Lorraine. Festivals, ephemeral gardens... Unmissable events not to be missed this fall
The evenings are getting shorter, the temperatures are dropping, the holidays are coming to an end... And yes, it's back to school. But that doesn't mean you have to stay indoors—quite the opposite. Between concerts, ephemeral gardens, and Pink October races... We've selected some of the events not to be missed in September and October in Lorraine.
At the Zénith in Nancy , there are the 300 choristers of Spectacul'Art which open the new school year on September 30 with an XXL show dedicated to Claude François , then Aldebert on October 3 and Julien Doré on October 11. The rapper SDM will be at the Zénith on October 31, and Trois Cafés Gourmands will be at the Salle Poirel on the same date. Ben Mazué will perform at the Espace Chaudeau in Ludres on September 25.
For the start of the school year, the Autre Canal is launching its season with 4 days of free or very low-cost openings, from Wednesday, September 17 to Saturday, September 20. We've spotted these two highlights in particular: for children aged 6 and over, a free audio snack with the Jaguare Affair group. For students: the "Dinguerie" evening to properly celebrate the start of the school year in a high-energy and friendly atmosphere, with numerous artists and activities such as crazy bingo and speedfriending.
At the Galaxie d'Amnéville , Lara Fabian will take the stage on October 4, then Gims on October 29 and Santa on October 30.
The first literary fair of the new school year will be held from Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14 on the Place de la Carrière in Nancy. More than 40 programming locations, 130,000 visitors expected, and 550 authors signing books, including 237 in the program... This year, big names are expected, such as Kamel Daoud, Anne Sinclair, Leïla Slimani, Jean-Marie-Gustave Le Clézio, Christine Angot, Nicolas Demorand, Antoine de Caunes, Raphaël Quenard, Mathias Malzieu, Maia Mazaurette... The president of this 457th edition is Guillaume Gallienne, actor, director, writer and member of the Comédie Française.
The Book on the Square, the first national literary fair of the new school year, with its marquee in the center of the Place de la Carrière. Photo ER/Alexandre MARCHI
Heritage Days, September 20 and 21
Discover the richness of Lorraine's cities during the European Heritage Days. The program is rich:
In Metz , visit the Centre Pompidou, the Arsenal, the Porte des Allemands, or enjoy a multitude of activities organized throughout the city. In Nancy , it's an opportunity to learn more about the École de Nancy, which made the city famous in the art world. In Verdun , the Tourist Office organizes several themed guided tours, and the Verdun Memorial and Fort Douaumont open their doors to you free of charge.
> Discover the full program of heritage days in your town on the official website .
Every fall, the FIG celebrates geography and welcomes more than 40,000 people to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. More than 300 guests, including geographers, writers, philosophers, artists, and designers, take over the venue for three days, from October 3 to 5. This year, the theme is "power," and the guest country is Indonesia.
Guests will include former minister Cécile Duflot, Michel Bussi, one of France's favorite authors, Edwy Plenel, co-founder of Mediapart, Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist monk and photographer... Valérie Masson-Delmotte, a French climatologist who was a long-time member of the IPCC, will be the president of this FIG 2025.
Archive photo Jérôme HUMBRECHT
The Pink October races in Lorraine
As every year, a host of events are being organized across Lorraine to support Pink October, this month of national mobilization against breast cancer. Tens of thousands of Lorraine residents are participating in races and walks. Nancy, Bar-le-Duc, Lunéville, Saint-Avold, Sarrebourg, Saint-Dié... Register now!
The Metz International Fair is back from September 26 to October 6, 2025, at the Metz Exhibition Center, and it's a special year as it celebrates its 90th anniversary! For the occasion, the event will celebrate with a festive theme: "90 Years of French Songs."
Nearly 550 stalls will be on display over eleven days at this friendly, family-friendly shopping event. Concerts, orchestras, giant karaoke, tea dances, participatory workshops... The program will be packed with activities.
The Metz International Fair at the exhibition center. Photo RL /Gilles WIRTZ
For the fourth consecutive year, SLUC Nancy is making its debut in the top division of French basketball. The team will make its first away game against Lyon-Villeurbanne on September 28. To experience the wild atmosphere of the Gentilly Sports Center, it's time to take its place on October 4, with Bourg-en-Bresse as its opponent.
Amnéville Zoo will host the Miss Lorraine pageant for the second time in a row on October 11, 2025. The 16 candidates will parade in front of a thousand spectators, in several spectacular Disney-themed tableaux. The winner will represent the region at the Miss France 2026 competition, which will take place in December. So, who will succeed Assia Roosz-Tomenti, Miss Lorraine 2024, from Meurthe-et-Moselle ?
Oxmo Puccino, Deluxe, Groundation, Morcheeba, Solann and Adèle Castillon... Nancy's iconic festival returns from October 5 to 18, 2025. Between regulars and new faces, the NJP will offer more than 150 concerts in a mix of styles and genres that characterizes the event.
The ephemeral gardens of Place Stanislas and Place de la Comédie in Nancy and Metz
October means an ephemeral garden. Every year, for one month, Nancy 's Place Stanislas is transformed into a haven of greenery during the Ephemeral Garden. Art Deco will be at the center of the scenography of the 22nd garden . From October 3 to November 2, 2025.
In Metz , the ephemeral garden on Place de la Comédie is part of the Constellations festival. It is already visible, from June 25 until mid-October 2025. This year, the gardeners have created a garden that plays with emotions .
The extraordinary trial of the biggest savings scandal in France, affecting 32,000 people, 4,772 of whom have filed civil suits, will take place from September 8 to October 3, 2025 .
While this XXL trial will be held in Paris, it involves a man from Lorraine, Gérard Lhéritier, founder and president of the company Aristophil, which offered individuals the chance to invest in historical manuscripts and letters with the promise of significant capital gains. He is accused of fraudulent business practices and, according to some, even organized fraud. The damages exceed one billion euros.
The market for letters and manuscripts is at the heart of the case.
Le Républicain Lorrain
