Festival de la Francophonie 2026

About Festival de la Francophonie Festival de la Francophonie is the Alliance Française de Chicago’s annual flagship festival, featuring a vibrant lineup of free public programs over the course of the month of March—the official Mois de la Francophonie—celebrating the world’s French-speaking cultures.

Author Talk: Ruby Simmons—Lessons Learned

As part of Festival de la Francophonie and Roots of Resilience—the exhibition currently on display in the Eleanor Wood Prince Salon—Chicago-based Haitian-American author Ruby Simmons will speak about her new book, Lessons Learned.

Cooking Workshop: Sips, Shrubs, & Sweets from the Fort de Chartres Heritage Garden

Join us for a unique cooking workshop recreating 18th-century recipes featuring ingredients that would have been grown in a jardin potager du Pays des Illinois: an Illinois Country French colonial kitchen garden.

Author Talk: Véronique Le Bris—Alice Guy, la plus audacieuse des pionniers du cinéma

As part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026 and in partnership with Villa Albertine, the Alliance is honored to welcome French journalist Véronique Le Bris for a presentation of her book Alice Guy, la plus audacieuse des pionniers du cinéma : la biographie de la première femme réalisatrice au monde.

Workshop: Cambodian Classical Dance & Music with the Tep Nimmit Dance Troupe

Calling all young families! Kids and their families are invited to join us for a free Cambodian classical dance and music workshop, presented in partnership with the Cambodian National Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial as part of our 2026 Festival de la Francophonie.

Film Screening: Cinémélodie—Félicité with Eliana Vagalau

Join us for a special installment of our 2025/2026 music-themed film series, Cinémélodie, as part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026: a screening of French-Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis’ 2017 drama Félicité.

Présentation de livre : Petite-Ville avec Mélikah Abdelmoumen

Avec nos amis à l’Alliance Française Minneapolis/St. Paul, rejoignez-nous en ligne pour une discussion autour du roman Petite-Ville (2024) de l’autrice québécoise Mélikah Abdelmoumen. L’autrice présentera son livre et en lira quelques extraits.

Concert: La Bolduc with Steve Normandin

Join us for a musical celebration of Québécoise musican and singer La Bolduc, featuring acclaimed accordionist Steve Normandin! Mary Rose-Anne Travers, also known as La Bolduc, is considered to be Québéc’s first singer-songwriter.

Kids Open House

*Please note: this event is open to new students only. Join us for our in-person Winter Session Open House for kids French classes, just in time for Festival de la Francophonie!

Tasting: Wines of la Francophonie with Alicia Barrett

As part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026, join us for a special wine tasting featuring bottles from around the French-speaking world! Guests will enjoy a complimentary welcome cocktail followed by a seated tasting experience led by sommelière Alicia Barrett.

Workshop: Your Alberto—Sip & Sculpt

Join us for a wine and craft night inspired by Swiss sculptor, painter, draftsman, and printmaker Alberto Giacometti! Guests will enjoy: a complimentary welcome cocktail and glass of Swiss wine an introduction to Giacometti’s unique sculpting style, given by Alta L.

Dance Party: Konpa Swaré with DJ Frantz

Our ever-popular konpa swaré is back for Festival de la Francophonie 2026, this year featuring an introductory lesson by Haitian dancer and choreographer Daniel Désir! The Alliance is thrilled to partner with the Haitian American Museum of Chicago and the Consulate General of Haiti in Chicago to host a special edition of this beloved dance party on March 20, Journée internationale de la Francophonie (International Francophonie Day).

Film Screening: Amélie & la métaphysique des tubes

Calling all Amélie Nothomb fans! Join us for a screening of Malïys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han’s animated film 2025 Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes (Little Amélie or the Character of Rain), an adaptation of Belgian author Amélie Nothomb’s 2000 novel La métaphysique des tubes as part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026.

Tasting: From the Origins of Cocoa to the Art of Chocolate Making with Barry Callebaut

As part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026, join us for a journey into the world of chocolate, brought to you by experts from Barry Callebaut: the global leader in chocolate indulgences!

Workshop: Roots of Resilience—Indigo Textile Dyeing

Create your own unique tiny textiles and experiment in the ancient traditional use of indigo vat dye! As part of Festival de la Francophonie 2026, Chicago-based Haitian-American visual artist Ameera Pernebsati Lys is offering an indigo textile dyeing workshop in connection with her exhibition Roots of Resilience, on display in the Eleanor Wood Prince Salon through March 31.

Film Screening: Becoming Human

The Alliance is pleased to partner with Asian Pop Up Cinema (APUC) and the National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial on a special screening of self-taught Cambodia-based filmmaker Polen Ly’s 2025 supernatural drama Becoming Human.

Lecture: Native American Diplomats at Versailles—300 Years of Franco-Indigenous Dialogue

To close out this year’s Festival de la Francophonie—and in partnership with the French Heritage Society and the French Heritage Corridor—the Alliance is honored to welcome representatives from the Peoria and Miami nations for a lecture and discussion exploring French-Indigenous relations, in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of Native American diplomats’ visit to the court of Versailles.