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

La 15th Art History Festival takes up residence at the Château de Fontainebleau on Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June 2026. As every year, it’s three days of intellectual and popular excitement, with over 300 free, open-access events - conferences, screenings, workshops, concerts, debates and guided tours. And, as every year, Entry to the Château is free throughout the festival, including visits to the Grands Appartements.

To find out about the festival’s general format, its history and its major annual events, see our page dedicated to the Art History Festival in Fontainebleau.

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 is hosting a country on the African continent and in the Arab world. The Kingdom of Morocco takes centre stage throughout the programme, with a particular focus on its artistic traditions (architecture, calligraphy, textiles, photography), its contemporary scene (Marrakech, Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat) and its historical ties with Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

Even before kick-off, an accompanying 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 depicting Moroccan oases and how they are being transformed by climate change.

Fashion, a cross-disciplinary theme

The 2026 theme is Fashion, understood in the broadest sense: a subject of art history (from medieval costume to haute couture, from courtly attire to military regalia), a reflection of society, and a field of contemporary creativity. The lectures, debates and exhibitions explore this theme from a variety of perspectives, including painting (how painters have depicted clothing through the ages), textiles and the textile trade (the circulation of fabrics, techniques and patterns), and the links between fashion and politics.

An exhibition of stage costumes at the Château, dedicated to Marie-Antoinette, forms a link between the Grand Apartments and the theme of this edition.

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.
• Film screenings 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 featuring book launches, meetings with authors and book signings.
• Associated programming in town, in Barbizon (Galerie l’Angélus, L’Esquisse) and on the forecourt of the station.

The detailed programme

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

Good to know before you come

L'admission is free for all events and for visits to the Château over the three days. Some highly popular activities (specific guided tours, family workshops with limited capacity) may require a bit of patience at the entrance or prior booking — this is indicated on a case-by-case basis in the official programme.

For advice transport, accommodation and catering, See our dedicated page: Everything you need to know about the Art History Festival in Fontainebleau.

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