Microscopies Festival
Micro-publishing Festival in Lille (2016-2021)
Edition 2026 — event currently on hold
There is no edition scheduled in 2026 for this event. This page remains accessible to archive the history of the manifestation and will be updated if a new edition is announced.
About Microscopies
ℹ️ Festival discontinued in its classic form. Microscopies was a festival dedicated to micro-publishing and its practitioners, born in 2016 from the encounter between Atelier-Galerie Bleu and the Les Piñatas association. It was held annually in the Lille metropolitan area from 2016 to 2021 (6 editions), bringing together independent authors, publishers, illustrators, and booksellers for several days around a micro-publishing fair, creative workshops (bookbinding, engraving, screen printing), drawn concerts, readings, performances, and study days. Since 2021, the festival is no longer held in this format: the Les Piñatas association continues a program of occasional events related to independent publishing in various locations in Lille and beyond.
ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The Microscopies Festival was held annually in Lille from 2016 to 2021, with its 6th and final edition taking place in October 2021. Since then, it no longer takes place in its festival format: the Les Piñatas association has evolved the project towards a program of occasional events (fanzine workshops, drawn concerts, study days) organized throughout the year in partnership with other structures.
Microscopies: exploring the worlds of micro-publishing
The Microscopies Festival was a unique event in Lille's cultural landscape, entirely dedicated to micro-publishing: this independent, artisanal publishing, handmade and in small quantities (approximately 100 copies maximum). Fanzines, artist's books, prints, screen-printed posters, illustrated notebooks, and experimental publications found their showcase there.
A fair at the heart of the event
The micro-publishing fair was the heart of the festival. Dozens of independent publishers, authors, and illustrators from all over France and Europe exhibited and sold their creations there. It was a privileged meeting place between creators and the public, where one could browse, discover, and acquire publications unavailable elsewhere.
Workshops, performances, and drawn concerts
Around the fair, Microscopies offered a rich and varied program: creative workshops (bookbinding, engraving, stamps, screen printing, risography), drawn concerts combining live music and live drawing, readings, performances, screenings, and study days dedicated to the challenges of independent publishing. These events were offered with free admission or pay-what-you-can, in a spirit of sharing and accessibility.
A project led by Les Piñatas
The Les Piñatas association, which originated the festival, continues to this day a program of events related to micro-publishing, in various locations in Lille and beyond. The festival was part of a European network of fairs and festivals dedicated to alternative publishing, contributing to the influence of the Lille scene.
A human-scale festival
Microscopies cultivated a friendly and participatory spirit, reflecting the publications it championed. Each edition was an opportunity for authentic encounters between creators and visitors, in a warm atmosphere accessible to all audiences, from novices to enlightened enthusiasts.
Microscopies — edition 2026
ℹ️ No 2026 edition. The Microscopies Festival is no longer held in its festival format since its 6th and last edition in October 2021. No 2026 edition is organized in Lille. The Les Piñatas association, which organized the festival, now offers occasional events around micro-publishing throughout the year.
ℹ️ No 2026 edition. No edition of the Microscopies Festival is scheduled for 2026. The last edition of the festival was held in Lille in October 2021 (6th edition). Since then, the Les Piñatas association has evolved the project towards a program of occasional events (fanzine workshops, drawn concerts, study days). To follow its news, visit lespinatas.com and its social media.
Prices Microscopies 2026
Practical information — Microscopies
ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The Microscopies Festival is no longer held in its classic form since its 6th edition in 2021. To find out about the current program of events by the Les Piñatas association (workshops, drawn concerts, occasional micro-publishing fairs), consult its website and social media.
Locations
The festival took place in various locations in the Lille metropolitan area: Lille-Moulins, HI Lille Youth Hostel, galleries, artists' studios, and partner cultural spaces. The micro-publishing fair was generally held in a single location, while satellite events (workshops, drawn concerts, performances) took over various spaces in the Moulins district and beyond.
Contact
Les Piñatas Association: lespinatas.com/microscopies — [email protected]. Follow the association on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on its news and event program.
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Where does it take place — Microscopies
Lieux divers dans la métropole lilloise