Livr'à Vannes
The great literary fair of Brittany on the quays of Vannes
2026
About Livr'à Vannes
Livr'à Vannes — edition 2026
19th Edition — Livr'à Vannes 2026
From Friday, June 12th to Sunday, June 14th, 2026, Livr'à Vannes — Levr'e Gwened will set up its open-air book village on the Esplanade Simone-Veil, on the right bank of the Vannes marina. For its 19th edition, the festival brings together over 200 authors covering general literature, Breton culture, children's books, thrillers, comics, and manga, in both French and Breton.
Three meeting spaces, around fifty events
The program of talks is spread across the Auditorium des Carmes, the Espace Rencontres, and the Espace Café littéraire, all with free access subject to availability. These are complemented by the book signing area, the main bookstore, and the Kiosque. Friday morning is reserved for a school day for local students, organized by the city's libraries.
2026 Honorary Presidency: The Écrivains de marine
For this edition, themed around the "400 years of the French Navy," Livr'à Vannes has entrusted the honorary presidency to the Écrivains de marine, an association founded in 2003 by Jean-François Deniau and the French Navy. Expected in Vannes are: Patrice Franceschi (president of the corps), Patrick Deville, Arnaud de La Grange, Dominique Le Brun, Anne Quéméré, Yann Queffélec, Erik Orsenna, as well as Rear Admiral François Guichard, mission head for the "400 years of the French Navy" celebration.
Festival Godmother and Godfather
Irène Frain is the festival's godmother and Yann Queffélec is its godfather, both major figures in Breton and French literature. The festival is organized by the City of Vannes, chaired by Patrick Mahé, with artistic direction by Sylvie Rostain.
Exhibition: "Le Murmure des Égarés"
Located at the Kiosque within the festival grounds, the exhibition "Le Murmure des Égarés" is an original creation by photographer and author Aurélia Frey and visual/sound artist Emmanuel Faivre. Through images and soundscapes, the two artists trace the footsteps of Breton fishermen—the "Icelanders"—who sailed from the 16th century until the 1930s to fish for cod in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
"Auteurs du Pays de Vannes" Selection
As every year, around twenty authors from the Morbihan region are highlighted in the "Auteurs du Pays de Vannes" selection, alongside stands from the Association des Écrivains bretons, Ti ar Vro, the Institut culturel de Bretagne, local libraries, the Société polymathique, and the Amis de Vannes.
Highlights Livr'à Vannes 2026
- 19th edition of Brittany's largest literary festival, held on the docks of the Vannes marina
- Over 200 authors signing books and around fifty talks, meet-and-greets, and debates
- Michel Bussi, Virginie Grimaldi, Franck Thilliez, Sorj Chalandon, Olivia Ruiz, Bartabas, Philippe Torreton, Aurélie Valognes, Erik Orsenna, Mélissa Da Costa, Pascal Bruckner, Pierre Assouline, and Sylvie Germain among the guests
- Honorary presidency by the Écrivains de marine for the 400th anniversary of the French Navy: Patrice Franceschi, Patrick Deville, Arnaud de La Grange, Dominique Le Brun, Anne Quéméré, and Rear Admiral François Guichard
- Irène Frain as godmother and Yann Queffélec as godfather of the festival
- The Great Dictation "French Navy" special by Julien Soulié, Sunday, June 14th at 9:30 AM at the Auditorium des Carmes
- Award ceremony for the three literary prizes (Ville de Vannes, Young Adult, Breton Language Novel) on Saturday, June 13th at 10:45 AM
- Exhibition "Le Murmure des Égarés" by Aurélia Frey and Emmanuel Faivre at the Kiosque, free admission
- "Auteurs du Pays de Vannes" selection and a large bookstore with ten stands
- Free admission, site accessible to people with reduced mobility and equipped with induction loops
Programme Livr'à Vannes 2026
Friday, June 12th, 2026 — 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The morning is dedicated to the school day organized by the libraries; the festival opens to the public at 2:00 PM.
