Le Livre sur la Place
The first national literary fair of the back-to-school season in Nancy
2026
About Livre sur la Place
Livre sur la Place — edition 2026
The 48th edition of Le Livre sur la Place will take place from September 11 to 13, 2026, at Place de la Carrière in Nancy. Historians and former ambassadors Élie Barnavi and Elias Sanbar—one Israeli, the other Palestinian—will serve as joint presidents. Three winners have already been announced: Agnès Michaux for the Goncourt Biography Prize, Johanna Siméant-Germanos for the Book and Human Rights Prize, and Paul Gasnier for the Ginkgo Prize. The schedule of events and the list of attending authors are yet to be released. Free admission.
48th edition — September 11 to 13, 2026
Le Livre sur la Place kicks off the autumn literary season from September 11 to 13, 2026, under the marquee at Place de la Carrière in Nancy. The 2026 poster was designed by Nouvelle étiquette.
Two presidents
Élie Barnavi and Elias Sanbar are co-presiding over this edition. The former, born in 1946 in Romania, is a historian, essayist, and former Israeli ambassador to France (2000–2002); he is the author of Le Dictionnaire amoureux d'Israël (Plon). The latter, born in 1947 in Haifa, is a historian, poet, and translator of Mahmoud Darwich, and a former Palestinian ambassador to UNESCO; he is the author of Nouveau Dictionnaire amoureux de la Palestine (Plon). By inviting them together, the festival aims to promote "dialogue, listening to the Other, openness, and peace."
Literary prizes
Three other jury chairs have been announced: Abnousse Shalmani for the 24th Book and Human Rights Prize, Philippe Jaenada for the 11th Prix Stanislas, and Oxmo Puccino for the 7th Ginkgo – Louis Pasteur Prize. Three 2026 winners are already known: Agnès Michaux for Huysmans vivant (Le Cherche Midi) for the Goncourt Biography Prize Edmonde Charles-Roux, Johanna Siméant-Germanos for Youssef ou la fidélité à soi (Anamosa) for the Book and Human Rights Prize, and Paul Gasnier and his narrator Pierre Rochefort for La collision (Écoutez lire – Gallimard) for the Ginkgo Prize.
Detailed program
As of mid-August 2026, the City of Nancy has not yet published the schedule of events, the marquee floor plan, or the list of attending authors. These documents will be available at lelivresurlaplace.nancy.fr.
Highlights Livre sur la Place 2026
- Joint presidency: Élie Barnavi and Elias Sanbar, historians and former ambassadors, one Israeli and the other Palestinian
- Goncourt Biography Prize Edmonde Charles-Roux awarded to Agnès Michaux for Huysmans vivant (Le Cherche Midi)
- Book and Human Rights Prize presented on Friday, September 11, to Johanna Siméant-Germanos at City Hall
- Ginkgo – Louis Pasteur Prize presented on Sunday, September 13, to Paul Gasnier and narrator Pierre Rochefort, followed by a reading
- Prix Stanislas for debut novels chaired by Philippe Jaenada
- Three days under the marquee at Place de la Carrière, free admission
Programme Livre sur la Place 2026
What has been announced so far
As of mid-August 2026, the schedule of events, the marquee floor plan, and the full list of attending authors have not yet been published. However, five guest presidents and three award winners have already been confirmed.
Friday, September 11, 2026
- Book and Human Rights Prize, 24th edition — awarded to Johanna Siméant-Germanos for Youssef ou la fidélité à soi : enquête sur l'engagement, la violence et l'exil (Anamosa) · Nancy City Hall, Place Stanislas · time to be announced. The jury, chaired by writer and journalist Abnousse Shalmani, met on July 10, 2026. The prize includes a €3,000 grant from the City of Nancy.
Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Ginkgo – Louis Pasteur Prize, 7th edition, audiobook category — awarded to Paul Gasnier for La collision, narrated by Pierre Rochefort (Écoutez lire – Gallimard), followed by a reading from the book · time and location to be announced. The jury, chaired by Oxmo Puccino, met on July 9, 2026, at the Clinique Louis Pasteur. Prize money: €1,000 for the narrator, €500 for the author.
Prizes awarded during the festival, date to be announced
- Goncourt Biography Prize Edmonde Charles-Roux — Agnès Michaux for Huysmans vivant (Le Cherche Midi), selected by the Académie Goncourt on May 5, 2026. The Academy awards €3,000 to the winner, with an additional €3,000 provided by the City of Nancy. This prize has been presented in Nancy during the festival since 1980.
- Prix Stanislas, 11th edition, for the best debut novel of the autumn literary season — jury chaired by Philippe Jaenada, winner of the 2017 Prix Femina for La Serpe. The shortlist and winner have yet to be announced.
- Nancy Bookstores – Le Point Prize, City of Nancy Golden Leaf – Batigère, Veolia Foundation Environmental Book Prize, Grand Est Book Prize, and Réseau Stan Metropolitan Prize — 2026 winners yet to be announced.
The two 2026 shortlists already released
Book and Human Rights Prize, the eight nominated titles:
- Inceste d'État : quand la justice livre les enfants victimes à leurs bourreaux — Romane Brisard (Stock)
- Prisonnières politiques en Espagne : fin et sortie de dictature — Irène Gimenez (CNRS Éditions)
- Les oubliés : enquête aux racines de la colère française — François-Xavier Ménage (Robert Laffont)
- Les morts cachés de la République : enquête sur les déserts médicaux — Julie Pichot (L'Observatoire)
- Une tragédie occultée de la guerre d'Algérie : les camps de regroupement — Lorraine Rossignol (Actes Sud)
- Youssef ou la fidélité à soi : enquête sur l'engagement, la violence et l'exil — Johanna Siméant-Germanos (Anamosa), winner
- Comme on les enferme : dans les centres de rétention, de Paris à Lampedusa — Louise Tassin (La Découverte)
- La jungle du café : enquête sur un trafic mondial — Pierre Wolf-Mandroux (Plon)
Ginkgo – Louis Pasteur Prize, the ten nominated audiobooks:
- Une pension en Italie — Philippe Besson, narrated by Stéphane Ronchewski (Lizzie)
- Petit fruit — Marion Fayolle, narrated by Alice de Lencquesaing (Écoutez lire – Gallimard)
- Très brève théorie de l'enfer — Jérôme Ferrari, narrated by Pierre-François Garel and Dea Liane (Actes Sud audio)
- La collision — Paul Gasnier, narrated by Pierre Rochefort (Écoutez lire – Gallimard), winner
- Murmuration — Sylvie Germain, narrated by the author (Éditions des femmes / La bibliothèque des voix)
- Comme pour se battre — Hélène Lotito, narrated by Marie-Sophie Ferdane (Éditions Fugue)
- L'homme sous l'orage — Gaëlle Nohant, narrated by Anne Le Coutour (Lizzie)
- Une unique lueur — Fred Vargas, narrated by Christophe Brault (Écoutez lire – Gallimard)
- Les orphelins — Éric Vuillard, narrated by Denis Podalydès (Actes Sud audio)
- Toutes les vies — Rebeka Warrior, narrated by the author (Audiolib)
Authors already announced by their publishers
Grasset has announced 17 of its authors for the three-day event: Myriam Anissimov, Maylis Besserie, Sara Bourre, Pascal Bruckner, Margaux Cassan, Catel, Ananda Devi, Samuel Dock, Alain Genestar, Adrien Goetz, Hélène Gestern, Christophe Ono-dit-Biot, Thélyson Orélien, Jean-Noël Orengo, Abnousse Shalmani, Sara Stridsberg, and Esther Teillard. The full list of festival authors is still to come.
