ABRACADABRA
International magic festival of Vouneuil-sous-Biard
2026
About Abracadabra
Abracadabra — edition 2026
The 6th edition of the Vouneuil-sous-Biard Magic Festival takes place from September 11 to 13, 2026, at the Salle R2B. The program features the Grand International Gala on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 PM, "L'Odyssée du capitaine Anaël" on Saturday at 4:30 PM, "Phil Keller et Rebecca" on Sunday at 3:30 PM, and free activities on Saturday afternoon.
2026 Edition
The Vouneuil-sous-Biard Magic Festival is holding its 6th edition from September 11 to 13, 2026, at the Salle R2B. The town hall, the box office, and the official website refer to it as the Festival Magistral.
Maurice Douda has curated the program for the sixth year. In the official program, he announces that he will be stepping back after this edition to refocus on his career as an artist, though he does not rule out returning next year "depending on [his] conditions."
The festival is organized by the Festival Magistral association, presided over by Damien Fallon, with around sixty partners. An evening is reserved for them on Thursday, September 10, starting at 7:00 PM.
Highlights Abracadabra 2026
- Grand International Gala for two consecutive nights, Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12 at 8:30 PM
- Mag Marin, grand illusions from Spain
- Christian Gabriel and his puppet Freddy, ventriloquism
- Roy Neves, speed painting
- Free magic activities on Saturday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Programme Abracadabra 2026
Thursday, September 10, 2026 — Partners' Evening (by invitation only)
- From 7:00 PM — An evening dedicated to festival partners: cocktail reception, close-up magic by Xavier Houmeau, caricatures by Mika, a photobooth, and a stand from the billiard and foosball manufacturer Etolrak.
Friday, September 11, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Grand International Gala · Salle R2B · recommended for ages 7 and up
Saturday, September 12, 2026
- 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM — Free magic activities: face painting, balloon sculpting, board games, and other surprises
- 4:30 PM — "L'Odyssée du capitaine Anaël" · Salle R2B · for young audiences ages 3 and up · 50 minutes · magic, illusions, and ventriloquism featuring Corantin, a diving rabbit; Captain Anaël's submarine breaks down, taking the crew on an underwater odyssey
- 8:30 PM — Grand International Gala · Salle R2B · recommended for ages 7 and up · same lineup as Friday
Sunday, September 13, 2026
- 3:30 PM — "Phil Keller et Rebecca" · Salle R2B · family show for ages 6 and up · 50 minutes · a magician spending his birthday alone orders a magician to his home, only to have his English assistant show up instead
Grand Gala Lineup
- Maurice Douda and Antoine Plouzennec — masters of ceremony, one a magician, the other a radio host
- Pascal Faidy — mentalism, a creation blending psychology, intuition, and wine tasting
- Mag Marin — grand illusions, visiting from Spain, with Broadway-inspired staging featuring dance and humor
- Christian Gabriel and Freddy — ventriloquism, featuring the monkey Freddy; the artist has previously appeared on "Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde"
- Roy Neves — speed painting, giant portraits painted in minutes to music, with laser effects
- Petit Monsieur — comedy and clowning, burlesque without a single word
- Nathalie Romier — quick-change and singing, a tribute to icons of French music
- Mystery Artist — a surprise guest who has performed in a previous edition, presenting a brand-new act
Ongoing throughout the weekend
- Free face painting and activities on Saturday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Ness et Nono food truck starting Friday evening
- Refreshments and fast food
- Free parking, restrooms, information desk, and on-site box office
All shows take place in the Salle R2B with open seating. Organizers recommend arriving half an hour before the start time. The program is subject to change in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Prices Abracadabra 2026
L'Odyssée du capitaine Anaël (Saturday, September 12, 4:30 PM): €20 full price, €15 for Vouneuil residents, €10 reduced rate.
Phil Keller et Rebecca (Sunday, September 13, 3:30 PM): €20 full price, €15 for Vouneuil residents, €10 reduced rate.
Vouneuil resident rate: for residents of Vouneuil-sous-Biard and Crédit Agricole members. Proof of residence may be requested at the entrance.
Reduced rate: under 18s, students, job seekers, RSA beneficiaries, and people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Proof may be requested at the entrance.
Saturday afternoon activities: free.
Box office: billetweb.fr/magistral-2026, festival website, town hall website (Culture & Leisure section), festival Facebook page.
Practical information — Abracadabra
Practical Information
Getting There
Address: salle R2B, 4 Espace Rives de Boivre, rue des Châtelets, 86580 Vouneuil-sous-Biard. All performances take place here.
By car: Vouneuil-sous-Biard is located west of Poitiers. A large, free parking lot is available throughout the festival.
By bus: The town is served by the Vitalis network from Poitiers.
Tickets
Tickets are available at billetweb.fr/magistral-2026, on the festival website, on the town hall website under the Culture & Leisure section, and via the festival's Facebook page. Seating is unreserved, so please arrive half an hour before the show starts. Saturday afternoon activities are free of charge.
On-site
Refreshments and fast food are available, with the Ness et Nono food truck on-site from Friday evening. Restrooms and a ticket information desk are located at the venue.
Contact
Association Festival Magistral, 1 place Moretta, 86580 Vouneuil-sous-Biard. Contact form available at festival-magistral.fr. Vouneuil-sous-Biard Town Hall: 05 49 36 10 20.
ABRACADABRA: The Magic Festival That Enchants the Vienne
Born in 2021 from the Vouneuil-sous-Biard municipality's desire to create a unifying and distinctive event, the ABRACADABRA festival quickly established itself as one of the major magic gatherings in France. Entrusted to the Poitiers illusionist Maurice Douda, the festival annually brings together magicians, mentalists, illusionists, and circus artists from around the world in the town of Vienne, on the outskirts of Poitiers.
A Program Blending Prestige and Accessibility
The festival unfolds over a full weekend at the R2B hall and in the outdoor spaces of Vouneuil-sous-Biard. The program alternates between international galas featuring the biggest names in global illusionism on Friday and Saturday evenings, family shows suitable for ages 3 and up in the afternoons, and free outdoor entertainment in the open-air theater. Close-up magic, grand illusions, mentalism, shadow play, comedy magic, juggling, and water magic form a mosaic of disciplines that delights both novices and enthusiasts.
Exceptional Artists
Throughout its editions, the festival has hosted top-tier artists: Norbert Ferré, double world magic champion, Charlie Mag, European champion, Pierr Cika, web-famous mentalist, Ben Rose, specialist in grand illusions, Black Fingers, masters of shadow art, and Soria Leng, virtuoso of water magic. Each edition renews its programming to offer unique discoveries and moments of wonder.
An Event Rooted in its Territory
Supported by the department of Vienne and about twenty private partners, the ABRACADABRA festival contributes to the cultural influence of Grand Poitiers and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. With approximately 1,500 spectators expected each year, it has successfully built a loyal family and intergenerational audience, while also attracting the attention of the French Magic Federation. A unique event of its kind that proves magic has found its stage in the Vienne.
Where does it take place — Abracadabra
Abracadabra in brief
History of Abracadabra
Edition 2025 Aug 2025Other festivals near Vouneuil-sous-Biard
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