Printemps de la Chanson

Printemps de la Chanson: French song travels through the Orne

Printemps de la Chanson is one of the flagship events of the cultural season in the Orne department. Organized every year in March by the Departmental Office of Culture (ODC), based in Sées, this traveling festival holds about twenty concerts in as many towns in the department, bringing French song closer to the inhabitants.

A traveling festival across the department

The unique feature of Printemps de la Chanson is its traveling format: concerts take place in about twenty venues throughout the Orne department, from large cities like Alençon, Flers, Argentan to more rural towns like Messei, Essay, La Ferté-Frênel, Carrouges, or Gacé. This itinerant approach reaches a large and diverse audience, bringing culture directly to the towns.

Performance venues

Concerts are held in various venues: the Forum de Flers, the Bagnoles-de-l'Orne Convention and Animation Center, municipal halls, and local cultural spaces. Each venue offers a unique proximity between artists and the public, creating special moments of sharing.

French song in all its forms

The festival celebrates contemporary French song in all its diversity: lyrical song, variety, slam, folk, francophone pop, and original creations. The program mixes established artists and emerging talents, offering a comprehensive panorama of the current French song scene. The 2026 edition notably features the show "Inavouable" with Alexis HK and Benoît Dorémus.

A commitment to culture in rural areas

Supported by the Departmental Office of Culture, Printemps de la Chanson is part of a broader initiative for cultural democratization in rural areas. By offering quality concerts in towns sometimes far from major cultural centers, the festival contributes to the region's vibrancy and access to culture for all residents of the Orne.

Three weeks of music

For three weeks, from the beginning to the end of March, the Orne department vibrates to the rhythm of French song. This extended format allows everyone to find a concert near their home and enjoy several shows throughout the festival.