Lire à Limoges

Lire à Limoges: over forty years of literary passion

Founded in 1984 on the initiative of elected official Ellen Constans, the Lire à Limoges book fair has established itself over the decades as one of the unmissable events in the French literary scene. Ranked among the ten largest book festivals in France, it brings together more than 200 authors from all literary horizons every June for a weekend of meetings, signings, and sharing with a passionate public.

All literatures in the spotlight

The strength of Lire à Limoges lies in its ability to embrace the entire literary spectrum. General literature, crime fiction, comics, children's literature, and regional literature coexist in a rich and accessible program. Visitors can wander between signing stands, attend major interviews with prominent writers, participate in creative workshops, or discover emerging talents highlighted by the fair's president.

A free and open fair for everyone

True to its popular vocation, Lire à Limoges is entirely free. This accessibility makes the fair unique and helps attract nearly 18,000 visitors each year. Friday is dedicated to schoolchildren, with meetings between authors and students in the city's classrooms, while the weekend is open to the general public.

Prestigious literary awards

The fair awards several prizes that recognize the diversity of literary creation: the Prix Grand Feu, for authors from Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Prix Cazettes for comics, the Prix Biscuit and the Prix Étincelles for young readers, as well as the Prix des écoles du Val de l'Aurence. These distinctions demonstrate the fair's commitment to reading and transmission.

Strong territorial roots

Organized by the City of Limoges, the fair benefits from solid institutional support and a network of partner bookstores — Anecdotes, Pages et Plume, Rev'en Pages, and Bulles 2 Papier — which actively participate in animating the weekend. Food trucks located near the site complete the friendly offering of this event, which has become a highlight of Limoges' cultural life.