Les Préférences Festival
A traveling literary festival between Nantes and Saint-Florent-le-Vieil
2026
About Les Préférences Festival
The Festival Les Préférences is a traveling literary festival that emerged from the Journées Gracq, an event created to honor the writer Julien Gracq, who passed away in 2007 in Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. Organized by the Maison Julien Gracq, the festival takes its name from the collection of essays Gracq published in 1961, titled "Préférences." Each year, the event journeys from Nantes to the Loire Valley by bike and boat, with stops in Ancenis, Cholet, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, and Angers.
The program features a blend of panel discussions, readings, concerts, and exhibitions focused on contemporary literary creation, with the artistic direction entrusted to a different author for each edition.
Les Préférences Festival — edition 2026
The fifth edition, curated by author Abigail Assor, is part of the "Saison Méditerranée" initiative. It brings together writers from the Middle East and beyond to explore the transformations shaping their homelands. Guests include Tahar Ben Jelloun, Kamel Daoud, Karim Kattan, Naidra Ayadi, and Marie Nimier.
The festival kicks off at the Saint-Florent-le-Vieil abbey church with a dialogue between the voice of Walid Ben Selim and the harp of Marie-Marguerite Cano, followed by readings, an evening of Tunisian confidences, and readings aboard a traditional 'toue' boat on the Loire.
Programme Les Préférences Festival 2026
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
- Inaugural concert "Ici et maintenant" — Walid Ben Selim (vocals) and Marie-Marguerite Cano (harp) · Abbey Church, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- "Les Confidences tunisiennes" · Maison Julien Gracq, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil
Friday, September 18, 2026
- Bilingual reading of "Le Rivage des Syrtes" · Maison Julien Gracq, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026
- Readings aboard a 'toue' boat on the Loire, 10 spots per boat
The festival runs from September 15 to 21 across Nantes, Ancenis, Cholet, Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, and Angers. Round tables, meet-and-greets, and exhibitions complement these four ticketed events, though a detailed hourly schedule has not yet been released by the Maison Julien Gracq.
Prices Les Préférences Festival 2026
Practical information — Les Préférences Festival
The festival is headquartered at the Maison Julien Gracq, located at 1 rue du Grenier à sel in Saint-Florent-le-Vieil. Additional stops are held in Nantes, Ancenis, Cholet, and Angers.
For information, please call 02 41 19 73 55. Tickets for paid events are available via the Scènes de Pays and HelloAsso platforms.
Where does it take place — Les Préférences Festival
Les Préférences Festival in brief
Other festivals near Saint-Florent-le-Vieil
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