Spot Festival

Spot Festival: The Open Stage for Nantes Youth

Since 2010, the Spot festival has been the major annual event for Nantes youth. Organized by the City of Nantes, this entirely free festival offers 16-25 year olds a unique space to express themselves, showcase their talents, share their commitments, and present their artistic and civic projects to the public. Each edition brings together about forty selected projects following a call for applications, supported throughout the year by the City and a network of associative partners.

A Multidisciplinary and Eclectic Program

The richness of Spot lies in the diversity of its programming. Music: rap, pop, rock, electronic music, chanson, world music concerts. Performing Arts: dance shows (hip-hop, contemporary, afro), theater performances, slam, stand-up, drag shows. Visual Arts: exhibitions of photography, painting, visual arts, video, and short films. Civic Engagement: solidarity and ecological projects, debates, and meetings with associations. The concert evenings on Friday and Saturday, on the main stage at cours Saint-Pierre, are the highlights of each edition.

Two Iconic Venues in the Heart of Nantes

The festival takes place in two complementary locations in the city center. The opening night is held at the TNT — Terrain Neutre Théâtre, an intimate performance venue in Nantes, with slam, stand-up, chanson, and electronic music performances. The festival then takes over the cours Saint-Pierre, a large tree-lined esplanade facing the cathedral, where a project village (exhibitions, workshops, short films) and two stages host live performances in the afternoon and concerts in the evening.

A Support Program for Young People

Spot is not just a festival: it is a support program. Every autumn, the City of Nantes launches a call for projects open to Nantes residents aged 16 to 25. Selected projects benefit from personalized support: connection with entertainment professionals, access to suitable rehearsal spaces, and technical and logistical advice. This program, managed by the City's Department of Associative Life and Youth, allows many young artists to take a step forward and perform on stage and in front of an audience for the first time.

An Accessible and Eco-Conscious Festival

Accessibility is at the heart of Spot's project. The festival is entirely free, with no booking required. Specific measures are in place for people with disabilities: programs in braille and in "easy to read and understand" (FALC) format, a PMR platform in front of the stage, and vibrating vests and receivers for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. The festival is also committed to an eco-responsible approach with selective sorting, reusable tableware, and environmental awareness.