Art Explora Festival
A cultural festival featuring an itinerant museum boat, stopping in Le Havre
2026
About Art Explora Festival
The Art Explora Festival drops anchor in Le Havre with the world's first museum boat, a 47-metre catamaran supported by the Art Explora Foundation, a non-profit organisation. The free programme features an immersive exhibition co-produced with the Louvre Museum, soundscapes by Ircam and the Centre Pompidou, virtual reality experiences, concerts, talks, and workshops focused on marine worlds.
Art Explora Festival — edition 2026
From October 1st to 11th, 2026, the Art Explora museum boat docks at the Bassin de l'Eure for eleven days of free admission. Enjoy the immersive exhibition "Présentes," co-produced with the Louvre, soundscapes by Ircam and the Centre Pompidou, virtual reality experiences, concerts, and workshops. The festival kicks off on October 1st with a parade by the KoolCast Brass Gang, followed the next day by a presentation from diver and photographer Laurent Ballesta on his Antarctic explorations.
Programme Art Explora Festival 2026
Wednesday, October 1st, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Festival opening and parade with the KoolCast Brass Gang
- 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM — Museum boat open to the public, featuring the "Présentes" exhibition (in partnership with the Louvre) and a Mediterranean sound journey (Ircam / Centre Pompidou)
Thursday, October 2nd, 2026
- All day — Lecture by Laurent Ballesta on his Antarctic explorations
October 2nd to 11th, 2026
- 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM — Museum boat open daily: "Présentes" exhibition, exhibition pavilions, virtual reality, concerts, screenings, creative workshops, and meet-and-greets
The detailed day-by-day schedule of concerts, DJ sets, dance performances, and workshops is being released gradually by the Art Explora Foundation at artexplora.org/festival/ville/le-havre; only the opening parade and Laurent Ballesta's lecture have been confirmed as of August 23rd, 2026.
Practical information — Art Explora Festival
The museum boat is docked at the Bassin de l'Eure, between Quai de Marseille and Quai du Cameroun, in Le Havre. Access to the site and the boat is free, with the option to book a time slot online; the vessel can accommodate up to 2,000 visitors daily. The entire site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, including wheelchair access on board, and the festival offers assistance upon request for those with sensory, cognitive, or invisible disabilities.
An itinerant museum boat
Designed by architects Axel de Beaufort and Guillaume Verdier and built by the Italian shipyard Perini Navi, the catamaran stands 55 metres tall and can welcome up to 2,000 visitors per day. Launched in the spring of 2024, the festival has visited fourteen cities across the Mediterranean, from Barcelona to Athens, via Venice and Tangier, attracting over 400,000 visitors. Le Havre marks the start of the second season of this odyssey, now turning towards the Atlantic.
Where does it take place — Art Explora Festival
Art Explora Festival in brief
Other festivals near Le Havre
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