54th Festival Interceltique de Lorient

Festival Interceltique Poster

The Interceltic Festival of Lorient was born out of its founders' desire to contribute to the development of Breton music and culture, but also to open up to other Celtic nations:  Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Galicia, Asturias, and all the diasporas.  This year’s festival was dedicated to ‘our American Cousins’ so as well as traditional expressions of Celtic music and dance, there were contributions from across the Atlantic; from Louisiana to Nova Scotia, Boston and New York.

As decendants of Welsh and Cornish heritage, we immediately felt at home when we saw the Treorchy Male Voice Choir and the Boscastle Bouys were on the programme.  The warm weather ensured that the waterside location was perfect for those unable to resist dancing in the sunshine to bands on the different outdoor stages.  There were rows of stalls selling clothes, crafts, gifts, food and refreshments as well as an excellent exhibition of the work of Breton artist Robert Micheau-Vernez (1907-1989) in the Town Hall.

Despite the crowds (estimated to be 800,000 across the ten days), we thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and diverse programme, all for 10 Euros which covered entrance to the huge site for the duration of the festival.  We bought tickets for some of the special events including ‘Celtic Horizons’, a nightime multi-media celebration of all things Celtic in the town’s football stadium as well as a Cornish evening with sardines, crab, Cornish ale and sea shanties. 

For those who might be interested in the festival next year, a short video of this year’s Grand Parade of Celtic Nations provides some insight into the festival sights and sounds on the first day. 

Flights from Prague to Nantes will get you within two hours (by train) of Lorient and the 55^th Interceltic Festival (31 July - 9 August 2026) will be dedicated to ‘Cornwall, in the Heart of the Celtic Sea’.

Phil and Kayti Selbie

The pictures below capture the mood of the Festival.