Storytellers in Privas, solo shows in the gardens of Tournon-sur-Rhône, the opening of an international spoken-word festival in Aubenas: three dates to put on the Ardèche agenda.
The 8–10 May 2026 long weekend lands at a perfect moment to rediscover Ardèche. This year the département leans into a clear theme: the spoken-word arts. From intimate storytelling to a major international stage and travelling solo shows in private gardens, three festivals fan out across the territory during the long weekend, from the prefecture in Privas to the ramparts of Tournon-sur-Rhône and on to Aubenas. Three complementary moods, three audiences crossing paths, three good reasons to plan a Vivarais road trip that weekend. Here is our overview.
1. A moi, conte deux mots! — the home stretch in Privas, until 10 May
The « A moi, conte deux mots! » festival enters its final week during the 8 May long weekend. Run since the mid-2010s by the Autour du Conte association, in Privas. Often overshadowed by its more touristy neighbours, the prefecture takes on a particular colour here: for around ten days between the end of April and the start of May, professional storytellers, amateurs and audiences gather around shows, open mics and storytelling aperitifs.
The spirit is firmly intercultural. You'll hear tales from the Maghreb, Central Europe, the Caribbean and the Ardèche's collective memory. The programme plays on formats: daytime sessions for younger audiences, more reflective evenings for adults, open-mic stages where amateurs can step up. It is also a great way to explore Privas and its stone alleys in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Many events are free or pay-what-you-want. See the festival page.
2. Festival des Jardins — solo shows in Tournon-sur-Rhône, 8 to 10 May
Head for the Ardèche bank of the Rhône for the Festival des Jardins, created by Compagnie No Man's Land. Its trick is summed up in one sentence: each performance takes place in a different garden of Tournon-sur-Rhône, public or private. The audience is invited on a real walking circuit through the town, taking in hidden inner courtyards, presbytery gardens and terraces overlooking the river.
The 2026 programme focuses on solos: one artist on stage, an intimate format that fits the venues perfectly. Theatre, dance, storytelling, street arts: the lineup mixes local Drôme-Ardèche companies with troupes from across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. A flat ticket price per show lets visitors build their own route. It is an excellent way into Tournon's built heritage, through a demanding yet accessible artistic programme. See the festival page.
3. Paroles en Festival — kicks off in Aubenas on Saturday 9 May
Time for a national heavyweight. Paroles en Festival, founded in 1986 by AMAC in Aubenas, is one of the oldest and most significant storytelling festivals in France. Its 40th edition opens on Saturday 9 May and runs until 6 June. Across the 8 May long weekend, you can therefore catch the opening days at the right pace, before the programme spreads across six departments of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The event is firmly travelling and international in spirit. For a month, storytellers from several continents hit the road, multiplying storytelling nights, hands-on workshops and lectures. The festival's strength lies in mixing the main stage (top names of French and international storytelling) with grassroots practice (workshops open to all, participatory village stages). For a first taste, the opening weekend in Aubenas concentrates the highlights. See the festival page.
How to build your Ardèche weekend
The three festivals draw a coherent geographical triangle. Privas sits in the middle, Tournon-sur-Rhône to the north-east on the Rhône valley, Aubenas to the south on the Vivarais foothills. The maximum distance between two stops is about an hour's drive. A combination that works well for the long weekend:
- Friday 8 May in Privas for a session of « A moi, conte deux mots! » and a quiet evening downtown.
- Saturday 9 May in Tournon-sur-Rhône for the Festival des Jardins during the day, then up to Aubenas in the late afternoon for the kick-off of Paroles en Festival.
- Sunday 10 May in Aubenas, a walking day on top of the festival schedule, before heading home.
A few secondary highlights worth noting
Springtime Ardèche also offers a few non-festival bonuses:
- The villages de caractère of southern Ardèche (Vogüé, Balazuc, Labeaume) reopen their markets and terraces for the first time of the season.
- The first canoe descents on the Ardèche river start up in May for the sportier travellers.
- Several cooperative wineries of the Vivarais run open days and tastings around this period.
To sum up
Three festivals, three territories, one shared central theme — words, stories, oral transmission. A moi, conte deux mots! for warm grassroots energy in Privas, the Festival des Jardins for an artistic walk through Tournon, Paroles en Festival for the international, heritage scale in Aubenas. To explore more local events, take a look at all the festivals in Ardèche.
