Toulouse les Orgues
International Organ Festival in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne
2026
About Toulouse les Orgues
The Toulouse les Orgues International Festival, created in 1996 by Michel Bouvard and Jan-Willem Jansen in homage to Xavier Darasse, is one of the major events dedicated to the organ in Europe. Supported by the Toulouse les Orgues association, it highlights the exceptional organ heritage of the 'pink city' — from the Basilica of Saint-Sernin (Cavaillé-Coll organ) to Saint-Étienne Cathedral, including the Gesù Church, home to the association.
Toulouse les Orgues — edition 2026
The 31st edition of the International Festival Toulouse les Orgues takes place from October 7 to 18, 2026, with a student preview on October 6 and regional concerts on October 2, 3, and 4. Twelve days of organ concerts in Toulouse's most beautiful churches — Saint-Sernin, Saint-Étienne, le Gesù, Notre-Dame du Taur, la Daurade and many other heritage sites.
31st Toulouse les Orgues International Festival — October 7th to 18th, 2026
The 31st edition of the Toulouse les Orgues International Festival takes place in Toulouse from October 7th to 18th, 2026, preceded by a student preview on October 6th and decentralized concerts in Portet-sur-Garonne, Tournefeuille, Saint-Lys, and Fronton on October 2nd and 4th.
Headliners
- Thierry Escaich and the Tchalik Quartet — a concert blending organ and string quartet
- Michel Bouvard and François Espinasse — a program dedicated to Nicolas de Grigny
- Roger Sayer — the organist who performed the soundtrack for Hans Zimmer's film Interstellar
- Ensemble Sjaella (Leipzig) — closing concert dedicated to J.S. Bach, the ensemble's first visit to France
Highlights
On the program: the Nuits du Gesù, the traditional Night of the Organ at Saint-Sernin dedicated this year to German music, lunchtime concerts, a musical yoga session (Yo[r]ga), a musical breakfast, unusual tours, a children's show (Griff et les Fabuloptères), and a series of lectures.
The day-by-day program, including artists, times, and venues, is published by the organizer at toulouse-les-orgues.org (under the "Programmation" section).
Highlights Toulouse les Orgues 2026
- 31st edition of one of Europe's most important festivals dedicated to the organ
- 12 days of concerts in Toulouse's most beautiful churches (Saint-Sernin, Saint-Étienne, Gesù, Notre-Dame du Taur…)
- Thierry Escaich & the Quatuor Tchalik, Michel Bouvard, Roger Sayer (organist from Interstellar), Ensemble Sjaella
- Organ Night at Saint-Sernin dedicated to German music
- Free concert for students, midday concerts, conferences and unusual formats
Programme Toulouse les Orgues 2026
Friday, October 2nd, 2026 (regional concerts)
- 8:30 PM — Dansons sous les voûtes · Église St-Martin, Portet-sur-Garonne
- 9:00 PM — Vox Angelis · Église St-Pierre, Tournefeuille
Sunday, October 4th, 2026 (regional concerts)
- 5:00 PM — Vox Angelis · Église St-Julien, Saint-Lys
- 5:00 PM — Dansons sous les voûtes · Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption, Fronton
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026 (preview)
- 8:00 PM — Student Concert · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Opening Concert · Basilique Notre-Dame de la Daurade, Toulouse
Thursday, October 8th, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Souffles singuliers · Sanctuaire Saint-Jérôme, Toulouse
- 10:30 PM — Nuit du Gesù: Kara-Lis Coverdale · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
Friday, October 9th, 2026
- 4:00 PM — Presentation on the restoration of the organ at Église Notre-Dame du Taur · Église Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse
- 6:00 PM — Yo[r]ga · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
- 8:30 PM — Nathan Laube Recital · Église Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Family Concert · Temple du Salin, Toulouse
- 2:00 PM — Unusual Tour: Musical and Secret Toulouse · Église St-François de Paule des Minimes, Toulouse
- 3:00 PM — Unusual Tour: Musical and Secret Toulouse · Église St-François de Paule des Minimes, Toulouse
- 4:00 PM — Unusual Tour: Musical and Secret Toulouse · Église St-François de Paule des Minimes, Toulouse
- 8:00 PM — Harry Potter and the Wizarding Organ · Église Notre-Dame de la Dalbade, Toulouse
Sunday, October 11th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Poulenc Organ Concerto · Église Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse
