Ozélir — The Literary May of Loiret

Ozélir: a unique literary festival in France

The festival Ozélir — The Literary May of Loiret was born in 2022 on the initiative of the Departmental Council of Loiret, supported by the Departmental Library of Loiret. This event, unprecedented in France in its scale and territorial anchoring, celebrates reading, writing, and all their artistic expressions throughout the department. The name "Ozélir" is an anagram of the word "Loirez", a nod to the territory where it was born.

A unifying event across the Loiret territory

Every year in May, Ozélir deploys its program in forty to fifty municipalities in Loiret, from large cities like Orléans to the most remote rural areas. The festival unites municipalities, libraries, and professional and associative players in the cultural, artistic, social, medical, and sports fields. It is a true great festival of books that brings together the people of Loiret of all ages around reading and the pleasure of words.

A rich and eclectic program

Ozélir's program combines the most diverse formats: giant dictation, meetings and signings with renowned authors, conferences and round tables, live performances, theatrical and musical readings, writing workshops, exhibitions, screenings, and literary walks. Each edition is organized around a unifying theme that inspires all the activities offered in the territory.

Major festival editions

The first edition (2022) was launched as part of "Reading, a National Great Cause," mobilizing over 170 speakers in 40 municipalities with over 70 events. The inauguration brought together prestigious academicians such as Jean-Christophe Rufin, Frédéric Vitoux, and Sylvie Germain. The second edition (2023) explored the theme "Read, it's good for your health," combining literature and well-being in over 50 municipalities. The third edition (2024), labeled Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad, offered over 100 events in 50 municipalities around the link between sport and words. The fourth edition (2025) addressed the theme "Words of the Blue Planet," placing ecology and the environment at the heart of literature.

A free and inclusive festival

All Ozélir festival activities are free and open to all, from the youngest to the seniors. The festival pays particular attention to inclusion, notably by offering readings in hospitals, prisons, and retirement homes. Ozélir is thus much more than a literary festival: it is a tool for social cohesion and cultural democratization for all the people of Loiret.