Celtic nations descend on France to celebrate shared ancestry
Expect big parades, plenty of pipes and a sort of Celtic ‘battle of the bands’ at the Brittany extravaganza
The Grande Parade des Nations Celtes is watched by thousandsJean-Noël Lévêque / Festival Interceltique
Thomas BrentThomasBrent
PublishedModified
France’s Celtic roots are the focus of the hugely popular Brittany-based Festival Interceltique.
It is an event that pays homage to all Celtic nations and attracts around 700,000 international visitors annually.
50-year heritage
The festival takes place in Lorient and has been running since 1971 – last year was its 50th anniversary – and each year celebrates a different Celtic nation. This year was the turn of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain.
It runs for 10 days and nights every August, with this year’s taking place between August 5 and 14.
There was a packed schedule of around 200 events, including concerts, dances, film screenings, book readings, workshops, and many other events tied to Celtic culture.
Around 4,500 performers descend on Lorient for the festival, drawing audiences from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Spain, the US, Australia and, of course, France. Many of the events are free but others are ticketed.
Celtic nations are wide-spread
Grande Parade
The Grande Parade des Nations Celtes usually takes place on the first Sunday of the festival, and is one of the highlights.
More than 3,000 musicians and dancers in traditional dress march through the streets, with thousands of spectators watching.
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Equally worth looking out for is the Championnat des bagadoù, a Celtic battle of the bands.
