From July 4 to September 6, 2026, the next edition of Le Voyage à Nantes transforms Nantes, capital of the Pays de la Loire region, into a 20-kilometer (12-mile) open-air gallery featuring more than one hundred works of art inspired by the theme “Earth.” Along its signature green line art trail, contemporary installations unfold beside historic streets and hidden corners, while vibrant gathering spaces invite visitors to linger, connect, and experience Nantes in unexpected ways.
Le Voyage à Nantes: The Concept
Just follow the green line. At your feet, a 20-kilometer (12 miles) path guides you from unexpected art installations to iconic landmarks, from quiet alleyways to breathtaking sunsets over the Loire Estuary.
Since 2012, Le Voyage à Nantes has transformed the city into a living, open-air gallery. Each summer, the trail evolves with new temporary and permanent works woven into streets, squares, gardens, and public spaces. Artists, designers, and landscape creators are invited to reinterpret Nantes, offering fresh perspectives on its heritage and contemporary energy.
During the summer edition, most sites are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free access. Many public artworks can be experienced both day and night.
A Look Back at the 2025 Edition
The 2025 edition of Le Voyage à Nantes was nothing short of spectacular. On Place Graslin, visitors were immediately drawn to Mothership, a striking 17-meter-long metallic skeleton made from overturned boat hulls, evoking Nantes’ maritime past against the backdrop of its classical architecture.
- Just steps away on Place Royale, the city’s iconic fountain was reimagined with Latest Version, where bronze allegorical figures gave way to fourteen hyperrealistic characters — a powerful tribute to everyday heroes.
- At Square Commodore-Guiné, the steps of the Hermitage became an immersive soundscape with Le Bruit des bottes, a sculptural installation inviting reflection on authoritarian drift and systems of domination, confronting echoes of the past with the realities of the present.
- Beyond its outdoor installations, Le Voyage à Nantes also extends into the city’s museums. At the Musée d’Arts de Nantes, an exhibition dedicated to Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, drawn from the Hokusai-kan collection, explored his signature themes — water, nature, and landscape — culminating in the omnipresence of Mount Fuji.
- HAB Galerie, sculptor Gloria Friedmann presented works inviting contemplation on humanity’s relationship with the earth and the living world, echoing Leo Tolstoy’s tale How Much Land Does a Man Need?
What to Expect in 2026
The summer 2026 edition of Le Voyage à Nantes opens a new cycle dedicated to the elements, with Earth as its inaugural theme. Both primordial matter and memory of place, a symbol of renewal and living energy, Earth will inspire a dozen French and international artists invited to inhabit the city — from iconic landmarks to more discreet spaces, transformed for the occasion into sites of artistic exploration.
- At HAB Galerie, the exhibition Interstellar will immerse visitors in a vast, sensory environment where visual artists, photographers, filmmakers, and designers intersect spatial imaginaries with contemporary perspectives on our planet, inviting audiences to rediscover Earth as both intimately familiar and infinitely mysterious.
- Continuing its dialogue with contemporary creation, the Musée d’Arts de Nantes will welcome Anne and Patrick Poirier, a major international duo whose installations blend imaginary architectures, traces of civilizations, and landscapes in ruin, in an exhibition conceived specifically for the museum’s patio and the Chapelle de l’Oratoire.
- At the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, a new edition of “Expression(s) décoloniale(s)” will bring together artists and researchers in a multidisciplinary journey combining history, art, and contemporary perspectives, opening new conversations around the city’s colonial past and its resonance in today’s world.
Everything You Need to Know About the Voyage à Nantes Program
A Permanent Sense of Wonder
Extend your Voyage à Nantes beyond the city center by exploring its surrounding landscapes. Follow the trail through the vineyards from Nantes to Clisson, or embark on the Estuary route, which offers cruises from Nantes to the port of Saint-Nazaire. Along the way, admire works by internationally renowned artists in dialogue with the natural landscape.
The experience continues year-round through the permanent installations of Le Voyage à Nantes, many of which have become true symbols of the city. Among them are Les Anneaux by Daniel Buren and Patrick Bouchain, illuminating the Quai des Antilles and standing as one of Nantes’ most iconic landmarks.
Recommendations & Tips
Ready to experience Le Voyage à Nantes in the best possible way? Travel with ease and peace of mind by choosing the train. Nantes is well connected by high-speed TGV and regional TER trains from Paris and major cities across France, and the railway station is just five minutes from the city center by tram.
Once in Nantes, getting around is simple thanks to public transportation and soft mobility options such as walking and cycling. To make your visit even more seamless, consider the Nantes Pass, which includes public transport, river shuttles, park-and-ride access, and entry to many of the city’s must-see attractions. The pass is available in 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and 7-day options.
Enjoy your Voyage à Nantes!
By Rédaction Explore France
La rédaction d'Explore France suit les tendances et l'actualité de la destination pour vous parler d'une France qui innove et revisite ses traditions. Des histoires et des talents qui donnent envie de (re)découvrir nos territoires.
