Les Détours de Babel
World music, jazz, and new music festival
About Détours de Babel
Born in 2011 from the merger of the 38e Rugissants and the Grenoble Jazz Festival, Les Détours de Babel is a festival of new music spearheaded by the Centre International des Musiques Nomades. Every spring, for three weeks, it takes over Grenoble and about thirty towns in the Isère region with nearly 80 concerts, workshops, and musical brunches. At the crossroads of contemporary music, jazz, and world music, it champions creation open to cultural diversity.
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Les Détours de Babel: A Nomadic Festival at the Crossroads of World Music
Established in 2011, the Les Détours de Babel festival was born from an ambitious vision: to merge two major musical events on the Grenoble scene—the 38e Rugissants, a contemporary music festival founded in 1989 by Benoît Thiebergien, and the Grenoble Jazz Festival, directed by Jacques Panisset since the same year. From this union emerged a unique project, supported by the Centre International des Musiques Nomades (CIMN), exploring the fluid territories between jazz, world music, and contemporary creation.
A Nomadism Rooted in the Isère Region
The festival proudly embraces its signature "rooted nomadism." For three weeks each spring, Les Détours de Babel spreads across more than 30 towns in the Isère, gracing major performance venues—like MC2, la Belle Électrique, and l'Hexagone Scène Nationale—as well as heritage sites such as the Théâtre Sainte-Marie-d'en-Bas, the Musée Dauphinois, and the Fort Barraux. It also extends to schools, libraries, hospitals, and mountain locations. This itinerant approach brings music closer to audiences, reaching both rural and urban areas.
A Transcultural and Demanding Program
Each edition revolves around an annual theme that examines the social, aesthetic, and imaginative shifts of our time. The festival champions not a specific musical genre, but an approach: that of musical creation open to the world and cultural diversity. The program blends internationally renowned artists with emerging talents, world premieres with participatory events, all fostering an spirit of encounter and sonic fusion.
Diverse Formats for All Audiences
Les Détours de Babel offers a wide array of formats:
- Evening concerts in partner venues across the Grenoble metropolitan area
- Musical brunches on weekends in heritage locations
- Babel Tours: itinerant concerts throughout the Isère region
- Babel Kawa: collective listening sessions on Mondays, over coffee
- Babel Solos: artist discoveries on Wednesday afternoons
- Babelino: shows for young audiences on Saturdays
- Workshops and encounters: wild instrument making, sound collecting, artist meet-and-greets
A Major Player on the European Music Scene
With nearly 80 concerts and around twenty new creations per edition, Les Détours de Babel has established itself as a must-attend event of the spring music season in France. The festival is a member of France Festivals, the Europe Jazz Network, and the European Festivals Association, underscoring its international reach. Under the direction of Joséphine Grollemund and Pierre-Henri Frappat, the CIMN continues its year-round support for artistic creation through its "Chantiers" (Workshops), international calls for projects aimed at young creators.
Détours de Babel — edition 2026
The 16th edition of Les Détours de Babel runs from March 13 to April 5, 2026, in Grenoble and 34 towns in the Isère region. With 80 concerts, 18 international and French creations, musical brunches, shows for young audiences, and workshops, the festival this year explores the theme of the ocean through world music, jazz, and new music.
16th Edition — The Call of the Ocean
The 16th edition of Les Détours de Babel unfolds from March 13 to April 5, 2026, across 34 towns in the Isère region, featuring an ambitious program of 80 concerts over three weeks. This year, the ocean is at the heart of the festival's theme, with creations evoking drifts, odysseys, and infinite horizons.
An Exceptional International Program
The festival presents 18 international and French creations, including several world premieres. Among the featured artists of this edition are:
- Etenesh Wassié: Ethiopian voice bridging tradition and experimentation
- Césaria Evora Orchestra: A tribute to the "barefoot diva" of Cape Verde
- Schubert Now!: Contemporary reinterpretation of classical repertoire
- Sona Jobarteh: The first female kora player from the Mandinka tradition
- Bia Ferreira: An engaged voice from Brazil, blending soul, rap, and MPB
- Arat Kilo: Ethio-jazz groove between Addis Ababa and Paris
- Kolinga: Engaged afro-pop (concert for teens on March 21)
- Silvia Pérez Cruz: A multifaceted Catalan artist
Young Audience Shows — Babelino
The Babelino program offers shows for families at the Théâtre Sainte-Marie-d'en-Bas:
- Cavalcade en Cocazie — Reder Nouhaj (March 21, ages 6+): Eastern European violin
- Des Rivages — Maluca Beleza Trio (March 28, ages 6+): marine universe, whale songs, and shadow theater
- Over the Sky — Trio 20° dans le Noir (April 4, ages 1+): interactive concert with a giant accordion book
Musical Brunches and Workshops
The Musical Brunches will be held at the Musée Dauphinois on March 22 and the Fort Barraux on March 29, offering moments of musical sharing at a pay-as-you-wish price in exceptional heritage locations. A family sound collecting workshop is also scheduled for March 28.
