Messiaen Festival in the Land of Meije
Contemporary music and creation at the foot of the Meije, in homage to Olivier Messiaen
About Messiaen Festival
The Messiaen Festival in the Land of Meije is the unmissable event for contemporary music in France. Created in 1998 by Gaëtan Puaud in homage to the composer Olivier Messiaen, it is held every summer in La Grave, a village in the Hautes-Alpes located at an altitude of 1,500 meters facing the Meije massif. Directed since 2019 by Bruno Messina, the festival offers about fifteen concerts, world premieres, conferences, and musical hikes, bringing together around sixty international artists each year in an exceptional alpine setting.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Messiaen Festival at the best price.
Sponsored link
An exceptional festival in the heart of the Alps
The Messiaen Festival in the Land of Meije was born in 1998 from the desire of Gaëtan Puaud to pay homage to the composer Olivier Messiaen, who drew inspiration for many of his works from the grandiose landscapes of the Meije massif. Every summer, the village of La Grave, in the Hautes-Alpes, on the border of Isère, becomes the capital of contemporary music, welcoming artists from all over the world in a breathtaking natural setting, at an altitude of 1,500 meters.
A program between musical heritage and creation
Under the artistic direction of Bruno Messina, CEO and artistic director of AIDA (Arts en Isère Dauphiné Alpes) since 2019, the festival offers an ambitious program that blends major works from the 20th century with contemporary creations. Each edition is structured around guest composers and resident ensembles, offering about fifteen concerts, world premieres, and unique moments of sharing between artists and the public.
Iconic venues
The concerts take place in venues steeped in history and beauty:
- Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de La Grave — the heart of the festival, venue for evening concerts
- Jardin alpin du Lautaret — a natural setting for open-air serenades and conferences
- Col du Lautaret — concerts facing the peaks
- Maison Messiaen — a space dedicated to the memory of the composer
- Église de Saint-Chaffrey and Salle du Dôme in Le Monêtier-les-Bains — partner venues
The legacy of Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992), one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, regularly stayed in La Grave and at the Col du Lautaret, where he observed the birds and landscapes that nourished his work, notably the famous Catalogue d'oiseaux. The festival perpetuates this legacy by blending music with the contemplation of nature, through musical hikes, morning serenades at the Jardin du Lautaret, and conferences on sound ecology and musical creation.
International reach
Recognized as one of the most prestigious contemporary music festivals in the world, the Messiaen Festival attracts over 2,000 spectators and around sixty international artists each year. It is supported by the Ministry of Culture (DRAC Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), the Région Sud, the Département des Hautes-Alpes, and numerous partners. The festival benefits from the Petit Futé label and is part of the network of festivals directed by AIDA, alongside the Festival Berlioz and À Travers Chants.
Messiaen Festival — edition 2026
28th edition of the Messiaen Festival in the Land of Meije, from July 26 to August 1, 2026. Edition dedicated to the founders of the ensemble L'Itinéraire: Tristan Murail, Michaël Lévinas, Hugues Dufourt, Roger Tessier, and Gérard Grisey, composers from Olivier Messiaen's class and pioneers of spectral music.
The founders of L'Itinéraire honored
The 28th edition of the Messiaen Festival in the Land of Meije will take place from July 26 to August 1, 2026. This edition pays tribute to the founders of the ensemble L'Itinéraire, a legendary collective of French contemporary music: Tristan Murail, Michaël Lévinas, Hugues Dufourt, Roger Tessier, and Gérard Grisey.
These five composers, almost all from Olivier Messiaen's class at the Paris Conservatory, chose to forge a unique path based on the acoustic properties of sound, giving birth to the spectral music movement, one of France's most significant contributions to 20th-century music.
A return to the roots
By inviting the direct heirs of Messiaen's teaching, the festival returns to the roots of its own identity, exploring the filiations between the master and his disciples who revolutionized contemporary musical writing. The ensemble L'Itinéraire will be at the heart of the programming, allowing the public to (re)discover the foundational works of the spectral movement in the alpine setting that inspired Messiaen himself.
Programme Messiaen Festival 2026
2026 Program — Highlights announced
- Guest composers: Tristan Murail, Michaël Lévinas, Hugues Dufourt, Roger Tessier
- Tribute to Gérard Grisey (1946-1998)
- Ensemble in residence: L'Itinéraire
- Theme: The founders of spectral music, heirs of Messiaen
Highlights Messiaen Festival 2026
- Tribute to the founders of the ensemble L'Itinéraire
- Guest composers: Tristan Murail, Michaël Lévinas, Hugues Dufourt, Roger Tessier
- L'Itinéraire ensemble in residence
- Exploration of spectral music, a direct legacy of Messiaen's teaching
Prices Messiaen Festival 2026
Practical information — Messiaen Festival
Practical Information
Access
The festival primarily takes place at the Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, Place de l'Église, 05320 La Grave, in the Hautes-Alpes.
- By car: La Grave is located on the RN91, between Briançon (40 km) and Grenoble (90 km), at the foot of the Col du Lautaret. Free parking in the village.
- By train: Briançon SNCF station (40 km away), then shuttle or bus.
Schedule
- Concerts at 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM depending on the program.
- Morning serenades at the Jardin du Lautaret (free entry).
- Conferences and educational events during the day.
Prices
- 5 PM concerts: €20 (full price) / €15 (reduced price)
- 9 PM concerts: €30 (full price) / €23 (reduced price)
- Under 12 years old: free
- Under 25 years old: "you pay your age"
- Discovery Pass 4 concerts: €75
- Discovery Pass 6 concerts: €110
- Passionate Pass (16 concerts + 3 hikes): €325
- Several events with free entry (serenades, conferences)
Ticketing
- Online: festivalmessiaen.com/billetterie
- On-site: at the entrance of the concerts, subject to availability
- Payment methods: credit card, check, cash
Contact
- Phone: 04 76 79 90 05
- Ticketing: 04 74 20 20 79
- Ticketing email: [email protected]
- Website: festivalmessiaen.com
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Messiaen Festival at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Messiaen Festival
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption
Place de l'Église, 05320 La Grave