This 53rd edition of the Lorient Interceltic Festival takes place from 12 to 18 August 2024, dedicating this special occasion to the young people of the Celtic nations.
Although the main event will officially start on 10 August, preparations and pre-events and announcements have been underway for a few days before with complementary activities, setting the stage for a programme with an abundance of shows, around 300, where the young promises of the Celtic countries will position themselves as the main stars.
Last year, in 2023, the festival had Ireland as a guest nation and attracted 950,000 people, along with 5,000 artists who gave 300 concerts on twelve different stages. The impact of the festival has not only been felt on stage, but also on screens, with the “Horizontes Celtiques” (Celtic Horizons) programme reaching an audience of 3.5 million viewers via the France 3 channel, which shows the magnitude of the event.
In this 2024 edition, the festival promises to maintain the same level of enthusiasm and energy, with a programme that is dedicated to highlighting the contribution of youth, new trends and the reinvention of folk culture. This is achieved through art exhibitions, concerts of course, interactive workshops and parades.
Among the activities that interest us cider makers the most are the tastings of traditional products, with cider as the protagonist, both from Breton and Norman cider mill stalls in the area. And of course the tents of the countries, including that of Asturias, which represents us with natural cider from Val de Boides, which has favourably surprised the Breton and international public.
The eight Celtic nations—Brittany, Ireland, Scotland, France, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia and Asturias—will see their young artists take up the mantle of preserving and revitalizing their respective countries’ rich cultural heritage. This focus on younger people not only celebrates the present, but also ensures the continuity and reinvention of Celtic traditions, ensuring they continue for generations to come.
Among the festival’s most anticipated shows are performances by pipe bands and emerging soloists, as well as headline performances by established artists such as Rodrigo Cuevas, Matt Molloy (of the Chieftains), Baxel, Bethan Rhiannon, Calum Stewart and Carlos Núñez. The Lorient Interceltic Festival 2024 will undoubtedly be a showcase for the future of Celtic cultures.
