KickOff Party: Festival de la Francophonie 2026—La soirée commune !

[Le français suit] Grab your passport and enjoy a world of regional delights and libations from the French-speaking world as we kick off Festival de la Francophonie 2026! Guests will enjoy:

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.

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.

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: Cinémélodie—À peine j'ouvre les yeux (As I Open My Eyes)

Join us for the April installment of our 2025/2026 music-themed film series, Cinémélodie! In celebration of Arab American Heritage Month, we’re screening Tunisian screenwriter and filmmaker Leyla Bouzid’s 2015 drama À peine j’ouvre les yeux (As I Open My Eyes).

Film Screening: Cinémélodie—Dans la cuisine des Nguyen (In the Nguyen Kitchen)

Join us for the May installment of our 2025/2026 music-themed film series, Cinémélodie! In celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re screening French filmmaker Stéphane Ly-Cuong’s 2025 musical Dans la cuisine des Nguyen (In the Nguyen Kitchen).

Concert: Steve Yépez with Jeff Panko

In celebration of the season, join us for a springtime concert featuring flutist Steve Yépez, accompanied by pianist Jeff Panko. Guests will enjoy complimentary sparkling rosé and salted nuts. Doors at 6:00 p.

Film Screening: Cinémélodie—Montréal New Wave

Join us for the June installment of our 2025/2026 music-themed film series, Cinémélodie: québécois filmmaker Erik Cimon’s 2016 documentary Montréal New Wave, which explores the ups and downs of new wave music from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s and its influence on today’s cultural scene.

Plein Air Concert: Isabelle Olivier with Nathalie Colas

Celebrate summer with a plein air concert in the Alliance’ jewelbox courtyard! We are delighted to welcome back two phenomenal French artists as part of our beloved plein air series: harpist Isabelle Olivier and soprano Nathalie Colas.

Film Screening: Cinémélodie—Les parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)

JJoin us for the final installment of our 2025/2026 music-themed series, Cinémélodie: French director Jacques Demy 1964 musical romantic drama *Les parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg)*! We kicked off Cinémélodie in September with a screening of Demy’s Les demoiselles de Rochefort, and so it’s only fitting that we bookend the series with the other musical for which he is best known.