Sofia Boutrih is the Director of the Fête de l'Humanité, one of France's largest political, cultural, and popular gatherings. Rooted in a history that began in 1930 around the newspaper L'Humanité, the Fête has become a unique space where art, music, debate, creativity, and civic engagement meet. As the first woman to lead the event, Sofia Boutrih brings her own vision: a popular, vibrant and open gathering, deeply connected to its time and to the world.
Under her leadership, the Fête has strengthened its plural identity: a place where the Patti Smith Quartet, Gims, Hoshi, and Eddy de Pretto share the stage with emerging artists and original creations such as La Haine, the musical. Each edition brings together hundreds of thousands of people - 610,000 this year - reaffirming the Fête as a crossroads between music, ideas, and social struggles.
Born in Saint-Denis and raised in a working-class neighborhood, a communist activist and local elected official, Sofia Boutrih embraces a deeply political approach to culture - one that sees it as a tool for emancipation and social transformation. She champions accessible programming, open to younger generations, local communities, and independent artists.
A woman of conviction and action, she represents a new generation of cultural leaders who connect art and politics. For her, the Fête de l'Humanité is not a festival, but a living space where hope, struggle, and collective commitment come together to imagine a fairer world.
