Les Musicales de Conques
Classical and world music concerts at the Conques Abbey
2026
About Rencontres Musicales de Conques
Les Musicales de Conques is a concert series held in Conques-en-Rouergue, Aveyron, taking place within the Sainte-Foy Abbey and the auditorium of the Centre Européen de Conques. The festival is organized by the Association Artistique et Culturelle de Conques (AACC), with Anima Nostra serving as executive producer.
Formerly known as Les Rencontres Musicales de Conques, the event was established in 1983 and was most recently directed by Jean-François Zygel. In 2026, composer and choir conductor Christopher Gibert took over as artistic advisor, and the program was rebranded as Les Musicales.
Rencontres Musicales de Conques — edition 2026
For its inaugural season under the name Musicales, Conques kicks off with a solo piano recital by Toulouse-based jazz musician Étienne Manchon. Three more concerts follow in early August: Bach's motets performed by the Dulci Jubilo choir in the abbey church, Mediterranean songs by the Samanûr ensemble, and finally, baroque concertos by the Les Passions orchestra. Handel's Messiah brings the season to a close on December 20th.
This is the first season of the Musicales de Conques under the artistic direction of Christopher Gibert, following the previous years' Rencontres Musicales de Conques. The event is organized by the AACC, with Anima Nostra serving as the executive producer.
"Licht!" is a co-production with the Beaulieu-en-Rouergue Abbey festival and the Sylvanès Abbey. The performance took place on August 2nd in Ginals, arrives in Conques on August 7th and Cahors on the 8th, before heading to Sylvanès on August 9th. The narrative interludes between the motets were written specifically for this project by Stéphane Héaume, and a new work by Thierry Escaich was commissioned for the program.
Concerts are held in the Abbatiale Sainte-Foy and the auditorium of the Centre Européen de Conques.
Highlights Rencontres Musicales de Conques 2026
- July 24: Solo piano recital by Étienne Manchon at the auditorium
- August 7: "Licht!", Bach motets by Dulci Jubilo, featuring a work by Thierry Escaich
- August 8: The Samanûr ensemble performing Mediterranean songs
- August 9: Baroque concertos by the Les Passions orchestra
- December 20: Handel's Messiah performed by La Chapelle Rhénane
Programme Rencontres Musicales de Conques 2026
Friday, July 24, 2026
- 8:30 PM — "Musique du temps présent" · Étienne Manchon, solo piano · Centre Européen Auditorium
Friday, August 7, 2026
- 9:30 PM — "Licht! Autour des motets de Bach" · Dulci Jubilo, conducted by Christopher Gibert · Étienne Manchon on organ, Claire Gratton on cello, narrative by Stéphane Héaume read by Michel Wolkowitsky · Abbatiale
Saturday, August 8, 2026
- 8:30 PM — "Mémoire des mers, chants et poésies de la Méditerranée" · Samanûr Ensemble · Centre Européen Auditorium
Sunday, August 9, 2026
- 9:30 PM — "Baroque Concertos" (Boismortier, Telemann, Bach, and Vivaldi) · Les Passions Orchestra, conducted by Jean-Marc Andrieu · Abbatiale
Sunday, December 20, 2026
- 3:00 PM — "Handel: The Messiah, director's cut" · La Chapelle Rhénane, conducted by Benoît Haller · Abbatiale
Full program published by the organizer (source: cultureconques.fr, 2026 Musicales schedule). Tickets: billetterie.festik.net/conques.
Prices Rencontres Musicales de Conques 2026
Practical information — Rencontres Musicales de Conques
Concert venues
- Abbatiale Sainte-Foy: Place de l'Abbaye, 12320 Conques-en-Rouergue
- Auditorium du Centre Européen de Conques: 6 rue Prosper-Mérimée, 12320 Conques-en-Rouergue
Ticketing
Book online at billetterie.festik.net/conques, at www.cultureconques.fr, or by calling 05 65 71 24 00.
Contact
Association Artistique et Culturelle de Conques, 6 rue Prosper-Mérimée, 12320 Conques-en-Rouergue. Phone: 05 65 71 24 00. Email: [email protected]. Accommodation: Conques Tourist Office (www.tourisme-conques.fr).
A new name and new artistic direction
For over forty years, the festival was known as the Rencontres Musicales de Conques. In 2026, the association appointed Christopher Gibert—a composer, choir conductor, and artistic director of the Abbaye de Beaulieu-en-Rouergue festival—as its new artistic director. In his vision statement, he aims to create a dialogue between the classical repertoire (Bach, Telemann, Handel) and world music and song.
The venues
Concerts are held in the Sainte-Foy Abbey, a masterpiece of Romanesque art featuring stained glass by Pierre Soulages, and in the auditorium of the Centre Européen de Conques, located just a few steps from the abbey.
The organizing association
The AACC promotes cultural creation and outreach in Conques and its surrounding areas. Since 2023, it has offered a cultural season running from March to December, with Les Musicales serving as the musical component alongside lectures, concerts, performances, and amateur workshops.
Where does it take place — Rencontres Musicales de Conques
Rencontres Musicales de Conques in brief
Other festivals near Conques-en-Rouergue
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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