Les Grandes Rencontres Hachette: a festive, welcoming book forum in the heart of Paris
To celebrate its 200th anniversary, Hachette Livre is transforming Palais Brongniart into a vibrant forum that is entirely free and open to all. For three days, authors, Group imprints, partner publishers, and the general public will flock to this Paris landmark.
There will be ample opportunities for conversations and new connections at the event, which will be organized into three main parts.
> The publishers’ areas: an extensive book fair
The Palais will provide a backdrop for the Group’s wealth of offerings at booths representing more than 40 Hachette Livre publishing houses and imprints, alongside partner publishers. Each booth will have books for sale so that visitors can take home their discoveries, perhaps even signed. These areas will span our entire constellation of literary creation, representing all Group segments, businesses and primary regions:
- Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction (Stock, Grasset, Fayard, Calmann-Lévy, JC Lattès, and more)
- Illustrated, Coffee Table Books, Manga, Comics, Practical
- Children’s, Young Adult
- Study Guides, Parenting, Learning
- Partworks, Board Games
- Partner publishers
Visitors will also have the chance to discover the Group’s global reach at an international area with a selection of English- and Spanish-language works.
> The events: a big festival
Les Grandes Rencontres Hachette will feature more than a hundred events in three different formats.
Forums. Several discussion areas will host authors renowned in France and farther afield. Visitors will be able to attend topical talks on current issues in literature, get the inside scoop on how books are made (behind the scenes at Asterix, audio book production, etc.), or interact with acclaimed authors at several masterclasses.
Signings. In seven different areas, authors from every corner of the literary world will be on hand to meet their readers over the three days. (Check lesgrandesrencontreshachette.fr for the full schedule, which will be posted soon.)
Activities. More than a dozen workshops and activities will lend an interactive element to the event: contests, mixology workshops, quizzes on the French language, and the “world’s largest adult coloring picture.”
For younger visitors, there will be a special area with picture books and educational workshops, as well as the chance to meet characters from children’s books.
> The exhibition: a rich history
The Group has dusted off its archives for an all-new history exhibition designed in partnership with IMEC, the French institute for contemporary publishing archives. The immersive, carefully designed exhibition retraces the visionary ambition of founder Louis Hachette, from the invention of train station libraries to the spread of knowledge to the masses, as well as the milestones that have marked the history of Hachette since 1826. Visitors will delve into two centuries of creativity through rare documents, letters from famous authors, and historical timelines.
2026, a year dedicated to promoting youth reading
Celebrating two centuries of history only makes sense if we also plan for the future, which is why Hachette Livre has made fighting the decline in youth reading a core priority. The Group will set in motion several major initiatives over the course of the year:
A pledge of solidarity: €200,000 worth of books will be donated to partner non-profits, with support from Fondation Hachette pour la lecture, to boost young people’s learning opportunities and access to books.
A book industry immersion for teenagers: This year, Hachette Livre will host 200 interns aged 14 to 16, who will shadow Group employees to discover what goes on behind the scenes in publishing.
The voice of young readers: The launch of “youth reading committees” will give 200 teenagers across France the chance to take part in literary life by sharing their book reviews and picks.
Discovering careers with Pass Culture: A special event will be held during Les Grandes Rencontres Hachette, in conjunction with France’s youth culture pass initiative, to present the wide range of career paths in publishing to 200 young people.
An homage to the Group’s exceptional heritage
In addition to these initiatives, Hachette Livre will also honor its rich history with publishing projects related to the bicentennial.
The “Hachette Patrimoine” Collection (November 2026): An anniversary collection of 20 timeless literary classics, released to mark two centuries of shared culture.
The graphic novel Louis Hachette, le visionnaire (March 2026): This éditions Marabulles release looks back at the entrepreneurial and personal journey of the Group’s founder, a pioneer of modern publishing.
The "La Comtesse de Ségur" Special Edition (2026): A new edition in homage to the great Bibliothèque Rose author, whose stories are still adored by young generations of readers.
“Our 200th anniversary celebrations are about paying tribute to Louis Hachette’s visionary spirit and to two centuries of cultural innovation. We’re taking a look back at how far we’ve come while also turning toward the future. This bicentennial is a year for us to embrace all forms of culture, for everyone, everywhere. Books and culture more broadly are a window onto the world, which, now more than ever, we must open even wider.” Arnaud Lagardère, Chairman and CEO of Hachette Livre.
“Marking a bicentennial is both unique opportunity and a responsibility. Hachette Livre has the chance to make this anniversary year a celebration of its great diversity in promoting culture and learning for all. We are working to make Les Grandes Rencontres Hachette a festive, unifying event that advances our efforts to ensure reading and culture are within everyone’s reach.” Jean-Christophe Thiery, Deputy CEO of Hachette Livre.