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — Meeting with Hervé Jaouen · Espace Rencontres
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — "Glasgow 76: l'épopée des Verts" with Denis Chaumier and Patrick Mahé · Café littéraire
- 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM — Meeting with Natacha Calestrémé · Auditorium des Carmes
- 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM — Meeting with Emanuele Arioli · Espace Rencontres
- 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM — Meeting with Amanda Sthers · Café littéraire
- 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM — Meeting with Mélissa Da Costa · Auditorium des Carmes
- 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM — "Elles écrivent en Bretagne": Lorraine Fouchet and Sophie Tal Men · Espace Rencontres
Saturday, June 13th, 2026 — 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM — Meeting with Virginie Grimaldi · Auditorium des Carmes
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM — Meeting with Philippe Vandel · Espace Rencontres
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM — "Au cœur de la forêt": Xavier de Moulins, Adeline Dieudonné, Jérôme Loubry · Café littéraire
- 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM — "L'école de la vie": Bartabas · Auditorium des Carmes
- 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM — "En compagnie de Gilles Legardinier" · Espace Rencontres
- 10:45 AM — Award ceremony for the three literary prizes · Café littéraire
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — "Heureux comme les TDAH!": Michel Cymes and Olivier Revol · Auditorium des Carmes
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — "Fresques": Catherine Bardon, Marie Charrel · Espace Rencontres
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — "Dans les secrets du pouvoir": Benjamin Dierstein, Patrice Duhamel, Ivan Sand · Café littéraire
- 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM — "Le poids des secrets": Coralie Janne, Isabelle Lagarrigue, Marie Vareille · Auditorium des Carmes
- 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM — "La montée du soir": Manon Fargetton, Claire Leost · Espace Rencontres
- 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM — "Les trois mousquetaires du thriller": Olivier Bal, Niko Tackian, Franck Thilliez · Café littéraire
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — Meeting with actor, director, and writer Félix Moati · Auditorium des Carmes
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — "Trois romancières puissantes": Sylvie Le Bihan, Gaëlle Nohant, Stéphanie Perez · Espace Rencontres
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — "L'humour est-il encore possible?": Jean-Michel Djian, Jonathan Lambert · Café littéraire
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — Meeting with Olivia Ruiz · Auditorium des Carmes
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — "Le poids de la famille": Pascal Bruckner, Alix de Saint-André · Espace Rencontres
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — "Variations littéraires": Olivia Elkaim, Dominique Missika, Colombe Schneck · Café littéraire
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — Meeting with Michel Bussi · Auditorium des Carmes
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — "Le pouvoir des livres": Pierre Assouline, Sylvie Germain, Alexandre Lacroix · Espace Rencontres
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — "Un été avec Bach": meeting with Erik Orsenna · Café littéraire
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM — Meeting with the Écrivains de marine, 2026 honorary presidents, and Rear Admiral François Guichard · Auditorium des Carmes
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM — Meeting with Emma Paris · Espace Rencontres
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM — "Polar classique": Jacques Expert, Nathalie Saint-Cricq · Café littéraire
- 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM — "La Marine nationale fête ses 400 ans!": Alain Boulaire, François Guichard, and Jean-Benoît Héron · Auditorium des Carmes
- 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM — Meeting with Aurélie Valognes · Espace Rencontres
- 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM — "Bretagne Monde": Maiwenn Raynaudon and Loeiza Alle, José-Manuel Lamarque, Jean-Michel Le Boulanger, and Yvon Boëlle · Café littéraire
Sunday, June 14th, 2026 — 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM — The Great Dictation, "French Navy" special, created and hosted by Julien Soulié · Auditorium des Carmes
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM — "L'amour des personnages": Philippe Besson, Alexia Stresi · Espace Rencontres
- 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM — "Intelligence artificielle: les codes ont changé": Aurélie Jean, Didier Van Cauwelaert · Café littéraire
- 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM — "Mille et une nuits, mille et une vies": Irène Frain · Espace Rencontres
- 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM — "Des figures légendaires, incroyables destins": Clelia Renucci, Jean-Marie Quéméner · Café littéraire
- 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM — Meeting with Sorj Chalandon · Auditorium des Carmes
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — Meeting with Philippe Torreton · Auditorium des Carmes
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — "L'expertise au service du polar": Sylvain Forge, Meï Lepage, Christophe Molmy · Espace Rencontres
- 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM — "Souris parce que c'est grave": Serena Giuliano, Sophie Rouvier, Julien Sandrel · Café littéraire
- 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM — "Polars voyageurs": Niels Labuzan, Mo Malo · Auditorium des Carmes
- 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM — Meeting with Jean-Paul Ollivier · Espace Rencontres
- 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM — "Une histoire populaire des bistrots" with Laurent Bihl · Café littéraire
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — "Quand la nature fait des siennes!": Chloé Nabedian, Laurent Romejko · Auditorium des Carmes
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — "Grandes figures de l'imagerie française": Gérard de Cortanze, Alfred de Montesquiou, Charles-Eloi Vial · Espace Rencontres
- 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM — "Jeux dangereux": Nicolas d'Estienne d'Orves, Karine Reysset · Café littéraire
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — "Refaire le lien": Julien Dufresne-Lamy, Jessé · Auditorium des Carmes
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — "Les années bonheur en chansons" with Fabien Lecœuvre · Espace Rencontres
- 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM — "Polar au féminin": Angelina Delcroix, Sonja Delzongle, Anouk Shutterberg · Café littéraire
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — "Polars bretons": Hugo Buan, Hervé Huguen, Pierre Pouchairet · Auditorium des Carmes
- 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM — "100% sagas": Mireille Calmel, Victor Dixen · Espace Rencontres
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM — "Savoirs bretons ancestraux": Bernard Rio · Auditorium des Carmes
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM — "Les princes de la chronique": Hervé Bellec, Hervé Hamon · Espace Rencontres
The Three Literary Prizes
- Prix de la Ville de Vannes — rewards a French novel published between September 2025 and March 2026
- Prix Jeunes adultes — created by the City of Vannes in 2018, it honors a French author whose readers are between 15 and 25 years old; the winner receives a €2,000 prize
- Prix du roman en langue bretonne — selection managed by the Institut culturel de Bretagne and Emglev Bro Gwened
Award ceremony for the three prizes on Saturday, June 13th at 10:45 AM at the festival.
