50th anniversary of the City of Caen Literary Prize

From 9 to 12 October 2026, the City of Caen Literary Prize will celebrate its 50th anniversary with four days of events, musical readings, round-table discussions, poetry walks and film screenings.
Several generations of prize-winners will come together for the occasion to read their works, reflect on their relationship with reading and writing, and share with the public what has, over the past 50 years, shaped the unique history of this literary prize.

Friday 9 October — Launch of the 50th-anniversary celebrations
Alexis de Tocqueville Library — 6.00 pm
The 50th-anniversary celebrations will begin with an opening evening dedicated in particular to readers.

Two new projects will be presented:

‘Les lecteurs s’exposent’, a photographic exhibition by François Decaens;
‘Les lecteurs se livrent’, short video clips directed by Rémi Mauger.
This first evening will thus place readers at the heart of the celebrations: for behind 50 years of the prize lie 50 years of books read, shared and passed on.


Saturday 10 October — From Reading to Writing
Auditorium of the Museum of Fine Arts — from 2.00 pm
Saturday will bring together several winners of the Prize for musical readings and two panel discussions focusing on the links between reading, writing and personal journeys.

2.00 pm — Musical reading
*Un jour ce sera vide* (One Day It Will Be Empty), by Hugo Lindenberg
Éric Louviot, reader; Jérémy Nattagh, musician.

3.30 pm — Round-table discussion: ‘From childhood to writing’
With Hugo Lindenberg, Stéphanie Lamache and Marie Rouzin.
Moderator: Rémi Mauger.

4.45 pm — Musical reading
*Objets, trajets* by Stéphanie Lamache
Claudette Caux, reader; Christian Belhomme and Samuel Belhomme, musicians.

6.15 pm — Round-table discussion: ‘From Reading to Writing’
With Belinda Cannone, Rémi David and Renaud Meyer.
Moderator: Françoise Bellais.

9.00 pm — Musical reading
*Return to Balbec*, by Renaud Meyer
Read by the author, accompanied on the piano by Mahoko Nakano.


Sunday 11 October — Authors meet readers
Alexis de Tocqueville Library — from 3.00 pm
Sunday will place a special focus on meeting readers and the practice of reading.

3.00 pm — Meet the author: Lilia Hassaine
Discussing her latest book, *JE*, hosted by Claudette Caux.

3.00 pm–4.30 pm — Workshop on reading aloud
With Éric Louviot.
Ages 15 and over, booking required.
Bookings on 02 31 30 47 00 from Friday 25 September.

4.30 pm–5.30 pm — Meet the author: Marie Rouzin
To round off the poetic and urban journey centred on *Les treize âges de la vie d’une femme*.

Press tables and book-signing sessions will also be held at the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Bibliothèque Alexis de Tocqueville on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.


Monday 12 October — A final evening at the Lux Cinema
Lux Cinema — 8.00 pm
The 50th-anniversary celebrations will draw to a close with a screening of *Fahrenheit 451*, followed by a discussion moderated by Xavier Alexandre.


A poetic tour of Caen
To mark this fiftieth anniversary, literature is also taking to the city’s streets.

Based on Marie Rouzin’s book *Les treize âges de la vie d’une femme* (The Thirteen Ages of a Woman’s Life), the Association of Jury Members presents a poetic and urban walking tour conceived and produced by Isabelle Girard – *Qui Cherche Trouve* – Compagnie.

This experience combines an intimate listening experience of the text with thirteen locations in Caen, plus a final stop. It is a self-guided experience, using a mobile phone and headphones, and is free for those aged 15 and over.

A meet-up with Marie Rouzin is scheduled for 3 October from 2.00 pm at the Alexis de Tocqueville Library to discover the trail and get to grips with the app.
Bookings on 02 31 30 47 00 from Friday 19 September.

The tour can then be completed independently until the meet-the-author event on Sunday 11 October.

• Free for all