Opening Hours
The 2026 marquee opening hours have not yet been published. In 2025, it was open Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Prices Livre sur la Place 2026
Practical information — Livre sur la Place
Practical Information
Location
Place de la Carrière, 54000 Nancy. The fair is held under a large marquee set up on the Place de la Carrière, an extension of the famous Place Stanislas, right in the heart of Nancy's historic center. This 18th-century architectural ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dates and Opening Hours
The fair takes place every year on the second weekend of September (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), marking the start of the national literary season. Typical opening hours:
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Hours may vary from year to year. Please check the official website for the definitive schedule for each edition.
Admission
Free admission. All activities, literary meetings, book signings, panel discussions, and award ceremonies are free to attend. No booking is required, unless otherwise specified for certain special events.
Getting There
By train: Nancy-Ville station (TGV and TER), then a 15-minute walk via Rue Stanislas to Place Stanislas and Place de la Carrière. The station is served by the TGV Est from Paris in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
By tram: Line T1, stop at Cathédrale or Saint-Georges, then a 5-minute walk.
By bus: Stan network, several lines serve Nancy city center.
By car: Charles-III and Stanislas-Meurthe underground parking lots are in the immediate vicinity. Access via the A31 motorway (Nancy-Centre exit) and the A33.
By bike: vélOstan'lib stations are available near Place Stanislas and the Palais du Gouvernement.
Accessibility
The marquee and the fair areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Volunteers are on hand to guide and assist visitors with disabilities.
Contact
Le Livre sur la Place — Ville de Nancy
Phone: 03 83 85 30 37
Email: [email protected]
Website: lelivresurlaplace.nancy.fr
Dining and Services
Dining and relaxation areas are set up on-site and around the Place de la Carrière. The many cafés, brasseries, and restaurants on Place Stanislas and in the historic city center are also just a few steps away from the fair.
Le Livre sur la Place: The first literary fair of the back-to-school season
Since 1979, Le Livre sur la Place has opened the literary back-to-school season in France every year. Created under the patronage of the Académie Goncourt, this fair has become over the decades the premier national literary event of the autumn. Organized by the City of Nancy in partnership with the booksellers' association "Lire à Nancy", it brings together over 500 authors and attracts nearly 130,000 visitors over three days, in the exceptional setting of the Place de la Carrière, an 18th-century architectural gem inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
A heritage setting in the heart of Nancy
Set up since 2004 under a large marquee on the Place de la Carrière, extending from the famous Place Stanislas, Le Livre sur la Place benefits from a unique setting in France. The urban ensemble designed by Emmanuel Héré in the 18th century, listed by UNESCO, gives the fair a majestic yet friendly atmosphere. Visitors stroll between the stands of booksellers and publishers, discover new releases, and meet authors in a decor of gilded railings and classical facades.
Prestigious literary awards
Le Livre sur la Place is the venue for the presentation of several recognized literary awards. The Prix Goncourt de la biographie — Edmonde Charles-Roux, awarded since 1981 with the support of the Académie Goncourt, is one of the highlights of the fair. The Prix Stanislas, the Prix Ginkgo du Livre Audio, and other distinctions enrich the list of winners for each edition, making Nancy a true literary consecration site.
A rich program for all audiences
Each edition offers a dense program: major literary encounters hosted by journalists and critics, themed round tables, signing sessions with over 200 programmed authors, readings, writing workshops, and youth activities. All literary genres are represented: novels, essays, humanities, comics, manga, children's literature, and audiobooks. "Off-site" events complement the program throughout the year with the "Grandes Rencontres" cycle in Nancy's cultural venues.
A free, open, and committed festival
True to its mission of promoting reading, Le Livre sur la Place is entirely free. This accessibility, combined with the richness of the program and the prestige of the Goncourt patronage, makes it a unique event in the French literary landscape. The fair is also committed to editorial diversity, independent bookstores, and artistic and cultural education, with dedicated programs for schools and young audiences.
Where does it take place — Livre sur la Place
Livre sur la Place in brief
History of Livre sur la Place
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Nancy
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