2026 Art History Festival - Morocco and Fashion at the Château de Fontainebleau

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La 15ᵉ edition of the Art History Festival at the Château de Fontainebleau from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June 2026. Like every year, it's three days of intellectual and popular effervescence, with over 300 free, open-access events - conferences, screenings, workshops, concerts, debates and guided tours. And, as every year, admission to the Château is free throughout the festival, including visits to the Grands Appartements.

To find out more about the general format, the history of the festival and its major recurring events, see our page dedicated to the Fontainebleau Art History Festival.

Morocco, the first African and Arab country to be invited

The 2026 edition marks a turning point: for the first time in fifteen years, the festival will welcome a country on the African continent and in the Arab world. The Kingdom of Morocco is featured throughout the programme, with particular attention paid to its artistic traditions (architecture, calligraphy, textiles, photography), its contemporary scene (Marrakech, Tangiers, Casablanca, Rabat) and its historic dialogue with Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Even before kick-off, an associated exhibition sets the tone: Before it's gone, by the Moroccan photographer M'hammed Kilito, is on display until 8 June on the forecourt of Fontainebleau-Avon station. Twenty large-format photographs focusing on Moroccan oases and how they are being transformed by climate change.

Fashion, a cross-disciplinary theme

The 2026 theme is Fashion, The theme of clothing, understood in its broadest sense: an object of art history (from medieval costume to haute couture, from court silhouettes to military pageantry), a mirror of society and a field for contemporary creativity. The conferences, debates and exhibitions tackle this theme from angles as varied as painting (how painters have represented clothing through the ages), textiles and trade (the circulation of fabrics, techniques and motifs), and the links between fashion and politics.

An exhibition of stage costumes at the Château, The Marie-Antoinette theme links the Grands Appartements with the theme of this year's exhibition.

The programme

As every year, the festival offers a range of formats:

• Conferences and round tables in the main halls of the Château (Galerie François Ier, Salle de Bal, Théâtre Impérial) and in associated cultural venues in the city centre.
• Films on art, from documentary to fiction, in several cinemas.
• Workshops for children and families, The event will feature a range of activities, including games, storytelling and creative activities based around Morocco and fashion.
• Concerts and performances in the evening, combining music from the guest country and classical programming linked to the Château's spaces.
• Art book fair with book presentations, meetings with authors and book signings.
• Associated programming in town, in Barbizon (Galerie l'Angélus, L'Esquisse) and on the station forecourt.

The detailed programme

The full programme, venue by venue, slot by slot, is available on the official festival website : arthistoryfestival.fr. A paper programme is also available from the Château and the Pays de Fontainebleau Tourist Office.

Good to know before you come

The’admission is free for all events and for visits to the Château over the three days. Some very popular events (special guided tours, limited family workshops) may require patience at the entrance or prior registration - this is indicated on a case-by-case basis in the official programme.

For advice transport, accommodation and catering, See our dedicated page: All about the Fontainebleau Art History Festival.

Venue, dates and access

📍 Château de Fontainebleau, place du Général de Gaulle, 77300 Fontainebleau - and associated cultural venues in Fontainebleau, Avon and Barbizon
📅 From Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June 2026
🎟️ Free admission, including visits to the Grands Appartements
🔗 arthistoryfestival.fr