Lorient Interceltic Festival was founded in 1971, borne of a desire to contribute to the development of Breton music and culture, and also to open up to the Celtic nations of the British Isles (Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Ireland) and northern Spain (Galicia and Asturias). The festival is now at the centre of the Celtic world.
Lorient Interceltic Festival has over 800,000 festival-goers, 1,000 active volunteers, 4,500 artists from all over the world, 10 days and 10 nights of celebration, 120 shows, 11 new creations and 11 stages. Each year, one of the countries is the guest country. Every day, the festival has booksellers on the quay, an interceltic market, Celtic quayside market, processions of traditional groups, fest-noz in the Carnot hall, traditional Breton games, and the “10 miles" race.