The 3 elephants
©Kevin Rouschausse

At the heart of festivals

Words, sound and sport: a festival for everyone

Between the Missing Link, the Judicial Film Festival and the Estivales, each festival is an invitation to discovery and emotion.

Books, music, sport or cinema: immerse yourself in events that stir up ideas and passions. Discover unexpected encounters, original creations and unique experiences that set each festival apart from the rest. There’s a festival for everyone!

Our festivals

Unique experiences, between creation and celebration

From 21 to 25 May 2026, the festival will take over Laval city centre for five days of festivities, music and discoveries.

The Square de Boston will be transformed into a veritable Festival Village. Over the five days, concerts and interactive events will be open to all, free of charge. The music will stop at 11pm at the latest, giving way to the festivities in Laval’s bars and at 6PAR4.

6PAR4 will be hosting the festival’s afters (with tickets), as well as a number of early evening concerts (also with tickets).

Other emblematic venues in Laval will also be coming alive: the Place du 11 Novembre, the Esplanade du Château-Neuf, the Cour du Vieux-Château, the Cour du Lycée Ambroise Paré and the Jardin de la Perrine will all be hosting a rich programme of free street arts for all.

From the outset, this festival has been yours. Once again this year, it will be built collectively with associations, shopkeepers and local residents. And of course… there’ll be some mischievous and unexpected surprises in store for you again this year!

Monte Dans L’Bus turns Laval and the surrounding area into a cultural playground for children. Shows, music, theatre, visual arts… the festival offers a multi-disciplinary programme designed to awaken all the senses of the very young.

A dedicated village is set up with activities, workshops and discoveries for young and old to take part in and have fun together. The aim? To combine sound and vision to give children a fun, immersive experience, while letting their parents enjoy the show (and sometimes… be jealous!).

With Monte Dans L’Bus, culture becomes a moment of celebration and sharing for all the family.

Les Estivales brings the region alive with street art, with a generous programme full of surprises. Theatre, circus, stunts, songs and unclassifiable creations take over squares, car parks, lawns and streets for convivial evenings to share with family and friends.

In the early evening, the show begins… and once the curtain falls, the atmosphere continues: refreshment stands and food stalls, run by local communities and associations, keep the party going.

With Les Estivales, Laval Agglomération affirms its commitment to the performing arts and to a shared culture, accessible to all. It’s a unique opportunity to promote summer and culture throughout the region.

The West Data Festival is the place to be for professionals who want to understand, experiment with and exploit the full potential of artificial intelligence and data. The three-day event features inspiring talks, topical themes, real-life feedback, practical workshops, demonstrations and networking opportunities.

Launched in 2019 by Laval Mayenne Technopole, the festival offers a unique opportunity to get informed, meet experts and inspiring personalities, develop your network and test solutions before taking action.

A professional event in a warm and dynamic setting, designed to encourage meetings, ideas and innovation.

For its 3rdᵉ edition, the Festival du Journalisme Sportif was a resounding success, bringing together journalists, experts and enthusiasts around the great emotions of sport.

Emblematic guests included Didier Deschamps, Raymond Domenech, Vikash Dhorasoo, Jean-Michel Larqué, Christian Lopez, Lionel Chamoulaud and many renowned sports journalists.

Through debates, screenings and masterclasses, the festival celebrates the unique role of the media in the collective memory of sport, and offers the public a chance to share in moments of inspiration, from historic exploits to contemporary stories.

For over 30 years, the Festival du Premier Roman et des Littératures Contemporaines, supported by Lecture en Tête, has made Mayenne a land of literary discoveries.

Here, it’s the readers who have the first word: every year, they read hundreds of first novels and select 18 to be invited to the festival in the spring. A real springboard for new talent, the event puts the spotlight on young contemporary French-language authors and provides them with long-term support.

Free, open to all and firmly rooted in the region, the festival brings together libraries, schools, social structures and reading enthusiasts with the same objective: to share the literature of today and bring out the voices of tomorrow.

Le Chaînon Manquant was back again from 16 to 21 September 2025, to the delight of all those who love theatre!

300 volunteers, 16,500 spectators in theatres and on the street, 400 professionals – everyone was on board for this 34th edition. A not-to-be-missed event, where culture, discovery and conviviality come together to create a unique experience.

Make a note of the dates 15-20 September 2026 in your diary, and get ready to take part in an exceptional edition!

The Laval Judicial Film Festival offers a demanding selection of films that explore justice in all its forms, while reflecting on major contemporary issues. Dramas, documentaries and previews invite audiences to reflect on current legal issues, as well as social problems such as sexual violence, violence in sport and the daily lives of prisoners’ families.

The festival likes to look at things from different angles and widen the debate: exclusive screenings, meetings and conferences provide an in-depth look at the way in which legal stories are constructed, from the written word to the screen.

School audiences are also invited to take part in the event, with a programme tailored to their artistic and educational interests.

A cultural and civic highlight, the festival aims to be a place of emotion, reflection and exchange, made possible by the commitment of many local partners.

Get out there, get moving!