An Engaged and Accessible Festival
True to its philosophy of openness, the festival offers multiple formats—evening concerts, brunches, participatory workshops, encounters—to reach all audiences. The "Chantiers" (Workshops), international calls for projects, allow young creators to present their work within the festival framework, ensuring a constant renewal of the music scene.
Programme Détours de Babel 2026
Highlights of the 2026 Program
- Etenesh Wassié: Ethiopian voice between tradition and experimentation
- Césaria Evora Orchestra: Tribute to the Cape Verdean diva
- Sona Jobarteh: First female kora player from the Mandinka tradition
- Bia Ferreira: Soul, rap, and MPB from Brazil
- Arat Kilo: Ethio-jazz between Addis Ababa and Paris
- Schubert Now!: Contemporary reinterpretation of classical repertoire
- Silvia Pérez Cruz: Multifaceted Catalan voice
- Kolinga: Engaged afro-pop
- Babelino: 3 shows for young audiences
- Musical Brunches: Musée Dauphinois and Fort Barraux
Highlights Détours de Babel 2026
Anticipated Moments of the 2026 Edition
- Theme: The ocean — odysseys, drifts, and infinite horizons
- 80 concerts in 34 towns across Isère over 3 weeks
- 18 international and French creations, including several world premieres
- Sona Jobarteh: First female kora player from the Mandinka tradition
- Césaria Evora Orchestra: Vibrant tribute to Cape Verdean music
- Babelino: Young audience program with shows starting from age 1
Prices Détours de Babel 2026
Practical information — Détours de Babel
Practical Information
Festival Venues
Les Détours de Babel takes place in over 30 towns in the Isère region. The main concert venues in Grenoble and its metropolitan area include:
- Théâtre Sainte-Marie-d'en-Bas — 38 rue Très-Cloîtres, 38000 Grenoble
- La Belle Électrique — 11 esplanade Andry Farcy, 38000 Grenoble
- MC2: Grenoble — 4 rue Paul Claudel, 38100 Grenoble
- Hexagone Scène Nationale — 24 avenue des Martyrs, 38240 Meylan
- Musée Dauphinois — 30 rue Maurice Gignoux, 38000 Grenoble
- Fort Barraux — Place Aristide Briand, 38530 Barraux
- Espace 600 — 97 galerie de l'Arlequin, 38100 Grenoble
- Auditorium Olivier Messiaen — 38000 Grenoble
Ticket Prices
Prices vary depending on the venue and concert:
- Concerts in partner venues: pricing set by each venue (approximately 5 to 25 EUR)
- Concerts at Théâtre Sainte-Marie-d'en-Bas: single price of 15 EUR
- Musical brunches: free pricing (pay-as-you-wish)
- Babelino (young audiences): reduced prices
- Reduced rates: available for groups of 6 or 10 people, depending on the venue
Ticketing
Book online at detoursdebabel.fr or by phone at 09 67 49 51 37. Ticketing usually opens in February-March for the year's edition.
Getting There
By car: Grenoble is accessible via the A48 (from Lyon), A41 (from Chambéry/Geneva), and A51 (from Gap/Marseille) motorways. Parking available in the city center.
By train: Grenoble station is served by TGV high-speed trains from Paris (3h), Lyon (1h15), and Marseille (2h45). The TAG tram and bus network serves the main festival venues.
By public transport: The TAG network (tram lines A, B, C, D, E, and buses) provides access to most concert venues in the Grenoble metropolitan area.
Contact
Centre International des Musiques Nomades (CIMN)
17, rue Bayard — 38000 Grenoble
Tel: 09 67 49 51 37
Email: [email protected]
Website: detoursdebabel.fr
Accessibility
The festival is committed to making its events accessible to all. Accessibility conditions vary by venue. It is recommended to contact ticketing for any questions regarding assistance for people with disabilities.
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Where does it take place — Détours de Babel
Théâtre Sainte-Marie-d'en-Bas et lieux divers en Isère
17 rue Bayard, 38000 Grenoble