Printemps des Poètes in Hauts-de-Seine

Printemps des Poètes in Hauts-de-Seine: Poetry for Sharing

Created in 1999 on the initiative of Jean-Pierre Siméon and Bruno Doucey, the Printemps des Poètes is one of France's most important cultural events dedicated to poetry. Every March, it mobilizes thousands of venues across France—libraries, schools, hospitals, prisons, public spaces—to make poetry heard in all its forms: recited, sung, danced, illustrated.

In the Hauts-de-Seine, one of the most populous departments in Île-de-France, Printemps des Poètes finds a particularly strong echo thanks to the density of its libraries, media centers, cultural spaces, and educational institutions. Each municipality in the department typically offers its own activities, making Printemps des Poètes 92 a truly decentralized event rooted in the life of every neighborhood.

The 2026 Theme: Liberty. Living force, deployed.

The 2026 edition of Printemps des Poètes, held from March 14th to 31st, 2026, is under the theme 'Liberty. Living force, deployed.' This theme invites exploration of freedom in all its dimensions: freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of the body and imagination. The poets summoned around this theme span centuries and continents, from Rimbaud to Césaire, from Prévert to Senghor, from engaged contemporary poets to new and unheard voices.

Formats of Printemps des Poètes 92

The richness of Printemps des Poètes in Hauts-de-Seine lies in the diversity of formats offered:

• Public Readings—readings aloud by actors, writers, or residents in libraries and media centers
• Writing Workshops—for children, adults, and audiences distant from culture in schools and social centers
• Poetic Performances—slam, spoken word, sound poetry, reading-concerts in performance halls and cultural cafes
• Exhibitions—calligraphy, visual poetry, artist books in galleries and municipal spaces
• Poetic Walks—guided walks through towns with readings of poems related to the places visited
• Screenings—poetry films, documentaries about poets in cinemas and media centers

Mobilization in All Municipalities

Printemps des Poètes 92 is a resolutely decentralized event. From Nanterre to Sceaux, from Boulogne-Billancourt to Asnières, from Levallois-Perret to Antony, each municipality in Hauts-de-Seine invests in the event to its own extent. Municipal libraries, which form the backbone of the department's cultural network, are at the forefront with specific programs, poetic decorations, and all-ages activities.

Printemps des Poètes: A National Event with a Strong Local Dimension

Printemps des Poètes is organized nationally by its namesake association and adapted locally by local authorities, associations, and cultural institutions. In Hauts-de-Seine, the Departmental Council and the municipalities play a driving role in coordinating and promoting the event, giving it a coherent departmental dimension that complements local initiatives.

Poetry for All Audiences

One of the strengths of Printemps des Poètes 92 is its appeal to all audiences, including those who feel distant from poetry. Fun and accessible formats—slam battles, poetic karaoke, morning poems, family haikus—allow everyone to engage with poetry through the door that suits them best. The free nature of most events reinforces this universal accessibility.