Toulouse Polars du Sud attracts 15,000 visitors

The Toulouse Polars du Sud festival, held from 9 to 11 October 2026, drew 15,000 visitors, with more than 2,400 of them being schoolchildren participating in mediation activities and meetings organized as part of the event.

Festival focuses on war in noir literature

The 18th edition of the festival had a theme centered around war, featuring 42 authors from 7 countries. The program was described as international and committed, exploring various aspects of war in noir literature.

Festival includes new literary prize and diverse events

The event introduced the Violeta Negra Occitanie literary prize, which was awarded to Marto Pariente for his novel Balanegra, translated from Spanish by Sébastien Rutés. The prize highlights noir or detective fiction translated from southern languages such as Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Arabic, and Turkish.

Event supported by multiple partners and includes discussions

The festival was supported by a network of partners, including bookstores, librarians, libraries, schools, local authorities, associations, cultural venues, and volunteers. It also included discussions on how noir literature can address contemporary world issues, including the use of humor and irony in the context of war.

Other events occur simultaneously across France

Other events taking place around the same time included the 45th edition of Quai des Bulles in Saint-Malo, which brought together three generations of comic book creators, and the 36th edition of the Salon de la revue in Paris.

International and online literary events also take place

Other events included the Babelica 2026 online publishing salon featuring 30 young authors from around the world, the Read & Shine 2026 literary festival in Paris, and the Aventuriales 2026 fantasy and science fiction festival in Ménétrol.