Tissé Métisse

Tissé Métisse: Over thirty years of living together in Nantes

The Tissé Métisse festival was founded on December 11, 1993, in Nantes, against a backdrop of rising racism and social withdrawal. Driven by a desire to counter the spread of intolerance, this cultural and civic gathering has established itself over the decades as a cornerstone event in the Nantes metropolitan area. For more than thirty years, Tissé Métisse has promoted values of solidarity, social harmony, and the fight against discrimination based on origin, place of residence, or social exclusion.

A multidisciplinary festival rooted in culture and debate

Every year in December, the Cité des Congrès de Nantes hosts this intercultural celebration for an intense day, running from 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM. The program features 15 shows across 4 stages: world and contemporary music concerts in the Grande Halle, theater and dance performances in the Salle 800, comedy and acts in the Salle 450, and youth-oriented activities in the Salle 300. The festival also hosts civic debates and conferences in the Salle 200 and Salle 100, a civic escape game, socially engaged exhibitions, an association forum, and a world cuisine area.

Artists from around the world

Throughout its editions, Tissé Métisse has welcomed artists from all musical backgrounds: Faada Freddy, Oldelaf, FéFé, Maya Kamaty, Les Garçons Bouchers, Dafné Kritharas, Tinaa, Samifati & Transe Gnawa Express, Kareen Guiock Thuram, and many others. The lineup blends pop, soul, gospel, rock, Gnawa, Afro, Creole, hip-hop, and K-pop, reflecting the cultural diversity the festival has celebrated since its inception.

The Tissé Métisse Association: Year-round commitment

The Tissé Métisse association, officially created on April 17, 2003, works against all forms of discrimination and exclusion in the workplace, schools, and society. Its actions focus on access to culture, discrimination prevention, social cohesion, and civic engagement. Composed of three founding structures—ACENER (a federation of works councils), the CID (Intercultural Documentation Center), and FAL 44 (Ligue de l'enseignement - federation of secular associations 44)—the association has operated a resource center specializing in immigration, cultural diversity, and philosophy since 2019, located at 2 bis, boulevard Léon Bureau in Nantes.

An accessible and engaged festival

Tissé Métisse stands out for its inclusive pricing policy, offering reduced rates for young people, students, and social welfare recipients, as well as solidarity tickets at a very low cost. The festival is accessible to people with disabilities, featuring sign language support, a braille map, and concert broadcasts on giant screens. Nearly 500 volunteers and 80 associations and collectives participate each year in organizing this unifying event.