À Marseille, les Nouvelles Rencontres d'Averroès invitent à ''franchir, s'affranchir''

From October 28 to November 1, 2026, the Nouvelles Rencontres d'Averroès will take up residence at several cultural venues in Marseille for an exceptional edition. In partnership with L'Orient-Le Jour, five days of debates, performances, readings and discussions will focus on borders, freedoms and the upheavals affecting both shores of the Mediterranean.

What if crossing a border also meant seeking to free ourselves from what confines us? The Nouvelles Rencontres d’Averroès have built their 2026 edition around this dual movement. For five days, journalists, researchers, writers, artists and thinkers will meet in Marseille to share perspectives on a world marked by wars, exiles and political crises, but also by aspirations for freedom and emancipation.

This edition will have particular resonance as it is part of Saison Méditerranée 2026, with the Rencontres among its major closing events. For the occasion, the festival has joined forces with the French-language Lebanese daily L’Orient-Le Jour, giving this program a particular focus on exchanges between Marseille and Beirut.

Five days to reflect on the Mediterranean

Round tables, masterclasses, debates, performances, concerts and readings will shape this new edition. Among the main events, three round tables will explore how to “live in between,” the relationship between power and international law, and new forms of citizenship following the major protest movements that have marked the Arab world in recent years.

The 2026 edition will also mark the 900th anniversary of Averroès’s birth. A wide-ranging discussion will bring together three specialists in his thought to revisit the legacy of the Andalusian philosopher and consider how his ideas continue to span the centuries and both shores of the Mediterranean.

The program will also give a prominent place to artistic creation. Wajdi Mouawad will present L’ombre en soi qui écrit, while Charles Berberian will offer a musical and illustrated reading of Une éducation orientale. Bachar Mar-Khalifé will revisit Christophe’s repertoire at CEPAC Silo. As for poetry, the Rima Poésie Club will make its first stop in Marseille, with several voices from contemporary poetry of the Arab world.

Younger audiences will not be forgotten. With Averroès Junior, workshops on cooking, media practices and Mediterranean crossings will allow children and teenagers to explore the theme “Franchir/s’affranchir” for themselves.

Practical information

From October 28 to November 1, 2026, at Théâtre de l’Odéon, Espace Julien, Mucem and CEPAC Silo. Several events are free with reservation, while performances are priced from 10 to 25 euros, depending on the event.