Salon du Livre de Nîmes
Nîmes Biography Festival, Gard
2027
About Salon du Livre de Nîmes
The Nîmes Biography Festival — locally known as the Nîmes Book Fair — is one of the major literary events of the year in Occitanie. Entirely dedicated to the biographical genre, it brings together nearly a hundred authors each year in January at the Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet: historians, biographers, specialized journalists, memoirists. Some 30,000 visitors come to meet them during three days of debates, conferences, readings, screenings, concerts, and book signings. Admission is free.
Created in 2002 by the Nîmes City Council in partnership with the association of Nîmes booksellers, the festival is organized by the City's Department of Cultural Affairs. The Prix de la Biographie du Point, awarded by Le Point magazine since 2004, is presented there each year during the inauguration.
Salon du Livre de Nîmes — edition 2027
Programme Salon du Livre de Nîmes 2027
The 2027 programme has not yet been released by the organisers; it will be added as soon as it becomes available.
Practical information — Salon du Livre de Nîmes
Practical Information
Main Venue
Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet, Place de la Maison Carrée, 30000 Nîmes — opposite the Maison Carrée, right in the city center.
Other festival venues: Théâtre de Nîmes Bernadette Lafont, cinéma Le Sémaphore, Université de Nîmes, Galerie Courbet, Espace 14, Novotel Atria.
Access
The Carré d'Art is located in the heart of Nîmes, a 5-minute walk from Nîmes-Centre SNCF train station. Several public car parks nearby (parking Coupole des Halles, parking Pradier). Tango Bus, lines serving the city center.
Price
Free admission to all meetings, conferences, and debates.
Contact
Department of Cultural Affairs, Nîmes City Council — 6 rue Fresque, 30033 Nîmes.
Phone: 04 66 76 74 49
Email: [email protected]
Official website: festivaldelabiographie.com
The Biography Festival in Nîmes
Since its creation in 2002, the Nîmes Biography Festival — often called the Nîmes Book Fair by regulars — has established itself as an unmissable event of the winter literary season. Organized by the City of Nîmes in the heart of the Carré d'Art Jean Bousquet, opposite the Maison Carrée, it is held annually over three days at the end of January.
A festival entirely dedicated to biography
What distinguishes this festival from other book fairs is its specialization: biography in all its forms — historical biography, autobiography, memoirs, life story, biographical investigation. Nearly 100 authors are invited each year: historians, biographers, specialized journalists, novelists, essayists. Honorary presidencies are entrusted to major figures in French biography.
A packed program and multiple venues
The Carré d'Art remains the central venue, but the festival also takes over the Théâtre de Nîmes Bernadette Lafont, the cinéma Le Sémaphore, the Université de Nîmes, the Galerie Courbet, the Espace 14 and the Novotel Atria. The program combines conferences, cross-debates, film screenings followed by meetings, musical readings, concerts and book signing sessions.
The Prix de la Biographie du Point
Awarded since 2004 — the first edition being overseen by a jury then chaired by Max Gallo —, the Prix de la Biographie du Point is one of the French literary prizes dedicated to the genre. Its official presentation traditionally opens the festival on Friday evening.
A free and popular event
With approximately 30,000 visitors each year and completely free admission, the Biography Festival is a democratic and popular event that extends far beyond Nîmes, attracting an audience of readers, teachers, students, and history enthusiasts from all over Occitanie and beyond.
Where does it take place — Salon du Livre de Nîmes
Salon du Livre de Nîmes in brief
Other festivals near Nîmes
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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