Festival des Mots 2026: A Traveling Literary Festival Brings Summer to Life Across the Alpes-Maritimes

Summer on the French Riviera welcomes one of its most anticipated cultural events with the return of Festival des Mots, the traveling literary festival that transforms picturesque villages across the Alpes-Maritimes into open-air stages for live readings and performances.

The 2026 edition is dedicated to the theme of travel, not only as a physical journey but also as an opportunity for discovery, encounters, and shared experiences. Across eight free evenings, audiences will enjoy literature brought to life in locations stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the mountain villages of southeastern France.

Alice Pol opens the festival

Award-winning actress Alice Pol inaugurates this year’s festival with a live reading from her novel Tout doit disparaître.

The story follows Charlie, an investigator assigned to examine a suspicious death inside a long-abandoned sanatorium. What initially appears to be an accident soon unfolds into a gripping mystery filled with hidden secrets, eerie atmospheres, and unexpected twists.

Her performance perfectly reflects the festival’s mission: turning literature into a shared live experience under the summer sky.

From cinema to literature

Known for her collaborations with Dany Boon, Alice Pol became one of France’s most recognizable actresses through blockbuster films such as Supercondriaque and Raid Dingue.

Throughout her career she has worked alongside acclaimed filmmakers and actors including Claude Lelouch, Jean Dujardin, Guillaume Canet, and Guillaume Gallienne, showcasing remarkable versatility across comedy and drama.

She made her literary debut in 2023 with Coup de pelle and will soon appear in the TF1 television series Seylan.

Eight free events across the Alpes-Maritimes

The Festival des Mots travels through some of the most beautiful towns and villages of the Alpes-Maritimes, offering free cultural events inspired by the tradition of public storytelling.

A highlight of this edition is the introduction of two musical readings, accompanied respectively by cello and guitar, creating an immersive dialogue between literature and music.

The festival also celebrates the region’s exceptional heritage by combining literature with spectacular landscapes, historic squares, and charming hilltop villages.

Festival des Mots 2026 schedule

• 17 July – Villeneuve-Loubet, 9:00 p.m. – Alice Pol
• 18 July – Puget-Théniers, 8:30 p.m. – Denis Podalydès
• 23 July – Valberg, 6:00 p.m. – Alice Taglioni
• 25 July – Gattières, 8:30 p.m. – Nicole Garcia
• 27 July – Mandelieu-la-Napoule, 9:00 p.m. – Raphaël Quenard
• 28 July – Cap d’Ail, 9:00 p.m. – Valérie Bonneton
• 4 August – Biot, 9:00 p.m. – Francis Huster
• 8 August – Venanson, 8:30 p.m. – Lionnel Astier

A cultural journey through the French Riviera

From the Mediterranean coastline to the Alpine hinterland, Festival des Mots continues to establish itself as one of the French Riviera’s most distinctive summer cultural events.

By bringing renowned artists and contemporary literature into remarkable outdoor settings, the festival offers visitors and residents an unforgettable experience where storytelling, culture, and breathtaking scenery come together.