the Pôle Sud box office
Sunday, October 11th, 2026 — Closing Day
- 13:30 PM – 15:30 PM — Parveen & Ilyas Khan · singing, tablas and beatbox from Rajasthan, concert on the water, boat trip included · Les P’tits Bateaux in Rennes · Sortir! rate €6
- 15:00 PM — Dawndogz · Creole blues, from the bayou to maloya · La Capitainerie in Rennes · free
- 15:30 PM – 17:30 PM — Parveen & Ilyas Khan · second session on the water · Les P’tits Bateaux in Rennes · Sortir! rate €6
- 16:00 PM — David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg · klezmer, clarinet and piano · Jacques-Duhamel Cultural Center in Vitré
- 16:00 PM — Naïen · La Granjagoul in Parcé · bar on-site
- 16:30 PM — Maryll Abbas & Azilis · accordion and vocals, French and Brazilian repertoires · Le Baranoux in Saint-Senoux · pay what you want
- 17:30 PM — Vinyl Lovers · 100% vinyl blind test · La Capitainerie in Rennes · free
- 18:45 PM — Maqx · techno-trad from Occitania · La Capitainerie in Rennes · free
The closing day also includes the Grand Palet and a traditional games area hosted by La Granjagoul at La Capitainerie. Food and drinks available on-site.
Ongoing throughout the festival
- "Accordéon et Souvenirs de Voyages" Exhibition — a traveling installation of thirteen interactive trunks exploring the history of the accordion, designed by Elsa Le Calvez-Amsallem and Lisa Lepeinteur: Boisgervilly Library, Landujan Library, EMPB in Montauban-de-Bretagne, Quédillac socio-cultural center, Saint-Méen-le-Grand Library. Free entry.
- "Et de 30 !" Exhibition — a retrospective of festival visuals by Cécile Aurégan, Carole Mariet, Brice Poil, Arnau Garin, Aurélia Grandin, Caroline Depoil, and Gildas Chasseboeuf, from September 9th to October 31st at L’Autre Lieu Library in Le Rheu. Free entry.
Le Petit Soufflet — times and prices not yet published
Nine dates in bars and community venues, announced without times or prices as of mid-August 2026:
- Friday, October 2nd — Sylvie Jourdan · 13 rue Lobineau, Rennes
- Friday, October 2nd — Chyneski · 2 rue de Redon, Rennes
- Saturday, October 3rd — Super Cagette · 15 rue des Chênes, Langouët
- Wednesday, October 7th — Ayen · 264 avenue Patton, Rennes
- Friday, October 9th — Taléa · 48 rue de Saint-Brieuc, Rennes
- Friday, October 9th — La Tchoutchouka · 182 avenue Patton, Rennes
- Saturday, October 10th — Nora Bisele · 182 avenue Patton, Rennes
- Saturday, October 10th — artist to be announced · 28 rue Bigot-de-Préameneu, Rennes
- Saturday, October 10th — artist to be announced · 70 rue Jean-Guéhenno, Rennes
Prices Le Grand Soufflet 2026
Grand Bal Weekend Pass in Pont-Péan: €20. Non-transferable, ID required at the entrance; covers both days of the ball on Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th, at Espace Beausoleil.
Individual tickets in Pont-Péan: Saturday night fest-noz and Sunday afternoon folk ball at the Sortir! rate of €5 on-site, free for under 12s; dance workshops on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Sortir! rate of €8 on-site.
Many events are free: both exhibitions, short film screenings, children's balls, radio broadcasts, library film-concerts, and the closing day at La Capitainerie.
Other concerts can be booked at the specific rate for each venue via the festival's Weezevent ticketing platform. Several venues apply the Sortir! rate and offer free entry for under 12s; others offer their own reduced rates at their box offices.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Online prices include Weezevent booking fees.
Practical information — Le Grand Soufflet
Practical Information
Locations
Festival heart in Rennes (35000), with programming spread across many communes in Ille-et-Vilaine. Association address: La Maison Bleue, 123 boulevard de Verdun, 35000 Rennes.
Ticketing
Online ticketing via the official website (Weezevent platform): a Le Grand Soufflet Pass gives reduced-price access to all paid shows. Some events are free. Tickets are neither refundable nor exchangeable.
Contact
Official website: www.legrandsoufflet.fr · Phone: 06 87 50 58 60 · Email: [email protected]
Le Grand Soufflet
Le Grand Soufflet is a festival of world music and traditional music that unfolds each autumn in Rennes and throughout the department of Ille-et-Vilaine (Brittany). Organized by the Association Grand Soufflet, it celebrates wind instruments — accordions, bandoneons, concertinas, bagpipes — and the styles they inspire: Breton trad, tango, Celtic music, Balkan sounds, and repertoires from around the world.
A festival radiating across the territory
Beyond the Rennes metropolitan area, each edition of the festival invests numerous communes in Ille-et-Vilaine with concerts, shows, artistic residencies, and meeting times, making music a vector for connection and discovery throughout the entire department.
Residencies and creation
Le Grand Soufflet is not limited to dissemination: the association carries out creative work and artist support throughout the year, which enriches the festival's programming.
Information and program
To find out the detailed program and ticketing information, consult the festival's official website or its social media.
Where does it take place — Le Grand Soufflet
Le Grand Soufflet in brief
History of Le Grand Soufflet
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Rennes
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