Bibliothèque nationale de France to host Michel Foucault centenary event

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) will host a major event titled ‘L’Inventaire Foucault’ on November 2, 2026, to commemorate the centenary of philosopher Michel Foucault. Organized in conjunction with the Centre Pompidou and Le Nouvel Observateur, the evening will take place at the BnF Richelieu site, where Foucault previously studied and wrote.

The program aims to examine the contemporary resonance of Foucault’s work through readings, meetings, and artistic performances. It will feature various researchers and creators, including historians Michelle Perrot and Patrick Boucheron, as well as artists such as Volmir Cordeiro and Philippe Artières. The event seeks to confront Foucault’s archives and thought with modern societal shifts.

Discussions surrounding Foucault’s legacy continue to persist, involving both intellectual debates regarding his philosophical categorization—such as his relationship to structuralism and postmodernism—and controversial personal accusations made by figures like Guy Sorman.