Every summer, through the prism of contemporary art, Le Havre becomes a trendy destination between beach and culture, where exhibitions and urban explorations combine, all with your feet in the water!
In 2017, Edouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre, launched an exceptional cultural program to celebrate the anniversary of the city’s founding.
2017: Le Havre celebrates 500 years
Jean Blaise, the artistic director who previously contributed to Nantes’ cultural development, invited internationally renowned artists to engage with the city and its residents.
Many local and national figures joined forces for this major initiative. In just a few months, Le Havre became a “trendy” city: more than two million visitors participated in the four flagship events of this first edition.
Following its success, a new program is now offered each year under the artistic direction of Gaël Charbau.
A Summer in Le Havre 2025 season
Each year, Un Été Au Havre (One Summer in Le Havre) invites great artists to take over the city. Ephemeral works enrich the permanent collection of open-air contemporary art, visible all year round, consisting of 21 monumental works spread throughout the public space. The program can be discovered by exploring the city, discovering the many facets of Le Havre: a 2-kilometer beach in the heart of the city, breathtaking panoramas, architecture inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a remarkable botanical garden overlooking the sea and the Seine estuary.
The 9th edition of Un Été Au Havre – from June 28 to September 21 – presents an eclectic program to the rhythm of the vibrations and movements of the city!
Artistic journeys
- University: Didier Marcel exhibits “Niki,” an enigmatic Venus, in counterpoint to the rational lines of Auguste Perret’s modernism.
- Hanging Gardens: A monumental work by Louis-Cyprien Rials, created in Iraq, evokes the harmony of peoples and the ties that unite Le Havre and Mosul.
- Beach Shelter: This 1967 building, created by Perret’s disciples, has been reborn thanks to the Bureau Idéal duo, drawing inspiration from marine flows and wildlife migrations.
- City Center: Elsa & Johanna transform the legendary beach huts into dioramas, revisiting the seaside aesthetic with humor. Juliette Hauguel reinvents the identity of the streets by paying homage to women forgotten by history.
- Summer House: Grégory Chatonsky presents the 3D-printed construction of an imaginary city, continuing his exploration of the “City That Didn’t Exist.”
- Town Hall Theatre: Mali Arun presents “Tempesta,” a reinterpretation of the myth of Prometheus, blending cinema and choreography.
- Town Hall: On the 17th floor, Méline Grellier presents a sound composition generated by the movement of the tides.
- Le Blason Residence: Nefeli Papadimouli unveils a monumental installation inspired by sailing voyages, accompanied by an exhibition of her recent works.
Three exhibitions
– “Petites Voiles” at the Hôtel Dubocage in Bléville
– “Ocean Liners 1913-1942: A Transatlantic Aesthetic” at MuMa
– “Blue Oyster Cult…” an exhibition by Richard Fauguet at the Portique
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A big event
A Summer in Le Havre also means large gatherings: more than forty majestic ships will take over the historic port basins for the Grandes Voiles du Havre from July 4 to 7.
