Exemplaires Biennial 2026 – Forms and Practices of Publishing

Contemporary publishing invites itself to Metz.
Three days to discover contemporary publishing, meet designers and explore graphic trends.

From March 26 to 28, 2026, the École Supérieure d’Art de Lorraine - site de Metz hosts the 6ᵉ edition of the Exemplaires Biennial, an unmissable event dedicated to the forms and practices of contemporary publishing.
For three days, 14 art schools bringing together students, teachers, artists and designers invite the general public to explore the mutations of publishing, the development of digital, the evolution of printing technologies and new modes of publication, through exhibitions, conferences, meetings and festive moments.

A program of creation and reflection

‼️Les days of the symposium are sold out, but it is possible to follow the conferences on Twitch.

📅*Thursday, March 26, 2026

2 PM > 6 PM - 14 ART SCHOOLS CONFERENCES
Salle Esplanade, Arsenal - 3, av. Ney - Metz
A half-day of presentations by working groups from the 14 art schools.
Students unveil their selections of French-language works, the themes they have developed, and the editorial projects that will be presented in the exhibition opening the same evening.

7PM - VERNISSAGE OF THE EXEMPLAIRES EXHIBITION
Galerie de l’Ésal - 1, rue de la citadelle - Metz
The exhibition presents a broad panorama of research carried out by the 14 art schools around contemporary forms of publishing. It brings together :

• works selected by each school,
• comparative works (older or from outside the French-speaking world),
• original editions produced by students as part of the biennial,
• mediation devices and critical texts contextualizing the editorial choices and themes addressed.
  By bringing these publishing ensembles together in one place, the exhibition offers an overview of the current state of contemporary publishing, as observed, analyzed and interpreted by the participating schools.

📅*Friday, March 27, 2026

9 A.M. > 6 P.M. - INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM (IN FRENCH)
Salle Esplanade, Arsenal - 3, av. Ney - Metz
Graphic designers, artists, publishers, researchers and theorists will take part in a discussion on current forms of publication, their evolution and critical issues.
Guests :
Léna Araguas, Séverine Bascouert, Julie Blanc, Max Bonhomme, Markus Dreßen, Alaric Garnier, Lucile Haute, Alessandro Ludovico, Pascale Obolo…

18H > 20H - ESPECES DE LIVRES, SATELLITE EXHIBITION
49 Nord 6 Est Frac Lorraine - 1 bis, rue des Trinitaires 57000 Metz
Conceived in collaboration between 2ᵉ year Communication option students at ÉSAL and the Frac Lorraine team, this exhibition presents a selection of works from the Frac’s reserves, accompanied by activations, mediation devices and interpretative proposals imagined by the students.

8 P.M. > 1 A.M. - BIENNIAL CELEBRATION
Salon de l’Orangerie, Arsenal - 3, av. Ney - Metz
A convivial evening combining music, creation and encounters, with food trucks, informal exchanges and a DJ set by Cards (Patrick Waizmann & Edvinas Žukauskas) from Offenbach-sur-le-Main.

📅*Saturday, March 28, 2026

10 A.M. > 6 P.M. - SALON GRAPHIQUE & FLASH-CONFERENCES GALERIE L’ÉSAL
Galerie de l’Ésal - 1, rue de la citadelle - Metz
An exceptional selection of 25 publishing houses, collectives and workshops engaged in contemporary forms of bookmaking, printing and experimental publishing.
15 10-minute flash-conferences will enable publishers from France, Europe and Canada to present their editorial approaches in a lively, direct and inspiring way.