Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres
Philosophy festival in homage to Michel Serres in Agen
About Rencontres Michel Serres
A living tribute to the philosopher from Agen
The Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres were born in 2021 from the desire of the City of Agen and the association Les Amis Agenais de Michel Serres to keep alive the intellectual legacy of the famous philosopher and academician, born in Agen on September 1, 1930, and who passed away on June 1, 2019, in Paris. A visionary thinker, passionate about science, rooted in the present and looking towards the future, Michel Serres was able to address contemporary subjects such as new technologies, ecology, and the mutations of knowledge with the general public.
Every November, the festival transforms the city center of Agen into a vast philosophical forum open to all. The meetings take place in six emblematic venues in the heart of the city: the classified Italian-style theater, the Théâtre Ducourneau, the Agora on the Place de la Mairie, the Salle des Illustres, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Centre culturel André Malraux, and the Église des Jacobins.
Themes at the heart of Michel Serres' thought
Each edition revolves around a major theme inspired by Michel Serres' work and philosophy, explored through conferences, round tables, debates, and encounters with leading intellectuals, philosophers, writers, and scientists:
- 2021: "Knowledge Frees – The Five Senses," echoing one of the philosopher's most famous works
- 2022: "Tomorrow Our Earth," dedicated to ecological and environmental issues
- 2023: "In the Age of Artificial Intelligence, What Became of Thumbelina?" exploring the impact of AI on society
- 2024: "Now, Shall We Make Peace?" questioning the paths to concord in a world of tensions
- 2025: "What Humanity Do We Want for Tomorrow? From the Body to the Cosmos," questioning the new frontiers of the human
A rich and accessible program for everyone
The festival offers a dense and varied program, designed to reach all audiences. The major conferences bring together renowned thinkers and personalities in the auditorium of the Théâtre Ducourneau, while the round tables and debates allow for more intimate and in-depth exchanges.
Philosophy workshops for young people are an essential part of the event: in 2024, over 2,000 young people participated in school workshops. Family workshops are also offered to introduce children and adults to philosophical reflection in a fun and accessible way.
A book fair and signing sessions with invited authors complete the program, offering visitors the opportunity to extend the discussions and discover books related to the themes addressed.
A major national cultural event
In just five editions, the Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres has established itself as a major event for philosophical popularization in France. Attendance has steadily increased, from a few thousand visitors at the first edition to over 13,000 participants in 2024, with a goal of 15,000 for 2025. In 2025, a fourth day was added to the program to meet this growing enthusiasm.
The festival benefits from the support of about thirty institutional and private partners, and relies on the Michel Serres Foundation to ensure the event's fidelity to the philosopher's spirit: making knowledge accessible, encouraging dialogue between disciplines and generations, and thinking about tomorrow's world with lucidity and optimism.
Rencontres Michel Serres — edition 2026
6th edition of the Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres in Agen, from November 12th to 15th, 2026. For this edition, the festival is exceptionally moving from its traditional November 11th weekend and will take place from Thursday to Sunday. It continues its exploration of the major themes of Michel Serres' thought through about twenty conferences, debates, workshops for children and adults, author meetings, and a book fair in the historic heart of Agen.
6th Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres – 2026 Edition
The 6th edition of the Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres will take place from Thursday, November 12th to Sunday, November 15th, 2026 in Agen, around Place du Docteur Esquirol and the cultural venues in the city center. For this edition, the festival is exceptionally moving from its traditional November 11th weekend: as SNCF will be interrupting train services on the Bordeaux-Agen line during this period for maintenance work, the organization has chosen to shift the dates to facilitate the arrival of the public and speakers.
After the success of the 5th edition and its thousands of visitors, this new edition will continue the founding mission of the Rencontres: to make philosophy accessible to all, faithfully to the spirit of Michel Serres who always defended the idea that "knowledge sets you free".
The program, which will be unveiled in the months leading up to the event, will feature, as every year, about twenty major conferences at the Théâtre Ducourneau, round tables and debates in the various festival venues, philosophy workshops for young people and families, an eloquence competition, and a book fair with signings by invited authors. The theme and patrons/godparents for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced as of our verification date.
Practical information — Rencontres Michel Serres
Access
The Rencontres Philosophiques Michel Serres take place in the city center of Agen, mainly around Place du Docteur Esquirol and the Théâtre Ducourneau.
- By car: Agen is accessible via the A62 motorway (Bordeaux-Toulouse), exit Agen. From Bordeaux, allow about 1h30; from Toulouse, about 1h15.
- By train: Agen SNCF station, served by TGV (Paris-Agen in 3h20) and TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The city center is within walking distance of the station (about 10 minutes).
- Parking: Parking lots in the city center near the Théâtre Ducourneau and Place Esquirol.
Venues
The festival unfolds in six venues in the heart of Agen:
- Théâtre Ducourneau – Place du Docteur Esquirol (main venue for major conferences)
- Agora – Place de la Mairie
- Salle des Illustres – Hôtel de Ville
- Musée des Beaux-Arts
- Centre culturel André Malraux
- Église des Jacobins
Prices
- 4-day Pass: €25
- Entry per conference: €8
- Youth workshops: free
- Discount: -50% for 5 or more tickets purchased (promo code "CINQ")
Online ticketing on the official festival website.
Practical information
- Duration: 4 days (from Saturday to Tuesday around November 11th)
- Audience: all audiences, children and adults
- Accessibility: main venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility
Contact
- Organizer: Association Les Amis Agenais de Michel Serres
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: rencontresmichelserresagen.com
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Where does it take place — Rencontres Michel Serres
Théâtre Ducourneau et lieux du centre-ville d'Agen
Place du Docteur Esquirol, 47000 Agen