- 4:00 PM — Poulenc Organ Concerto · Église Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse
- 6:30 PM — Musical Mass · Basilique Saint-Sernin, Toulouse
Wednesday, October 14th, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Mysterium solis! · Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, Toulouse
Thursday, October 15th, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Nuit du Gesù: Cocanha & Giulio Tosti · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
- 10:30 PM — Nuit du Gesù: Cocanha & Giulio Tosti · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
Friday, October 16th, 2026
- 12:30 PM — Lunchtime Concert · Église Notre-Dame de la Dalbade, Toulouse
- 4:00 PM — The Bouasse Organ: A Physicist's Instrument · Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Toulouse
- 8:00 PM — The Night of the Organ · Basilique Saint-Sernin, Toulouse
Saturday, October 17th, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Griff et les Fabuloptères (children's show) · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
- 2:00 PM — Duruflé Requiem · Église Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse
- 4:00 PM — Duruflé Requiem · Église Notre-Dame du Taur, Toulouse
- 8:00 PM — In the Life of Bach · Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, Toulouse
Sunday, October 18th, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Musical Breakfast · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
- 2:00 PM — Discovering the Organ: Practical Workshop · Église du Gesù, Toulouse
- 5:00 PM — Closing Concert · Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, Toulouse
Full program published by the organizer at toulouse-les-orgues.org (source: "Programmation" page).
Prices Toulouse les Orgues 2026
Practical information — Toulouse les Orgues
Practical Information
Main Venue
Association headquarters: Église du Gesù, 22 bis rue des Fleurs, 31000 Toulouse. Festival concerts take place in about twenty churches and heritage sites in the city and the Toulouse metropolitan area (Saint-Sernin, Saint-Étienne, Notre-Dame du Taur, La Daurade, Le Gesù, etc.).
Contact
Phone: 05 61 33 76 80
E-mail: [email protected]
Official website: toulouse-les-orgues.org
Access
Toulouse is served by Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, by Toulouse-Matabiau SNCF train station (TGV and Intercités), and by motorways A20, A61, A62, and A64. The metro and Tisséo bus network serve the main festival churches from the city center (stops Esquirol, Capitole, Carmes, Palais de Justice).
Ticketing
Ticket sales generally open at the end of summer. Usual prices range from free (midday concerts, regional events) to approximately €25. Festival passes available. Detailed information and reservations on the official website.
Toulouse les Orgues: An International Festival Dedicated to the Organ
Created in 1996 by organists Michel Bouvard and Jan-Willem Jansen, in the legacy of the work led by Xavier Darasse at the Toulouse Conservatory, the Toulouse les Orgues International Festival is today one of the main events dedicated to the organ in Europe. Each year, it welcomes approximately 7,000 spectators from France and abroad.
An Exceptional Organ Heritage
The festival leverages the unique richness of Toulouse's organ heritage: the great Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, the organ of Saint-Étienne Cathedral, instruments from the Gesù Church (headquarters of the association), Notre-Dame du Taur, La Daurade, and many other churches. The program explores medieval, baroque, classical, and contemporary repertoires.
The Toulouse les Orgues Association
Beyond the annual festival, the Toulouse les Orgues Association aims to promote and keep the organ alive in Toulouse and Occitanie. It also organizes les Quartiers d'été de Toulouse les Orgues, the Concours international d'orgue de Toulouse, as well as educational activities. The association's headquarters are located at the Gesù Church, 22 bis rue des Fleurs.
Multidisciplinary Program
Each edition offers solo organ concerts, recitals with other instruments, contemporary creations, «Nuits de l'orgue» at Saint-Sernin, midday concerts, conferences, workshops, educational concerts, and unusual events (musical breakfasts, rugby-concert, cinema-organ…).
Where does it take place — Toulouse les Orgues
Toulouse les Orgues in brief
History of Toulouse les Orgues
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Other festivals near Toulouse
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