Le Figaro at 200: Two Centuries of Words and Freedom

In January 2026, Le Figaro reached a milestone few media institutions in the world can claim: 200 years of continuous publication. Founded in 1826, the French daily marked its bicentenary not as a nostalgic look backward, but as a confident reaffirmation of its place at the heart of public debate, culture and democratic life.

To commemorate the occasion, Le Figaro staged an ambitious and symbolic celebration in Paris under the banner “200 ans de liberté” (200 years of Freedom) a theme that echoed throughout the event and its programming.

A Grand Palais moment

At the center of the celebrations stood a major exhibition held beneath the iconic glass nave of the Grand Palais, transformed for three days into a living archive of French journalism. Open to the public, the exhibition traced Le Figaro’s evolution from its origins as a satirical publication to its role today as a leading multimedia news brand.

Visitors were invited to walk through two centuries of headlines, controversies, cultural shifts and political turning points, brought to life through more than 300 archival pieces. Original front pages, rare photographs, handwritten manuscripts and illustrations revealed how the newspaper both chronicled and influenced history.

Literature, Journalism and Power

More than a newspaper, Le Figaro has long been a literary and intellectual platform. The exhibition highlighted the voices that shaped its identity from Marcel Proust and François Mauriac to Jean d’Ormesson, reminding audiences that the paper has always existed at the intersection of journalism, literature and power.

This intellectual legacy was further celebrated through a gala event with a reading session by French actor Fabrice Luchini: “The Writers of Le Figaro”, and also live talks, debates and conferences, where journalists, historians and cultural figures discussed the changing role of the press in a digital, fragmented world.

An Event with institutional weight

The bicentenary significance was underlined by official visits, including that of President Emmanuel Macron, recognizing Le Figaro as a pillar of French public life and a symbol of press freedom.

Beyond the exhibition, the anniversary extended across multiple formats: a collector’s print edition, special editorial series, a commemorative book and dedicated digital experiences all reinforcing the message that heritage and innovation are not opposing forces.

200 years and still moving forward

If the bicentenary looked back at history, its true focus was the future. In an era of declining trust, accelerated news cycles and AI-driven content, Le Figaro used its 200th anniversary to restate a simple but powerful claim: credibility, editorial voice and freedom still matter.

In the Middle East, Tree Ad has been the official media representative of Figaro Group for 26 years and has been publishing Spécial Madame Figaro French edition in Lebanon since 2016 as well as Spécial Madame Figaro Arabia website since 2021.

Photo no. 2 (exhibition gallery with a portrait of the writer Marcel Proust in the background)
Photo credit: © Emmanuele Scorcelletti