Every year, in spring, Bandol transforms into an open-air gallery with its Bandol Céramique Festival. Organized by the Printemps des Potiers association, this event announces the return of sunny days with creativity and poetry...
the bandol ceramic festival: a love story
The Bandol Ceramic Festival (former Spring of the Potters) is above all a love story. The love of the organizers, members of the association Spring of the Potters, for a material, clay and for a profession, pottery. The desire behind this beautiful highlight is above all to create a meeting around ceramics. How ? By showcasing artists from all over the world, by exhibiting their works, each more creative than the last, and by making an entire city, Bandol, available to them.
Thus, for years thematic exhibitions have been set up in the city's galleries, a potters' market mingles with the experts of our marina and artistic meetings have been organized.
The 2026 edition
From April 4 to 19, 2026.
A word from the organization…
"The 2026 edition of the Printemps des Potiers (Potters' Spring) showcases five ceramic artists whose work evokes the telluric forces of clay. Their highly structured approach to the ceramic material unfolds in sculptures that seem to emerge from rocky concretions, from ancient geological strata, unearthed by the hands of artists transformed into archaeologists. Bearing an immemorial history, the earth is adorned with delicate folds, adopts calligraphic gestures, borrows organic lines, accumulations of materials and experimentation, raw compressions, revealing ceramics as an art of tectonics."
Opening Day
On the menu for this Saturday April 4 2026, first day of honor for the ceramic arts…
- Demonstration filming from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m., Place de la Liberté.
- Visit free guided tour of the exhibition “Terres d’Expression 2026” at 10 a.m., at the Galerie Ravaisou (reservation required), followed at 11 a.m. by its official opening.
- Opening of the exhibition in the presence of the artists at 18 p.m., at the Galerie Ravaisou.
A festival that starts off with a bang!
Exhibition and sale “Lands of Expression 2026”
- What: exhibitions by artists Gil Browaëys, Jean-François Fouilhoux, Anne-Marie Laureys, Icaro Maiterena and Anne Verdier.
- when: from 4 to 19 April 2026.
- Where: at the Ravaisou gallery, 1 rue des écoles.
Enjoy your weekend or vacation week to Bandol to take a look at the exhibitions of the city's two art galleries: the Ravezou GalleryThis will give you the opportunity to admire, and even buy, the works of the artists highlighted during the festival.
The potters and ceramists market at the port of Bandol
- What: demonstration workshops, events and sale of ceramics.
- when: April 5 and 6, 2026.
- Or on harbour. from the city.
We have to admit, this weekend is our favorite part of the Bandol Céramique Festival! The soul of the Printemps des Potiers is found here, on the port, where the great moments of Bandolese life take place (markets, Boat show, The English have the Coast, etc). For two days, 66 artists come to exhibit, sell and meet amateurs and simply curious people. Anticipated moment of the Easter weekend, come and stroll on the quay after hunting for eggs with the children and enjoy a creative moment by the sea.
🍒 Bonus: some introductory sessions, activities and other festivities Artistic events will be offered throughout the weekend… To find out more, head over to the full program.
The artistic conferences
- when: April 10, 2026, at 17 p.m. (free entry).
- Where: at the Media Library, 11 rue des écoles.
- Topics covered:
- « Building with raw earth today "Towards a contemporary reappropriation of ancestral techniques", by Eric Delorme, architect specializing in earthen construction.
- « Concrete and bamboo ", by Frédéric Joulian, anthropologist (School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Marseille).
Film screening on ceramics
- What: screening of documentary films.
- when: the 10 April 2026, from 20:30 p.m. to 23 p.m.
- Where: at the Jules Verne theater, 11 rue des écoles.
Film screenings are a invitation to discover the profession ceramist in the world, through image and cinema. Thus, the selection of films offered reveals, among other things, an approach to ceramics beyond the material. Unusual meetings, not to be missed under any circumstances!
Symposium – Public Day
- What: demonstrations, conferences and meetings with pottery professionals.
- when: the 11 April 2026, from 9am to 12pm and from 14pm to 19pm.
- Where: at the Jules Verne theater, 11 rue des écoles.
Designed in the form of technical demonstrations and meetings, this special day is above all offered for its human approach to ceramics. You will have the opportunity toobserve the artists create and ask them any questions you want. A good way to raise awareness of ceramic techniques and know-how developed by the craftsmen of the trade. These technical demonstrations are the meeting place between the individual universes of each artist and the public.
Finally, for don't miss anything about the association “Printemps des Potiers”, we invite you to consult their website:
