From January 21 to 25, the Île-de-France region will buzz with the sound of turning pages: nearly 1,200 events invite people of all ages to simply celebrate the joy of reading.
From January 21 to 25, the Île-de-France region will buzz with the sound of turning pages: nearly 1,200 events invite people of all ages to simply celebrate the joy of reading.
Reading Nights are back for their 10th edition and, quite subtly, our region is eagerly awaiting this moment. Initiated upon a proposal from the Ministry of Culture and supported by the National Book Center (CNL), the event has already chalked up five consecutive years.
The idea has remained the same: to make the audience resonate with words, day and night, and to remind that a book is as much to be shared as it is to be devoured in silence.
Among the regulars, the period from January 21 to 25 is already marked on the calendar, a cultural return that comes just in time, right after the bustle of the holiday season.
For 2026, the central theme is "Cities and Countryside." An invitation to transition from an imaginary skyscraper to a comforting meadow without leaving one's chair (or subway bench).
The contrast between urbanity and rurality will inspire both the staging and the choice of texts. Therefore, we can expect readings that speak of asphalt, trails, city rumors, or country silence, sometimes all at once.
Above all, a lovely pretext to remember that a good novel travels from one territory to another without hesitation.
According to the press release, nearly 1,200 events have already been listed in the Île-de-France region. Suffice to say, there will always be a page to turn, from the center of Paris to the neighboring towns. The selection is still evolving (registrations are not yet closed), but already, libraries, bookstores, theaters, museums, schools, and even penal institutions have confirmed their participation. This abundance may be dizzying, yes, but it mostly proves that when it comes to books, there is never a shortage of ideas.
The 2026 program also has a taste for grand settings. The Arc de Triomphe, the Institut de France, the National Library of France (BnF), the Grand Palais, and the City of Science and Industry will lend their walls, sometimes majestic, sometimes unusual, to readings, workshops, or performances.
Between historical gilding and futuristic corridors, the contrast fits perfectly with the theme "Cities and Countryside": one foot in modernity, the other in memory.
To set the scene right from the start, the Maison des histoires will kick things off on Wednesday in Paris. And, because a literary festival can very well rhyme with DJ sets or clinking glasses, an evening described as "literary and festive" is planned for Friday at Ground Control.
Practical details are still to come, but there is already talk that the discussions may go on late into the night, which makes sense, as these are indeed Nights...
To accompany this 10th edition, the organizers have invited Marie-Hélène Lafon and Laurent Gaudé.
The two writers become the godmother and godfather of the event. Their presence, more symbolic than institutional, spreads a beautiful energy: we read, we listen, and sometimes we write too, carried by voices that know what storytelling means.
The strength of the concept lies in the diversity of formats. Reading aloud by the light of a lamp, writing workshops at the heart of a media library, an audio stroll through a museum... Each organization selects from its range of options. Nothing also prevents one from simply settling down on a beanbag with headphones to enjoy a recorded text. The essential thing is this shared time when we allow ourselves to be surprised by a sentence, a character, a rhythm.
The statement reminds that the event is open to everyone, regardless of age or place of residence. Last year, 8,500 events were organized throughout France, a figure that reflects the national enthusiasm. This year again, neighborhood libraries, community centers, and French institutes abroad will continue the effort. Behind it all lies the same belief: reading builds bridges when given the chance.
To make the most of the programming, a simple tip: check the official website regularly.
Slots are added, specified, and sometimes shifted. You don't need to be a book marathoner; you can choose a single meeting or stack multiple sessions.
The idea is also to let yourself be surprised by a text you would never have picked up on your own.
- CNL: The National Book Center, a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, supports the book industry (authors, publishers, booksellers, libraries).
- Ground Control: A hybrid space in Paris that combines dining, culture, and workshops, often used for large public events.
- Maison des histoires: The name given in the press release to the Parisian venue that will kick off the readings on Wednesday.
Five days, nearly 1,200 events, a theme of "Cities and Countryside," two writers as the godmother and godfather: the Nights of Reading 2026 promise delightful jaunts through imaginary alleyways and fields of paper. To find out more about the schedule and book your slots, head to the official website. Happy reading(s)!
Author Audrey on 22 November 2022
Art and Culture : Gallery
Author Audrey on 02 May 2024
Art and Culture : Festival