The Embassies of Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Ireland, Romania and Switzerland, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will organize the Francophonie Days in Bosnia and Herzegovina from March 24 to April 10, the aim of which is to promote the French language in the world.
The importance of the French language and the “Francophonie Days” program were discussed at a press conference by the Ambassador of France to BiH François Delmas, the Ambassador of Belgium to BiH Christine Detaille and the Director of the French Institute in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Counselor for Cooperation and Culture of the Embassy of France in Sarajevo Loé Lagrange.
Approach to Cultural Diversity and Diplomacy
Ambassador Delamas emphasized that the “Francophonie Days” event celebrates the French language, which has never had so many speakers as it does today.
– Almost 400 million speakers, which makes it the fourth language (after English, Mandarin and Spanish), but it is one of the few that is spoken on five continents – said Ambassador Delmas.
He emphasized that the French language provides access to cultural diversity, is a diplomatic language, a business language and is represented in numerous contents on the Internet.
The language of young people
The French language, as the French Ambassador to BiH emphasized, is the language of young people, 50 percent of speakers are under 30 years old.
He also added that BiH is also part of the Francophone Community, which has 90 members (53 full members, 5 associate members, 32 observers).
– For the people of Sarajevo, I emphasize that from April 17, we will have a direct Paris-Sarajevo flight via Transavia – the ambassador emphasized.
Promotions, exhibitions and workshops
The Ambassador of Belgium to BiH Christine Detaille announced that during the Francophonie Days, promotions of comics and exhibitions and workshops for children related to comics will be organized at the French Institute. A film about the Smurfs will also be shown.
The Days of Francophonie 2026 in Bosnia and Herzegovina begin with the Francophonie gastronomic evening on March 24 at the House of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Admission is free based on the application, which can be sent via the social networks of the French Institute.
Visitors will be able to taste typical culinary specialties and drinks of the partner countries, in a fun atmosphere. At the same time, the first Francophone karaoke night will be held.
Triple photo exhibition
During Francophonie Day, there will be a Francophone Film Week, a children’s program dedicated to the Smurfs, and the opening of the exhibition “Paris, Paris, Paris” by Milomir Kovačević Strašni at the French Institute. This exhibition will remain a permanent exhibit at the Institute.
Programs will also be held in Banja Luka, where a karaoke evening in French will be held. Also on the program is a triple photo exhibition, in partnership with the VII Foundation, at the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Republic of Srpska. The photographs will be exhibited by Éric Bouvet, Tomas van Houtryv, and Pierre and Alexandra Boulat.
Francophonie Day programs will also be held in Mostar, where, among other things, the bilingual comic “Rencontre fortuite” will be presented, a gastronomic journey through France and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and an exhibition of comics (Senad Mavrić and Filip Andronik).
“Days of Francophonie” programs will also be organized in Konjic, Bijeljina, Trebinje, Maglaj and Brčko, Fena writes.
