Club Jourdan 2026 blends miniatures competition, exhibition, and community in Feytiat

A weekend that is bigger than a trophy table

Club Jourdan works because it does not behave like a pure contest. It packs competition, exhibition, and the social side of the hobby into one two-day stop in Feytiat, which makes it feel less like a quick judging session and more like a proper miniature-painting destination. That matters in a town of 6,176 residents, because the scale of the venue and the international reach of the show give the weekend real weight.

The event took place on April 18 and 19, 2026, at Salle Georges Brassens in Feytiat, and it ran from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days. Meals were available during the weekend, so you could stay on site, talk through pieces, and make the whole thing into a full hobby trip instead of treating it like a single morning at the tables.

Why the range of entries makes this show different

The first thing that stands out is how broad the welcome is. Club Jourdan is open to builders of figurines, scale models, aircraft, and vehicles, which immediately widens the field beyond a standard figure-painting event. If you paint historical figures, work in fantasy, build dioramas, or spend your evenings weathering armor and cockpits, this is one of those shows where your lane is already built in.

That breadth is not just cosmetic. It creates a room where miniature painting sits alongside related modeling disciplines instead of being isolated from them. You get the benefit of seeing how other branches of the hobby solve the same problems, whether that is clean presentation, base composition, metallic work, or the way a finished model is staged for display.

The competition structure is practical, not decorative

The contest itself is organized into three main categories: Beginner, Historical, and Fantastic. That split does a lot of useful work. It gives newer painters a fairer runway, while still leaving room for experienced competitors to chase serious recognition in the styles that matter most to them.

That matters especially in a mixed event like this one, because the field can include both straight figure painters and broader model builders. A Beginner category lowers the barrier to entry, while Historical and Fantastic let painters aim at the two big traditions that define a lot of figure work. If you care about getting a piece read correctly by judges and peers, this kind of category structure is the difference between a crowded table and a meaningful comparison.

Who this weekend is really for

Display painters

If you build for presentation, Club Jourdan is the kind of show where the viewing experience is as valuable as the judging. The international mix means you are not just looking at one local style or one club’s preferences. You are seeing what happens when painters from across Europe bring their own standards, color choices, and finishing habits into the same room.

Competition chasers

If your goal is medals, placings, or simply seeing how your work stacks up, the event’s three-category format is the hook. Beginner, Historical, and Fantastic keeps the competition readable and gives each piece a better chance of being judged against similar work. That makes the weekend useful even if you are not there to collect every model in sight.

Hobby travelers

If you like the hobby as a reason to move, this is the sweet spot. The event runs all day on Saturday and Sunday, includes a Saturday evening reception with local officials, and has meals available on site. That turns a contest into a trip, and a trip into a chance to meet the people behind the work.

The social side is not an afterthought

The Saturday evening reception is one of the most telling details about the event. With local officials attending, Club Jourdan presents itself as part of the town’s public life, not just a closed hobby meeting. That gives the show a community feel that many figure events try for but do not always achieve.

The club behind it, the Club de la Figurine Historique du Limousin et des amis du Maréchal Jourdan, also explains the tone of the weekend. The club describes itself as bringing together fans of historical and fantasy figure painting and board games, which is a useful clue about the culture around the event. This is a group that clearly understands the overlap between painting, gaming, and display, and the program reflects that mix instead of forcing one side of the hobby to dominate.

Where the event comes from, and why the name matters

The club is based at 57 avenue de la Libération in Feytiat, and the city of Feytiat lists Lydie Queyroi as the association’s president. That gives the event a very local foundation, even as its reach extends well beyond Haute-Vienne. The venue itself, Salle Georges Brassens, sits on Place de Leun in Feytiat and serves as a municipal cultural hall, which fits the event’s role as both hobby gathering and public-facing community occasion.

The club’s own announcement frames the weekend as its international figurines and models competition, and that is the right way to think about it. This is not just a regional meet with a few tables of entries. It is a show that has enough structure, history, and club identity to draw painters, collectors, and artists from across Europe.

Why the international angle is the shareable hook

The most striking part of Club Jourdan is the contrast it creates: an international miniature event in a town of 6,176 residents. That single detail gives the weekend its punch. It is the kind of hobby story people forward because it captures something the miniature scene does well, which is turn a small room, a local club, and a shared obsession into a meeting point for an entire continent.

That international mix is valuable for more than bragging rights. It raises the visual standard, exposes you to different display habits, and makes the tables feel like a live survey of the hobby’s styles. If you want a weekend where you can compete, study other painters, and still have time for a meal, a reception, and conversation with people who care about the same tiny details you do, Club Jourdan is built for exactly that.