Une dune à la page
Literature festival in Contis, between dunes and pine forest
2026
About Une dune à la page
Une dune à la page — edition 2026
The second edition of the Une dune à la page festival took place from May 14 to 17, 2026 in Contis-Plage, sponsored by historian Grégoire Kauffmann. During the Ascension weekend, around forty authors — including Maylis de Kerangal, Camille Laurens, Léonor de Récondo, Joseph Incardona, Laure Murat, Vincent Lemire, and comic book authors Jul and Christian Cailleaux — met the public through meetings, round tables, signing sessions, and workshops, in the unique setting of the Landes dunes.
Une dune à la page 2026 — 2nd Edition
The second edition of the Une dune à la page festival took over the Maison de la Station in Contis-Plage from May 14 to 17, 2026, during the Ascension weekend. This edition was sponsored by historian Grégoire Kauffmann, author notably of L'Enlèvement (Flammarion, 2023).
Nearly forty authors participated in the meetings and round tables, including novelists Maylis de Kerangal, Camille Laurens, Léonor de Récondo, and Laure Murat, novelist Joseph Incardona, historian Vincent Lemire, comic book authors Jul, Christian Cailleaux, Jean Harambat, and Stéphane Melchior, journalist Ariane Chemin, sociologist Jean-Didier Urbain, as well as Sonia Devillers, Sophie Avon, Julien Perez, and Yann Potin.
A Literary Prize Inaugurated in 2026
This edition inaugurated the Contis plage prize, endowed with €1,000, which rewards a debut novel selected by the festival jury. Three finalists were in the running — Christopher Laquieze (La Rosa Perdida), Louis Raymond (Loin du Mékong, Calmann-Lévy), and Ramsès Kefi (Quatre jours sans ma mère) — and the announcement took place on Thursday, May 14 at 7 PM.
Round Tables and Major Events
The program was structured around several themes: the arts of reading, autobiographical writing and family history, femicides and violence against women, Ukraine, the Ocean in comic books, and a translation joust hosted by Julie Sibony. On Saturday evening, the Great Ocean Evening brought together Emmanuel de Fontainieu, Jean-Didier Urbain, and Marie Pointurier around the works Atlantique (Sud Ouest) and Reste l'Océan (Liana Levi). The traditional dunes dictation, hosted on the sand by journalist Julian Bugier, once again brought together young and old.
An Expanded Youth Program
As in the previous year, the 2026 edition offered a wide youth program: storytelling, story mats, origami workshops, video games, creative workshops, and mimed stories, distributed between the Maison de la Station, the Tipi (139 rue de la Chapelle), and the Librairie Au Camion (234 boulevard de la Plage).
Highlights Une dune à la page 2026
- 40 invited authors in Contis-Plage from May 14 to 17, 2026
- Sponsor: Grégoire Kauffmann
- Headliners: Maylis de Kerangal, Camille Laurens, Léonor de Récondo, Joseph Incardona, Laure Murat, Vincent Lemire
- Inauguration of the Contis plage prize (€1,000) rewarding a debut novel
- Great dictation on the sand hosted by Julian Bugier
- Great Ocean Evening, translation joust, expanded youth program
- Free access to all meetings, signing sessions, and exhibitions
Programme Une dune à la page 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026
- Opening performance and musical reading
- Festival opening ceremony
- 7:00 PM — Proclamation of the Contis plage prize (debut novel)
- Evening with Camille Laurens
Friday, May 15, 2026
- Literary meetings with invited authors
- Ukraine round table
- Walk and screening
- Debate "Femicides and violence against women"
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Conference "In Resistance"
- 4:00 PM — Mime stories with Pascale, signing session (Librairie Au Camion, youth)
- The dunes dictation on the beach, hosted by Julian Bugier
- 8:00 PM — Great Ocean Evening (Salle Marie-Madeleine): round table with Emmanuel de Fontainieu, Jean-Didier Urbain, and Marie Pointurier, hosted by Marie Luce Ribot · works Atlantique (Sud Ouest) and Reste l'Océan (Liana Levi), followed by a signing session
Sunday, May 17, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Story mats with Claire (Le Tipi, youth parents-children)
- 11:00 AM — Story readings with Janike (Le Tipi, youth)
- 11:00 AM — Translation joust with Julie Sibony (Maison de la Station)
- 12:00 PM — Meeting with Vincent Lemire about Histoire de Jérusalem (Arènes BD) and Jérusalem, lever la malédiction (Albin Michel), followed by a signing session (Maison de la Station)
Prices Une dune à la page 2026
Une dune à la page — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 14 May to 17 May 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Une dune à la page
Access to the festival
By car
Contis-Plage is located in the municipality of Saint-Julien-en-Born, about 30 km north of Mimizan and 100 km south of Bordeaux. From the A63 motorway, take exit Labouheyre then follow the D626 towards Saint-Julien-en-Born and Contis. Free parking is available near the Maison de la Station.
By public transport
The nearest train station is Labouheyre, about 30 km away. It is advisable to have a vehicle to reach Contis-Plage. Carpooling is encouraged by the organizers.
Venue
The festival takes place at the Maison de la Station, 339 rue de la Jetée, 40170 Contis, Saint-Julien-en-Born. Activities are spread across the main hall, outdoor areas, and the terrace overlooking the village.
Opening Hours
The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday during the Ascension weekend. The opening ceremony takes place on Thursday evening at 6 PM. Literary encounters and workshops are held daily from 10 AM to 7 PM. Book signing sessions are organized continuously throughout the day.
Prices
Access to the festival is completely free for all encounters, book signings, and exhibitions. Some specific workshops may require prior registration on the festival website or on-site.
Food and Drink
Food and drink options are available nearby in the village of Contis-Plage. Several shops, bars, and restaurants are within walking distance of the festival venue. You can also bring your own picnic and enjoy the outdoor spaces.
Accommodation
Contis-Plage has campsites, seasonal rentals, and bed and breakfasts. It is recommended to book in advance during the Ascension weekend, a period of high tourist traffic on the Landes coast.
Additional Information
- The festival takes place partly outdoors, so remember to bring clothing suitable for the oceanic weather.
- Youth events are adapted to different age groups, from toddlers to teenagers.
- Registration for workshops can be done on-site or in advance on the festival website.
- The site is partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Contact
Association Contis, Une Dune à la Page
Official website: unedunealapage.fr
A Literary Festival by the Ocean
The Une dune à la page festival is a literary event held in Contis-Plage, a seaside resort in the commune of Saint-Julien-en-Born in the Landes region. Born in 2025 from the will of three literature enthusiasts — Virginie Lapeyre, creator and manager of the Au Camion bookstore, Frédérique Hardy, literary mediator, and author and actress Léa Wiazemsky (lifelong patron of the festival) —, this event aims to make words resonate between dunes and maritime pines.
A Rich and Diverse Program
Each edition offers a dense and varied program, structured around several themes. Literary encounters allow the public to interact directly with invited authors — novelists, essayists, biographers, poets, comic book authors. Thematic round tables address major questions in contemporary literature, while signing sessions offer a special moment between readers and writers. Around forty authors are invited each year, including major names in French literature.
Children's Literature in the Spotlight
Une dune à la page gives a prominent place to children's literature. From toddlers to teenagers, young readers have the opportunity to meet children's authors, participate in reading workshops, discover kamishibaï (Japanese paper theatre), and get initiated into creative writing. Story mats, storytelling sessions, mimed stories, and creative workshops are distributed between the Maison de la Station, the Tipi, and the Librairie Au Camion.
An Exceptional Setting Between Ocean and Forest
The festival is held at the Maison de la Station in Contis-Plage, just a few steps from the Atlantic Ocean. This exceptional natural setting, between fine sandy beaches, wooded dunes, and maritime pine forest, gives the festival a unique and soothing atmosphere. The opening ceremony, exhibitions, and activities take place in this friendly venue which becomes, for a long weekend, a true literary village.
The Dunes Dictation
A popular highlight of the festival, the participatory dictation gathers young and old on the sand around an unpublished text read by a guest personality. Hosted by journalist Julian Bugier, it has become one of the most anticipated events of each edition, combining concentration, good humor, and a love for the French language.
The Contis Plage Prize
In 2026, the festival inaugurated the Contis Plage Prize, endowed with €1,000, which rewards a debut novel. The jury, composed of association members and literary figures, annually selects a shortlist of finalists.
An Associative and Cultural Commitment
Supported by the Association Contis, Une Dune à la Page, the festival relies on the commitment of passionate volunteers who work throughout the year to offer a quality event that is free, open to all, and rooted in its territory. Each edition is sponsored by a literary personality, bringing a unique perspective to the program.
Where does it take place — Une dune à la page
Une dune à la page in brief
History of Une dune à la page
Edition 2025 May 2025Other festivals near Saint-Julien-en-Born
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