This festival of reading aloud has become an unmissable event on the French literary scene. Founded in 2005 by Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, the Marathon des Mots honours writers and artists from all over the world. It takes place every year around the last weekend in June, throughout the Toulouse urban area.
For four days, many cultural establishments take part to offer over 150 literary gatherings, during which there are readings given by actors or by the authors themselves, debates, exhibitions, concerts, signing sessions and meetings with book professionals. Children's activities are also organised, like literary tea parties and young people's comic book readings.
Each year, the programme of events explores new territories and celebrates a foreign country's literature. All the readings are open to all and free of charge, and last for 45 minutes. The literary meetings last for 1 hour and the debates for 1h30.