Throughout the three days
- Over 200 authors signing books in the signing tents and at the main bookstore stands: L'Archipel des mots, Cheminant, Lenn ha Dilenn, Au Jardin des Bulles, Ti ar Vro / Institut culturel de Bretagne, Association des Écrivains bretons, Auteurs du Pays de Vannes, local libraries, Société polymathique, Amis de Vannes
- Book signings by reservation for Virginie Grimaldi (L'Archipel des mots bookstore) — Saturday 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — and for Emma Green (Cheminant bookstore) — Saturday 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Exhibition "Le Murmure des Égarés" by Aurélia Frey and Emmanuel Faivre, at the Kiosque, free admission
- Charity flash sale of unique tote bags and messenger bags made by the ESAT Saint-Georges de Crac'h using recycled event signage from the City, in front of the Kiosque, to benefit local Vannes charities
- Gourmet area with Breton flavors featuring Hatoup Diwan Gwened and Le Glacier ambulant
Official program subject to last-minute changes or cancellations; updates available online at livreavannes.fr and on the chalkboard at the festival reception desk.
Prices Livr'à Vannes 2026
Livr'à Vannes — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 12 June to 14 June 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Livr'à Vannes
Practical Information
Opening Hours
The fair is open on Friday from 2 pm to 7 pm, Saturday from 9:30 am to 7 pm, and Sunday from 9:30 am to 18 pm. Friday morning is reserved for a school day organized by the local libraries for students from the city and the surrounding area.
Location
The event takes place on the Esplanade Simone-Veil, on the right bank of the Vannes marina, outdoors under covered structures. The site is organized around the main bookstore, signing tents, the Meeting Space, the Literary Café, the Kiosk, and the gourmet area; major events are held at the Auditorium des Carmes, just a short walk from the esplanade.
Admission
Access to the fair, meetings, and exhibitions is completely free. Attendance at meetings is subject to available seating. Books are available for purchase at the stands of the participating booksellers and publishers.
Getting There
By car: Vannes is accessible via the RN165 from Nantes (1h30) and Lorient (45 min). A park-and-ride facility is available at Chorus, 2.6 km from the fair, with shuttle services and bus lines to the port. Other nearby parking options include the Rabine car park and the underground port car park.
By train: Vannes station is served by TGV from Paris-Montparnasse (2h30) and by TER Bretagne regional trains. The port is a 15-minute walk from the station.
By bike: Additional bicycle parking is provided for the duration of the fair.
Accessibility
The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, with designated PRM access points marked on the fair map, and is equipped with induction loops for the hearing impaired.
Dining
A gourmet area featuring Breton flavors is set up on-site: Hatoup Diwan Gwened offers quick Breton lunches or snacks, and Le Glacier ambulant rounds out the selection during the fair's opening hours. Numerous restaurants and crêperies in the port and Vannes city center are within walking distance.
Security
In accordance with the Vigipirate security plan, bag checks are conducted at both entrances to the fair.
Contact
City of Vannes — Department of Culture and Events. Official website: livreavannes.fr
Livr'à Vannes: The Literary Event of Morbihan
Livr'à Vannes is the largest literary fair in Morbihan and one of the major cultural events in the Brittany region. Every year in June, the Esplanade Simone-Veil, located on the right bank of the Vannes marina, transforms into a vast open-air book village.
A Major Event
The fair hosts over 200 authors from all literary backgrounds: novelists, essayists, poets, children's authors, comic artists, and regional authors. For three days, visitors can meet their favorite authors during signing sessions, attend conferences and round tables, and participate in numerous literary activities.
Prestigious Patrons
Each edition is sponsored by renowned writers who bring their fame and passion to the event. In 2025, Irène Frain and Yann Queffélec, two major figures in Breton and French literature, were the patrons of an edition that brought together over 37,000 visitors.
An Exceptional Setting
The fair benefits from a prime location on the quays of the port of Vannes, offering a pleasant setting to stroll among the stands of publishers and booksellers. The Esplanade Simone-Veil, bordered by the waters of the port and a stone's throw from the historic center, provides an ideal backdrop for this event that blends culture and conviviality.
Activities and Workshops
Beyond book signings, Livr'à Vannes offers a rich program of writing workshops, public readings, activities for young people, professional meetings, and literary awards. Thematic areas are dedicated to children's literature, comics, and regional publishing.
Where does it take place — Livr'à Vannes
Livr'à Vannes in brief
History of Livr'à Vannes
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Other festivals near Vannes
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)