Étonnants Voyageurs

Étonnants Voyageurs is an international literature festival founded in 1990 in Saint-Malo, France, by Michel Le Bris, Christian Rolland, Maëtte Chantrel, and Jean-Claude Izzo. Named after a line from Charles Baudelaire's poem "Le Voyage," the festival was conceived as a radical departure from traditional literary events: it is neither a generalist author-promotion fair nor a genre-specific gathering, but an open celebration of all literatures. Its mission is to explore world fiction, travel writing, and the urgent debates of the contemporary world, bringing together writers, filmmakers, photographers, and thinkers from across the globe. Each year, the festival attracts around 60,000 visitors and hosts approximately 200 writers from different countries over three days of meetings, debates, readings, and literary cafés spread across multiple venues in Saint-Malo. The event also features a film programme, exhibitions, and performances. Since its inception, it has been a meeting point for travel photographers and writers of travel journals. The festival has expanded internationally, with editions in Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Bamako (Mali), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), and Haifa (Israel). These overseas editions feed back into the main festival in Saint-Malo. The Bamako festival, first held in 2000 and biennial since 2006, is a key platform for a new generation of French-speaking African authors and was the birthplace of the "Pour une littérature-monde en français" manifesto in 2006. Étonnants Voyageurs also awards several literary prizes, including the Prix Littérature-monde, the Prix Nicolas-Bouvier for travel writing, the Prix Ouest-France Étonnants Voyageurs for young readers, the Prix Joseph-Kessel, the Prix Robert Ganzo de poésie, the Prix Gens de mer, and the Grand prix de l'Imaginaire. A short-story competition for secondary school students is also held annually. The festival is largely subsidized by the city of Saint-Malo. In 2015, Michel Le Bris handed over the direction of the festival to his daughter Mélanie. The 2024 edition honoured Quebec and featured Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk as guest of honour. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 23–25 May in Saint-Malo.

Étonnants Voyageurs was founded in 1990 in Saint-Malo by Michel Le Bris, Christian Rolland, Maëtte Chantrel, and Jean-Claude Izzo. The name comes from a line in Charles Baudelaire's poem "Le Voyage," dedicated to Maxime Du Camp. From the outset, the festival was conceived as a radical departure from existing literary events: it was neither a generalist festival for author promotion nor a genre festival, but an open festival for all literatures. The first edition took place in 1990, and the early years were marked by a spirit of adventure and discovery. In 1991–1992, the festival celebrated the "grand return of adventure and the New World." By 1993, it embraced the concept of "world fiction," asserting the urgency of a literature that reconnects with the taste of the world. The mid-1990s saw growing demand for debates and cross-cultural perspectives. In 1997, the festival focused on America and created a youth festival. In 1998, it turned to the Mediterranean. The festival expanded internationally. In 2000, it began a partnership with Bamako, Mali, which became a biennial event in 2006, alternating with Haiti. The Bamako festival was the birthplace of the "Pour une littérature-monde en français" manifesto in 2006. A first edition was held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in December 2007, and a first edition in Haifa, Israel, in October 2008. A first edition in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, took place in February 2013. In 2015, Michel Le Bris handed over the direction of the festival to his daughter Mélanie. The festival continues to attract around 60,000 visitors annually and hosts about 200 writers from around the world. It has also developed a film programme, curated by Patrice Blanc-Francard since 2009, and maritime adventure events since 2008. The 2024 edition honoured Quebec and featured Olga Tokarczuk. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 23–25 May in Saint-Malo.

• 2026

  Edition scheduled for 23–25 May in Saint-Malo.

• 2024

  Edition honours Quebec and features Olga Tokarczuk.

• 2015

  Michel Le Bris hands over direction to his daughter Mélanie.

• 2014

  Prix Littérature-monde established.

• 2013

  First edition in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo.

• 2010

  Grand prix de l'Imaginaire awarded at the festival.

• 2009

  Patrice Blanc-Francard begins curating the film programme.

• 2008

  First edition in Haifa, Israel; maritime adventure events introduced.

• 2007

  First edition in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

• 2006

  Bamako festival becomes biennial; 'Pour une littérature-monde en français' manifesto born.

• 2000

  First edition in Bamako, Mali.

• 1998

  Focus on the Mediterranean.

• 1997

  Focus on America and creation of a youth festival.

• 1993

  Festival embraces the concept of 'world fiction'.

• 1991

  Second edition celebrates the return of adventure and the New World.

• 1990

  Festival founded in Saint-Malo by Michel Le Bris, Christian Rolland, Maëtte Chantrel, and Jean-Claude Izzo.

A festival open to all literatures, focusing on world fiction, travel writing, and cross-cultural debate.

• Annual festival in Saint-Malo

  Three days of meetings, debates, readings, and literary cafés across 25 venues.

• International editions

  Festivals in Bamako, Brazzaville, Port-au-Prince, and Haifa.

• Book fair

  Annual book fair where authors sign their latest works.

• Literary prizes

  Prix Littérature-monde, Prix Nicolas-Bouvier, Prix Ouest-France Étonnants Voyageurs, Prix Joseph-Kessel, Prix Robert Ganzo de poésie, Prix Gens de mer, Grand prix de l'Imaginaire.

• Short story competition

  Annual competition for secondary school students based on an incipit by a famous youth author.

1. 1Etonnants Voyageurs official websiteetonnants-voyageurs.com
2. 2Notre histoireetonnants-voyageurs.com
3. 3Wikidata: Étonnants voyageurswikidata.org
4. 4Wikipédia: Étonnants Voyageursfr.wikipedia.org