Le Haut du Livre Festival

A student festival dedicated to youth literature

Born in 2015 from the initiative of literature students from the University of Lorraine, the Le Haut du Livre Festival is a unique event in the Nancy cultural landscape. Each year, third-year students in Cultural Studies from the Doxa Vita association design and organize this festival, which celebrates youth literature in all its forms.

Strong territorial roots

The festival takes place at the MJC du Haut-du-Lièvre, in the heart of a priority district of Nancy. This choice is not insignificant: it demonstrates a desire to make culture accessible to all and to create social connections through books and artistic creation. Le Haut du Livre is thus a true cultural mediation project, reaching out to the residents of the district while attracting a curious audience from the entire Nancy metropolitan area.

A rich and varied program

The festival offers a dense program structured around several themes:

• Meetings with authors and illustrators: renowned youth writers and illustrators come to interact with the public, sign their books, and share their creative worlds.
• Live performances: theater companies, storytellers, and puppeteers offer shows suitable for all ages.
• Creative workshops: arts and crafts, makeup, games, and writing workshops allow children and families to participate actively.
• Readings and activities: aloud reading sessions and fun activities punctuate the day.

A renowned patron

Each edition of the festival is sponsored by a personality from the literary world. The writer Daniel Picouly sponsored the 9th edition in 2025. The 10th edition in 2026 will notably welcome Anna Griot as guest of honor, alongside Christine Naumann-Villemin and Clémence Dupont, as well as the companies Bulles de Rêves and Cie Incognito.

A university educational project

Beyond the cultural event, Le Haut du Livre constitutes a real educational project for the students of the University of Lorraine. From conception to execution, including seeking partnerships and communication, students acquire practical skills in cultural project management. This formative dimension makes Le Haut du Livre a model for professional integration through practice.