Les Aventuriales
The festival of all imaginations in Ménétrol
2026
About Les Aventuriales
Les Aventuriales — edition 2026
2026 Edition: September 26th and 27th
The official poster, designed by illustrator Clémence Verdeil, announces the 12th edition of Les Aventuriales for Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday, September 27th, 2026, at the Salle Polyvalente in Ménétrol, with free admission. The registration page on the official website and the association's Instagram bio confirm these dates.
Exhibitors have been announced in waves since June: 23 publishing houses, three illustrators, ten artisans, and two independent author collectives are listed on the website as of mid-August 2026. However, the schedule for conferences, round tables, and workshops has not yet been released, and the "Guest Authors" page still displays "coming soon." According to the association's FAQ, the program is published on the website and social media as soon as it is finalized, and printed copies are distributed at the Aventuriales stand during the weekend.
The 2026 Aventuriales Prize
The association's literary prize honors a French-language science fiction, fantasy, or speculative fiction novel published by an independent small press. Six titles were in the running, read and evaluated by patrons of twelve partner libraries until June 30th, 2026. The winner will be announced in September 2026.
Highlights Les Aventuriales 2026
- 12th edition, September 26th and 27th, 2026, free admission
- 23 speculative fiction publishers announced, from Gulf Stream to Malpertuis
- Featuring author collectives Cœur de Plumes and Lémuzindés
- Announcement of the 2026 Aventuriales Prize winner, selected by readers from 12 libraries
- Artisan market with 10 creators and two food trucks
- Schedule and guest authors to be announced later
Programme Les Aventuriales 2026
Status as of mid-August 2026
Exhibitors for the 12th edition are being announced throughout the summer on the Les Aventuriales website. The schedule for conferences, round tables, and workshops is not yet online, and the "Guest Authors" page is still marked as "coming soon." Below is the complete information currently provided by the organizers.
The 23 announced publishing houses
- 1115 — SFFF / Novella
- Akaneko — SF, fantasy, thriller, and crime fiction
- Alter Real — Speculative fiction (urban fantasy, SFFF, paranormal romance), romance, and suspense
- Au Loup — Speculative fiction and children's literature
- Blogger de Loire — SFFF / Novella, featuring new releases
- Galaxies — Science fiction magazine (Galaxies New Series)
- Gephyre
- Goater — General publisher with speculative fiction collections
- Gulf Stream — Children's literature
- L'Alchimiste — Speculative fiction
- L'Arche des Songes — French-language speculative fiction
- La J. Robin Agency — Speculative fiction
- Le Labyrinthe de Théia — Speculative fiction (SF, fantasy) and crime fiction
- Le Lumignon — Children's literature, picture books, and illustrated non-fiction
- Livr'S — Genre fiction, including speculative fiction
- Luciférines — Fantasy and thrillers
- Malpertuis — Fantasy and horror
- Marathon — Genre fiction for teens and young adults
- Octoquill — Speculative fiction
- Plume Blanche — French-language speculative fiction
- Pulp Factory — Speculative fiction
- Voy'[el] — Speculative fiction, LGBTQ+ romance, children's literature
- Wlad — Speculative fiction
Illustration
- Bugmou (Eva Raynal) — A multi-talented artist from Lyon specializing in illustration, sewing, crochet, and 3D art. Her favorite subjects are maps and octopuses.
- Clémence Verdeil — Designer of the 2026 poster. She studies at ESMA in Montpellier and works primarily with acrylics, using bold, contrasting colors.
- FaeCoeurlam — Speculative fiction illustrator and book-themed creator; she will be signing books near Axelle Colau's grimoires.
Independent Author Collectives
- Cœur de Plumes — A collective of independent authors presenting their latest novels.
- Lémuzindés — A collective of five SFFF authors, including Dominique Lémuri, Géraldine Oneray, Sophie Moulay, and Lili Bagage.
Artisan Market — 10 creators
- Atelier Arc d'Iris — Natural stone jewelry set in copper wire
- Aux Francs Délices — Artisanal cookies and treats
- Gomori – Le Petit peuple Golem — Handcrafted figurines and merchandise inspired by a world blending Japanese mythology and fantasy
- Inka-G créations — Unique dark fantasy pieces inspired by forests, myths, and symbols
- L'Atelier de Jeh' — Jewelry and accessories embedded with dried plants foraged in the Auvergne Volcanoes, assembled in Clermont-Ferrand
- La Pièce de Verre — Tiffany-style stained glass, fairy-tale themes, and Dungeons & Dragons
- Le Chaudron — Embroidered pouches for books and e-readers, plush dragons, fantasy and romantasy accessories
- Lorine Crochet — Polymer clay figurines, wooden pins, and art prints
- Mél'cuir — Handmade leather goods, mushroom lamps, illuminated globes, and leather jewelry
- VPB – Bijoux Artisanaux Steampunk — Steampunk jewelry made from vintage mechanical watches, gears, and natural stones
The 2026 Aventuriales Prize
The winner will be announced in September 2026. Six novels were shortlisted, read, and rated by readers from partner libraries until June 30th, 2026:
- Aatea — Anouck Faure (Argyll)
- Dieu et sorcière — Angel Arekin (Plumes Blanches)
- La Fille qui sauva Hiroshima — Stéphane Desienne (Gephyre)
- Les poches pleines, les poches vides — François Manson (Blogger de Loire)
- Projet Aurora 2142 — Michael Fenris (Des livres et du Rêve)
- Succubus Vendetta — Frédéric Czilinder (Le Héron d'argent)
Twelve institutions participated in the voting: the Combrailles, Sioule et Morge intercommunal library network, Les Jardins de la Culture media library in Riom, the Saint-Sylvestre-Pragoulin municipal library, the René-Char media library in Issoire, the Valery-Larbaud media library in Vichy, the Mond'Arverne Communauté library network, the Tours municipal library, the Sciences and KAP university libraries of Clermont Auvergne University, the Saint-Drézéry library, the Bousquet-d'Orb media library, and the Mizoën municipal library.
