France is pressing play on a new cultural ambition: an international festival dedicated to video games.
French president Emmanuel Macron announced plans for the festival during his opening address at the 2026 Lumière Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, which he co-hosted with South Korean president Lee Jae-myung.
The summit brings together governments and leading figures from the film, broadcasting and video game industries to debate the future of moving images. This time, gaming took centre stage.
Macron described video games as “one of the major creative forms of our time”, bringing together images, text, music, design and technology. He argued that games are firmly part of culture and should fall under France’s cultural exception, a policy that has traditionally supported the country’s film and other creative industries.
The proposed festival, he said, would be built “from the outset as a major global event for creation, innovation, users, and the industry”. In other words, less button-mashing, more cultural muscle.
Macron also pointed to the international success of French gaming as proof that the medium sits at the crossroads of creative expression and business. The festival is intended to give that dual identity a bigger global stage.
The announcement forms part of a wider set of international cooperation plans unveiled at the summit, with gaming among the sectors singled out for attention.
There is, however, no game plan yet for the festival’s finer details. Its official name, dates, location and organisational structure have not been announced. For now, France has pressed start. The next level will be turning the idea into a festival that can truly play on the world stage.
