Festivals and cultural events Lille

Les Fenêtres qui parlent is a unifying and original event. Created in 2001, they enable neighborhood associations to express their stories and memories. As you can imagine, the windows of participating residents are decorated with drawings, paintings and messages... More than a simple event, these windows are an open door on local life and the dreams of residents, highlighted by regional artists. A surprise window is revealed after a tour of the partner towns. Each year, you'll have the pleasure of strolling new streets and discovering new neighborhoods in this amazing metropolis, through a variety of themes ("Micro Machine" in Lille-Sud, "Couples Improbables" in Roubaix, "Flottements" in Bois-Blancs, for example). A great initiative to liven up and showcase the many neighborhoods that deserve to be better known!

Unusual moments in perspective thanks to the open doors of the artists'workshops! The program? Visit the premises of a thousand amateur and professional artists from the North, be they painters, graphic artists, sculptors or photographers. You will discover in which space they work, which inspires them, with which materials, with which tools they create… Exciting and often enriching meetings on the works and artists themselves at the sharing workshops with the general public. A great opportunity to discover all these talents!

Since its inception, the NAME Festival has never ceased to reinvent itself and surprise us. A major event for electro-music fans, the festival takes over unusual venues (remnants, industrial wastelands...) and thrills its thousands of spectators to the sounds of internationally renowned artists and young emerging musicians. The NAME Festival is a talent scout and incubator, and organizes meetings and master classes. On the strength of its reputation, the festival has become an itinerant one, organizing events all over France.

Created in 2016, the Journées Nationales de l'Architecture are part of a more global approach by the Ministry of Culture aimed at rethinking architecture in everyday life and encouraging a desire for architecture among the French to improve the living environment and habitat. As such, these days seek to showcase the most beautiful and unusual architectural achievements throughout France, and enable visitors to re-appropriate their city. In Lille in 2016, the curious were able to discover the metamorphoses of the Citadelle and the urban and architectural history of the town halls. They were able to attend exhibitions on themes as varied as "Japan, archipelago of the home" or "Building the accessible, architecture facing the walls of disability". Conferences, workshops and film screenings were also on offer. Enough to satisfy the most varied cultural appetites. Whether you prefer classical or contemporary architecture, you're bound to find an event to suit your taste. Following the success of the first edition, the Ministry is organizing the Journées Nationales de l'Architecture once again. In 2017 in Lille, the program should focus more on contemporary Lille. Eventually, the Ministry hopes to make these days as essential as the Journées du Patrimoine.

france's^3rd-largest short-film competition, the European Film Festival attracts some 6,000 spectators every year. This competition for short films of all kinds aims to promote French and European cinema, but not only that... It's also an excellent opportunity for film professionals to meet their Lille audiences! Pascal Légitimus, Joey Starr, Gary Lewis, Mathieu Kassovitz and many others have taken part in the event during their respective careers.

Les Paradis artificiels is THE rap and urban festival of the Lille region, and more widely of northern France. Each year, over 20,000 participants gather (some editions draw close to 40,000) to enjoy the sounds of some 50 artists from all musical horizons, over the course of an entire week. French rap, Swedish DJs, American rock, African vocals and much more... make up the line-up for this eclectic event. A not-to-be-missed event!

Pioneer in the creative industries, Lille never ceases to surprise us, as with this magical festival dedicated to Video Mapping. Artists from all over the world let their creativity explode in breathtaking animations designed to sublimate the most beautiful monuments of the city. Monumental, immersive or interactive mapping, this art is multiple and transports you out of time and space. If the festival opens in Lille, it then continues in the regions until October 2023 with new videos specific to each city and territory.

A cult cinema event enjoyed by thousands of spectators, the CineComedies festival returns for its 6th^edition , with comedy screenings, meetings and book signings for all audiences, scattered across Lille. This year, the honors will go to comedian Michel Serrault, one of the pillars of French cinema. An entire exhibition will be devoted to his world and career, from his legendary duet with Jean Poiret to his greatest film collaborations. How about it? Will you be there?

In 2019, the 1st edition of the festival attracted 13,000 spectators. A real success that the festival teams intend to repeat in 2020! This time, the edition should last two weeks with numerous animations, workshops and festive and animated evenings. Big names have been invited such as Alexandre Desplat and Jacques Audiard, but the big event not to be missed will be the exclusive French screening of Skyfall at the Zenith on November 25th. James Bond accompanied by a symphony orchestra: that's a promise! Other events in association with large structures such as the NPO will be organized. The Ciné-Concert festival has not finished making us dream!