How about getting a head start on tomorrow? To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Quai des Savoirs is thinking big. Since its opening on February 16, 2016, the venue has welcomed more than 1.35 million visitors. And to celebrate this decade, it’s looking toward the future rather than back at the past! Starting October 17, 2026, three new attractions will debut: the 11th edition of the “Lumières sur le Quai” festival, a new auditorium called the “Agora des futurs,” and an immersive experience that promises to spark our imagination, “XYZT: Abstract Landscapes.”
Lumières sur le Quai: A rendezvous with the future through November 1
How do we imagine the world of tomorrow? That’s the question at the heart of this new edition of “Lumières sur le Quai,” which takes over the Quai des Savoirs and its surroundings, from Allées Jules-Guesde to Allée Matilda. On the program: exhibitions, screenings, workshops, and discussions to explore possible futures through the lens of science. There’s something for everyone—from the curious to those who love to discover new things, and families looking for an outing that’s a little out of the ordinary.
The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with two late-night sessions on October 30 and 31. Most events are free, with the exception of certain screenings, the XYZT experience, and a few performances. Good to know: all venues will be free starting at 7 p.m. on October 30, and then all day on October 31 and November 1.
Events to mark on your calendar:
- October 22: a day dedicated to science fiction, featuring authors and scientists gathered around the anthology “À la recherche de demain” (La Volte, €20). An opportunity to compare the imagination with scientific realities.
- On October 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: make way for “The Trial of the Clouds.” The audience takes on the role of the jury to debate cloud seeding, a technique that raises as many scientific questions as it does ethical ones. Free admission with reservation.
- On October 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.: the Clutch party promises to bring the Matilda and Jules-Guesde alleys to life with live music, performances, and entertainment—all free of charge.
- October 31 and November 1: To bring the festival to a spectacular close, enjoy live painting, participatory theater, the walking performance #Exoterritoires, and the “Métal Hurlant” exhibition.
XYZT: Nine Immersive Installations to Step Into a Digital World
Walking through the grass, skimming the surface of the water, or passing through clouds… What if these everyday gestures were transformed into digital landscapes? That’s the promise of XYZT, les paysages abstraits, an experience conceived by the Adrien M & Claire B company. In the large, renovated exhibition hall, nine interactive installations transform visitors’ movements into lines, dots, and letters that come to life as they move through the space.
Here, you’re not just a passive spectator: it’s by moving, exploring, and interacting with the environment that the shapes come to life. A poetic and sensory escape to discover through December 20, Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Prices: €9 full price, €5 reduced price. The experience is free on the first Sunday of the month, as well as from October 30 at 7 p.m. to November 1 at 6 p.m.
The Agora des futurs, a 118-seat auditorium for envisioning tomorrow
This is the other new addition to this anniversary season. After nearly a year of construction, the Quai des Savoirs is inaugurating the “Agora des futurs,” an auditorium that will finally make it possible to host conferences, debates, and screenings without encroaching on the exhibition spaces. In short, visitors will now be able to explore an exhibition and then extend their visit with a talk or a screening, all without changing locations.
Designed by the Toulouse-based firm SCALENE, the auditorium is built on a wooden frame and seats 118 people: 114 seats equipped with a tray table and electrical and USB outlets, plus four spaces for people with limited mobility. On the technical side, the venue is equipped with a 4K video projector and a 7.1 immersive sound system. This state-of-the-art equipment lives up to the ambitions of the Quai des Savoirs, which allocated 2.65 million euros to this project, funded by Toulouse Métropole with support from sponsor NXP Semiconductors.
Coming to the “Lumières sur le Quai” festival
The Quai des Savoirs is located on Allée Matilda, near the Jardin des Plantes. The easiest way to get there is by Metro Line B (Carmes or Palais de Justice stations), by Tram T1 (Palais de Justice terminus), or by bike, with dedicated bike parking available. On Sunday, November 1, the Toulouse Marathon will cause significant traffic disruptions until 3:00 p.m. The festival has been certified “Ville pour tous” and is accessible to people with limited mobility. The official Quai des Savoirs website provides details on the program and registration procedures.
On November 3, the 4th Forum on Desirable Futures, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will continue the discussion on “literacy of the future” and citizen participation.
