The best festivals in Limousin

In Feytiat, summer is alive with the art of pastel. 🎉

Every year in July and August, 300 works by artists from France and around the world are exhibited at the Espace George Brassens, much to the delight of visitors.

This high-quality selection has contributed to the festival’s reputation as a benchmark for pastel artists.

For more than 20 years, visitors have been able to admire the work of numerous artists: Rubén Belloso Adorna, Anne Courtine, Olena Duchêne, Margaret Glass, Nathalie Picoulet, Sergei Oussik, Thierry Citron…

Rock and extreme music in general are celebrated in Saillat-sur-Vienne every August. 🎶

Two areas (one free outdoors-one paying indoors) are available to festival-goers, allowing all budgets to enjoy this musical genre. 🎤

The festival became a fixture on the Limousin scene in 2008, and has quickly become a not-to-be-missed event.

It plays host to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine rock scene as well as nationally and internationally renowned artists such as Les Fatals Picards, Rise of the north star, Elmer Food Beat and the foxy ladies….

Nexon and the circus have been going strong for over 30 years! 🎪

Originally, towards the end of the 80s, Annie Fratellini chose the beautiful setting of the Château de Nexon park to host the summer courses of the “Annie Fratellini National Circus School”.

So it was only natural that a festival dedicated to the circus arts should emerge in Nexon.

For ten days in August, the grounds of Nexon castle will be transformed into a showcase for circus creation. 🎉

Visitors can enjoy a selection of shows from the contemporary circus scene. The festival features some of the biggest names in the circus arts, as well as up-and-coming talents: La Famille Morallès, Les Nouveaux Nez, Jani Nuutinen, Cirque Rasposo,Phia Ménard, Sébastien Le Guen,Chloé Moglia,Mélissa Von Vépy….

Les Francophonies punctuates Limoges’ cultural life with special events based around the arts: music, theatre, conferences, storytelling, etc.

In autumn, during the last week of September, the Francophonies “Zébrures d’automne” showcase a selection of artists from all over the world: photo exhibitions, lectures, live performances, films, documentaries, etc.

In the spring, during the last week of March, the “Zébrures de printemps” becomes a festival dedicated to writing. Zébrures d’automne or Zébrures de printemps, the festival has been a not-to-be-missed event in Limoges for nearly 40 years!

Every year, during the second half of November, Limoges lives to the rhythm of Jazz. 🎺

Over the years, this musical genre has brought together fans and novices alike, showcasing both the big names in the genre and the jazz scene in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Over the past 20 years, Jazz éclat d’émail has welcomed a wide range of artists: Ron Carter, Kellylee Evans, Dafer Youssef, Roberto Fonseca, Ivan “Melon” Lewis and the Cuban swing express , Harlem Gospel Choir….

The Veyracomusies are 4 days of festivities over the Ascension weekend, featuring artists from the regional and national music scene. 🎉

Over the years, the festival has opened its stage to other disciplines: street shows, juggling… But “the biggest of the small festivals” still attracts 5,000 festival-goers every year, and has done so for over 35 years! 🎶

Many artists have been seduced by the authenticity and conviviality of the Veyracomusies: Faada Freddy, Renan Luce, Babylon Circus, Alkabaya, Samarabalouf, the Boogie Van , les p’tits fils de Jeanine….

Urbaka brings the streets of Limoges to life for 4 days at the end of June. 🥳

Street arts take centre stage, and passers-by become spectators.

The festival invites spectators to take a step back from the world, to smile and dream for the duration of a performance.

It showcases companies of national and international renown: Des Un Volt, Cie Nushka, Cie Artifictions, Cie de la Dernière Minute, Carnage Productions, Cie du Beau Geste, Cie Sara Ducat….

The heart of the Haut-Limousin festival is a beautifully renovated barn at the Ferme de Villefavard, which hosts a year-round programme of high-quality classical music. 🥳

Located 15 minutes from Bellac, this cultural centre in the heart of the Limousin countryside offers eight days of concerts, siestas and musical walks through the villages of the Haut Limousin in the height of summer. 🍃

The ambition of the 1001 notes Festival is to bring classical music into dialogue with other musical genres. 🎶

Since 2005, it has distilled a rich and unifying programme!

Renowned talents have taken to the stages in and around Limoges: Sofiane Pamart, Khatia Buniatishvili, Vladimir Cosma, Chilly Gonzales, Barbara Hendricks, Juliette Armanet….