La Folle Journée
January/February
This themed event brings classical music to the masses. Held over a long weekend in winter, it features a series of short, low-priced concerts that everyone from kids to classical music buffs can enjoy.
Nefs Spring Festival
April-May
Taking place in Nantes’ old shipyards, the Nefs Spring Festival focuses on the city’s famous mechanised creatures. Circus shows and theatre productions designed around giant machine-like elephant and ‘tortoise-giraffes’ form the centre of the celebrations.
Citizens of Europe
15 May
‘Europe Day’ is celebrated in all European Union countries, but in Nantes they take the festival particularly seriously. Expect everything from concerts and dancing to tasting and exhibitions.
Celtomania
October
This celebration of Breton and Celtic culture focuses on the arts. Throughout the month of October, Celtic heritage enthusiasts come together to put on a series of dances, musical events and exhibitions that attract upward of 3,000 visitors.
Three Continents Festival
November
Since its inauguration in 1979, the Three Continents Festival has grown to become one of the leading events in France dedicated solely to independent film productions from Asia, Africa and Latin America. An incredible range of filmmakers competes for the prestigious ‘Montgolfière d'Or’, a balloon-shaped award.