Ongoing Activities and Spaces
- Cosplay contest throughout the weekend: visitors are encouraged to come in costume.
- Conferences and round tables held on the upper floor of the community hall, broadcast live to the video marquee, which is accessible at ground level.
- Relaxation and social area at the back of the hall: two marquees with high tables, chairs, and stools.
- Quiet marquee at the back of the park, near the parking entrance, for those needing a break.
- Aventuriales stand, located in the park and inside the hall, where the printed program is distributed.
- Raffle to benefit the association, with prizes donated by partners.
Food and Drink
- Association Bar — Tea, herbal tea, coffee, syrups, and small treats at affordable prices.
- Bo Bun Minute — Food truck serving Vietnamese cuisine.
- La Galette Bougnate — Food truck serving crêpes, galettes, salads, and burgers with Auvergne cheeses.
- Aux Francs Délices — Artisanal cookie stand.
- En Attendant Louise — A restaurant just steps from the festival, famous for its truffade.
Prices Les Aventuriales 2026
Practical information — Les Aventuriales
Practical Information
Location
Salle polyvalente, 1 rue des Anciens Combattants, 63200 Ménétrol, located about 15 kilometers north of Clermont-Ferrand.
Admission
Free entry for all visitors. Raffle tickets are sold on-site to support the association.
Schedule and Program
The association publishes the schedule and program on aventuriales.fr and its social media channels as soon as they are finalized. Printed programs are distributed throughout the weekend at the Aventuriales stand, in the park, and inside the hall.
Getting there by train
Riom / Châtel-Guyon station, on the TER network, is 8 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand. A bus connects Riom station to Ménétrol on Saturdays only.
Getting there by car
Estimated travel times provided by the organizers: 2 hours from Lyon, 3 hours 30 minutes from Montpellier, 4 hours from Bordeaux, 4 to 5 hours from Paris depending on the motorway, and 5 hours from Marseille or Nantes.
Parking
The parking lot in front of the Salle polyvalente only holds about 30 vehicles. The Riom Sud shopping center (Carrefour) allows parking in its lot, located 300 meters away on the other side of the expressway; a pedestrian underpass leads to the festival site. Three spaces are reserved for people with reduced mobility in front of the entrance; please book these in advance with the association.
Accessibility
The entire ground floor is wheelchair accessible, both indoors and outdoors, though some grassy areas can be difficult to navigate in rainy weather. Conferences and round-table discussions are held upstairs, accessible only by stairs; these are broadcast live in the video marquee, which is on the ground level. A small marquee at the back of the park, near the parking entrance, serves as a quiet space for resting.
On-site
The Salle polyvalente does not have Wi-Fi, but mobile network coverage is good. The association runs a bar, and food trucks are located behind the hall in the relaxation area, which is equipped with two marquees featuring high tables, tables, and chairs. The association does not organize accommodation or carpooling, except for invited authors.
Contact
Association Les Aventuriales — contact form available at aventuriales.fr
The festival of all imaginations
Created in 2015, Les Aventuriales is a festival dedicated to imaginary literature that takes place every year on the last full weekend of September in Ménétrol, on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand. In a decade, this book fair has become the unmissable event for fans of fantasy, science fiction, the fantastic, and tales and legends in Auvergne.
A large-scale fair
The festival hosts nearly 40 publishing houses and more than 130 authors each year, along with illustrators and artisans. More than 2,500 visitors gather to discover the latest releases, meet their favorite authors, and participate in numerous activities. This gathering makes Les Aventuriales one of the most important imaginary literature fairs in France.
A rich and varied program
Beyond the publishers' stands and signing sessions, the festival offers a dense program:
- Thematic conferences and round tables addressing current issues in imaginary literature and illustration.
- Writing and illustration workshops led by professional authors and illustrators.
- Cosplay contest bringing together highly talented costume creators.
- Board games, pixel art, karaoke, and treasure hunts for children and adults.
- Concerts related to the universes of imagination.
The Prix des Aventuriales
Since 2020, the festival has awarded the Prix des Aventuriales, a literary prize that rewards an imaginary novel published by an independent publishing house that does not have wide bookstore visibility. Readers vote through a network of partner libraries, making this prize a true popular choice.
An artisanal and gourmet market
The festival is accompanied by an artisanal and gourmet market offering original creations and local products from Auvergne. This gourmet aspect reinforces the festival's regional roots and allows visitors to discover the flavors of the region.
A free and family-friendly event
Admission to Les Aventuriales is completely free, making it an accessible event for everyone. The festival is designed to welcome all audiences, from the youngest (from 5 years old) to adults, with activities adapted to each age group.
Where does it take place — Les Aventuriales
Les Aventuriales in brief
History of Les Aventuriales
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Ménétrol
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