A City of Festivals and Cultural Life

Learning French in Nantes: Festivals, Culture and Real Life

Nantes is not only a beautiful city in western France — it is a lively, creative and welcoming place, deeply connected to culture, art and music.
All year round, festivals and cultural events shape the rhythm of the city and attract an international audience.

For many visitors, a festival is the first reason to come to Nantes.
For some of them, it becomes the beginning of a longer adventure.

A city where culture is part of everyday life

Living in Nantes means being surrounded by culture.
Concerts, exhibitions, cinema, street performances and festivals take place throughout the year, in the city centre as well as along the Loire River.

This cultural energy makes Nantes a city where it is easy to:

• meet people,

• share experiences,

• and practice French in real-life situations.

Learning French here is not limited to the classroom — it continues in cafés, cultural venues, festivals and everyday conversations.

Major festivals in Nantes and nearby

Nantes and its region host several festivals with a strong international dimension, welcoming visitors, artists and participants from all over the world.

Among the most well-known events:

• Hellfest (Clisson)
  One of the largest music festivals in Europe, attracting tens of thousands of international visitors every year.

• Festival des 3 Continents
  A major film festival dedicated to cinema from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

• La Folle Journée
  An internationally recognised classical music festival, open to all audiences.

• Scopitone
  A festival combining digital culture, electronic music and contemporary art.

• Le Voyage à Nantes
  A summer cultural event transforming the city into an open-air artistic journey.

• Aux Heures d’Été
  A music and world cultures festival held in the heart of Nantes.

• Utopiales
  An international science fiction festival bringing together writers, scientists and artists.

• Les escales (Saint Nazaire)
  An international music festival held every summer in the port city of Saint-Nazaire, near Nantes. Known for its focus on world music and contemporary sounds, Les Escales brings together artists and audiences from many different countries, creating a festive and multicultural atmosphere by the sea.

These events create moments of exchange, curiosity and openness, ideal for discovering the French language and culture.

Festivals and learning French: a natural connection

Festivals bring people together.
They encourage conversation, discovery and shared experiences — exactly what language learning needs.

At FLE Nantes, we regularly welcome students who:

• came to the region for a festival or cultural event,

• decided to stay longer,

• and chose to learn French while living in Nantes.

Learning French in this context means:

• improving your language skills,

• understanding French culture from the inside,

• and becoming part of local life.

Learning French while living Nantes

Choosing Nantes to learn French means choosing:

• a human-sized city,

• a rich cultural life,

• and an international, welcoming atmosphere.

Whether you come for a festival, an artistic project or simple curiosity, Nantes offers the perfect environment to learn French while truly living in France.