Préludia Festival
Classical and jazz music in the heritage sites of Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule
About Préludia
When music meets heritage
The Préludia Festival was born from the shared passion of a group of music-loving friends, originally from Bourbonnais and Île-de-France, who founded the Préludia association in late 2016 with the ambition of promoting music and artistic disciplines in their connection to heritage. Located in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, a historic wine-growing town in the heart of the Allier region, the festival takes over heritage sites to resonate with the most beautiful pages of the classical repertoire and beyond.
The Saint-Joseph chapel, a musical setting
The beating heart of the Préludia Festival is the Saint-Joseph chapel in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, whose remarkable acoustics and intimate atmosphere provide an ideal setting for chamber music. Other heritage sites in the area also host concerts, such as churches and historic residences in the surrounding communes — Neuvy, Chareil-Cintrat, and other villages in the Val de Sioule — allowing the public to discover the architectural richness of the region while enjoying exceptional musical moments.
A program bridging classical and jazz
The Préludia Festival's programming is distinguished by its desire to bridge eras and musical genres. True to the association's mission, the festival blends classical music — from baroque to romantic — with jazz, ethnic music, and contemporary expressions. The concerts feature high-level chamber ensembles, soloists, and vocal and instrumental groups, in a warm and accessible atmosphere.
The Préludia association also strives to share knowledge of works and composers, by offering opportunities for exchange with artists and contextualizing the programs to help the audience better appreciate the performed works. Masterclasses, lectures, and participatory events complement the musical program.
A human-scale festival
The Préludia Festival cultivates the art of proximity. In the Saint-Joseph chapel or in the churches of neighboring villages, the audience is close to the musicians, in a rare intimacy that fosters listening and emotion. This human dimension, combined with the quality of the performers and the beauty of the locations, makes Préludia a precious event for lovers of live music in the Allier region.
Préludia — edition 2026
The Préludia Festival returns in summer 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Préludia association, with a new series of concerts blending classical and baroque music with contemporary expressions in the heritage sites of Val de Sioule and Bourbonnais: chapels, churches, castles, and the National Centre for Stage Costume and Scenography (CNCS) in Moulins.
2026 Edition — Préludia's 10th Anniversary
For its anniversary edition, the Préludia Festival presents a season of concerts from July to September 2026 (with a prelude on March 29 and a closing concert on October 10 at Moulins Cathedral) in exceptional heritage sites of Bourbonnais. Each event brings together internationally renowned musicians and artists from Bourbonnais, in venues chosen for their acoustics and architectural richness.
The opening concert of the summer season will be held on July 7 at the CNCS in Moulins, celebrating the institution's 20th anniversary: a concert-show featuring violinist Amanda Favier, double bassist Philip Blard, and the Citadelle quartet (Haydn, “The Sunrise”; Vivaldi, “The Seasons”), accompanied by costumes designed by François Tamarin (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) and narration by Nicolas Vaude.
The association also continues its music mediation activities, with opportunities for exchange between artists and the public.
Programme Préludia 2026
Summer Season 2026
- July 7 — CNCS, Moulins: CNCS 20th anniversary concert-show (Amanda Favier, violin; Philip Blard, double bass; Citadelle quartet — Haydn “The Sunrise”, Vivaldi “The Seasons”; costumes by François Tamarin; narration by Nicolas Vaude). Free admission.
- July 11 — Monétay-sur-Allier
- July 24 — Marigny
- July 28 — Vieux Melays, Neuvy
- August 15 — Château d'Avrilly, Trévol
- August 21 — Château Saint-Géran
- August 28 — Chapelle Saint-Joseph, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule
- September 5 — Château de Saligny
Season prelude on March 29 at Prieuré Saint-Germain and closing concert on October 10 at Moulins Cathedral. Detailed program and reservations on the association's website.
Highlights Préludia 2026
- 2026 season from July to September
- Saint-Joseph Chapel and heritage sites of the Val de Sioule
- Classical and jazz programming to be announced in spring 2026
- Intimate concerts and moments of exchange with artists
Prices Préludia 2026
Practical information — Préludia
Practical information
Access
Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule is located in the center of the Allier department, 30 km south of Moulins and 55 km north of Clermont-Ferrand. The town is accessible via the A71 motorway (Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule exit) and the RN9.
By train: Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule station on the Moulins — Clermont-Ferrand line.
Concert venues
Concerts mainly take place at the Saint-Joseph chapel in Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, as well as in other heritage sites in the Val de Sioule (churches, historic residences).
Prices
Saint-Joseph Chapel: 15 euros (full price). 8 euros for ages 12-25. Free for children under 12. Some concerts in other venues may have different prices.
Period
The festival takes place every summer from July to September, with concerts spread over several dates. Consult the detailed program on the association's website.
Contact
Association Préludia — Website: preludia-musique.org. Information also available from the Val de Sioule Tourist Office.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Préludia
Chapelle Saint-Joseph et lieux patrimoniaux du Val de Sioule
Chapelle Saint-Joseph, 03500 Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule