Grands Feux 2026 - La Borne

The 12th Annual Event – 17 – 25 October 2026

> The complete programme will be published online in the course of August

22 KILNS, 24 WOOD FIRINGS
EXHIBITIONS IN THE WORKSHOPS AND AT THE CERAMICS CENTRE
EXPERT DEMONSTRATIONS
CONFERENCES, FILMS AND ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS
WORKSHOPS & COURSES
1000 SOUP BOWLS AND BOWLS OF SOUP
RAFFLE & EVENING PARTY
FOOD & REFRESHMENTS

The Grands Feux is an unmissable annual event that allows visitors to experience the spirit of La Borne. Professional ceramists exchanging ideas around the wood-fired kilns is what brings together artists from all over the world, seasoned professionals and novices of all ages alike. The loading, firing and emptying of kilns is done in front of spectators in locations in and around the village. The artworks, which are accessible to everyone, showcase a wide range of traditional and contemporary ceramic techniques, from sculptural to functional pieces. In recent years, interest in ceramics has boomed and this unique event is constantly growing and evolving. In this, the 12th annual event, the Ceramics Association of La Borne and the Contemporary Ceramics Centre have put together an extensive programme, including guided tours of the working kilns, workshop visits, exhibitions, talks, round-table discussions, film screenings and hands-on workshops designed for all ages.

See you on 17 to 25 October 2026.

Firings

Firing is the final stage in the production process and a pivotal moment in a ceramicist’s creative journey.
La Borne is a world-renowned wood-firing centre, which is why every year at the same season, we welcome you to gather around the kilns during firing. The Grands Feux’s ultimate goal is to explain our work to you and invite you to become part our warm, welcoming community. The programme will enable you to participate in the various stages of the process – loading the kiln, firing, and emptying the kiln – using different kinds of wood-fired kilns.

Expert Demonstrations

Nirdosh Petra van Heesbeen, Jean-François Thierion, Karina Schneiders, Laurence Blasco Mauriaucourt and Dominique Legros will be sharing their expertise and experience. Activities will include making teapots and throwing larger pieces. There will be an opportunity to meet these artists and discover their work.

Conferences/round table discussions and film projections

Conferences, round table discussions and film projections which, thanks to a revised programme, will provide something for ceramics enthusiasts and professionals alike, as well as for beginners,

Exhibitions

Over the course of the Grands Feux festival, at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of La Borne and in the workshops of the ceramic artists in and around the village, you can discover the wide range of creative work produced by the artists of La Borne and by guest artists.

Exhibitions at the CCCLB:

Sangwoo Kim Le vent souffle. L’eau coule. Le temps passe

Myriam Bouchard Ce paysage qui m’habite

Ceramics Association of La Borne Permanent Exhibition

Practical workshops for adults and children

Seeing how it’s done will inspire you to have a go yourself, so why not sign up for the hands-on workshops for adults and children at the La Borne Contemporary Ceramics Centre, or contact the ceramists directly?

Soup bowls and bowls of soup

One thousand limited-edition bowls, each stamped ‘Grands Feux 2026’, are being crafted by the ACLB’s potters. Each bowl will be sold and filled with soup made from locally sourced produce by volunteers from Les Amis de La Borne. You can keep warm by the kilns with your bowl of soup. Some of the bowls will go on sale when they are taken out of the Olsen kiln at the CCCLB on Saturday 24 October at 5.00 pm.

Evening Party

In keeping with La Borne’s festive tradition (!), the last Saturday of the Grands Feux festival gives everyone – visitors and potters alike – the opportunity to come together for a meal and an evening of music.

FIRING LOCATIONS

In La Borne

Contemporary Ceramics Centre of La Borne:
Anagama kiln
Olsen kiln (2 firings)
Girel kiln
Laurence Blasco Mauriaucourt
Jeltje Borneman (2 firings)
Dalloun
Roz Herrin
Anne-Marie Kelecom
Joël Marot
Charlotte Poulsen

Around La Borne