Briançon sous les Étoiles
Summer festival of open-air performances in the Vauban Citadel of Briançon
About Briançon sous les Étoiles
A festival in the heart of the Vauban Citadel
Briançon sous les Étoiles is the major summer cultural event of Briançon, the highest town in France, nestled at an altitude of 1,326 meters in the Hautes-Alpes. Created in 2021 on the initiative of the municipality led by Mayor Arnaud Murgia, this festival aims to showcase the exceptional heritage of the Vauban Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, by transforming it into a vast open-air theater throughout the summer.
The musical, the festival's centerpiece
Each edition revolves around an original musical created especially for the site by the company « Tous en scène », under the artistic direction of Jean-Luc Lejeune. Performances take place at the foot of the Porte d'Embrun, at the entrance to the fortified upper town, where the ramparts and the Collégiale serve as a grand backdrop, enhanced by video mapping creations and light shows. A troupe of about twenty artists—musicians, dancers, actors, singers, and circus performers—brings to life shows combining original music, singing, dancing, humor, and acrobatics.
Among the emblematic creations: Cendrillon, Précieuse mais pas Ridicule (2022), blending Perrault and Molière; Qui a peur de Barbe Bleue ? (2023); Aladdin et la Lanterne magique (2024), an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights; and Oh ! La Fontaine ! le retour... (2025), a reinterpretation of La Fontaine's Fables.
Arty Colors Festival and street performances
Since 2023, the festival has included the Arty Colors Festival, an event combining live concerts, street arts, artistic performances, land art, and scenography in the streets of Briançon and at the Parc de la Schappe. In 2025, this third edition hosted artists such as Deluxe, FFF, Danakil, Emel, and Julien Granel over three days in August. The cobbled alleys, squares, and ramparts of the upper town offer a unique setting for free artistic strolls open to all.
UNESCO heritage enhanced by culture
The Vauban Citadel of Briançon, a city of art and history, is one of the most remarkable sites in Vauban's network of fortifications. The festival highlights this heritage by offering performances that integrate into the very architecture of the place. Spectators wander through the medieval streets and discover the built heritage while attending the shows. This blend of living culture and historical heritage makes Briançon sous les Étoiles a unique event in the festival landscape of the Southern Alps.
Briançon sous les Étoiles — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Briançon sous les Étoiles is confirmed. The summer festival once again takes over the Cité Vauban and the streets of Briançon, with its musical comedy « Ah, le Petit Poucet » performed at the foot of the ramparts (directed by Jean-Luc Lejeune, 28 performers) and the Arty Colors Festival at the Parc de la Schappe from August 4 to 7, 2026, featuring Oxmo Puccino, 47Ter, Têtes Raides, The Buttshakers, Labess and Cashemire.
The 2026 edition in Cité Vauban
Briançon sous les Étoiles returns for summer 2026 with its summer program combining musical comedy, street shows, concerts, and street arts within the classified setting of Cité Vauban and at Parc de la Schappe.
The musical comedy « Ah, le Petit Poucet »
The 2026 musical comedy, directed by Jean-Luc Lejeune, is performed at the foot of the ramparts of Cité Vauban. Bringing together approximately 28 performers (musicians, actors, dancers, singers, and circus artists), the show is enhanced with light effects and mapping. The precise dates for the 2026 performances will be announced by the ticket office of the Office de Tourisme Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon.
The Arty Colors Festival
From August 4 to 7, 2026, the Arty Colors Festival transforms Briançon into an open-air artistic stage, with four days of concerts, street shows, circuses, and brass bands, including two evenings of paid concerts at Parc de la Schappe. This edition highlights the color blue.
Programme Briançon sous les Étoiles 2026
Musical comedy « Ah, le Petit Poucet » — Cité Vauban
Directed by: Jean-Luc Lejeune. Approximately 28 performers (musicians, actors, dancers, singers, circus artists), with light effects and mapping at the foot of the ramparts. Dates for the 2026 performances to be confirmed with the Serre Chevalier ticket office.
Arty Colors Festival — Parc de la Schappe (August 4 to 7, 2026)
- Tuesday, August 4 — Free entertainment in the streets (circuses, brass bands, street shows)
- Wednesday, August 5 — Applause Electronique, Collectif Inclusif (free entry evening with reservation) · doors open 6:30 PM, first concert 7:00 PM
- Thursday, August 6 — The Buttshakers (soul), Oxmo Puccino (rap), 47Ter (pop-rap) · doors open 6:00 PM, first concert 7:00 PM
- Friday, August 7 — Labess (world gipsy-chaâbi), Têtes Raides (chanson rock), Cashemire · doors open 6:00 PM, first concert 7:00 PM
Highlights Briançon sous les Étoiles 2026
- Musical comedy « Ah, le Petit Poucet » at the foot of the ramparts of Cité Vauban
- Arty Colors Festival from August 4 to 7, 2026 at Parc de la Schappe
- Headliners: Oxmo Puccino, 47Ter, Têtes Raides, The Buttshakers, Labess
- Free street shows, circuses, and brass bands in the city
Prices Briançon sous les Étoiles 2026
Practical information — Briançon sous les Étoiles
Practical Information
Access
Performances take place in the Vauban Citadel, the fortified upper town of Briançon. The musical is performed at the foot of the Porte d'Embrun, the main entrance to the citadel.
- By car: Briançon is accessible via the N94 from Gap (approx. 1h30) or via the Col du Lautaret from Grenoble (approx. 2h). Park in the lower town and walk up to the Vauban Citadel. Note: traffic is closed in the Vauban Citadel on performance evenings.
- By train: Briançon SNCF station (Alps line from Valence, Grenoble, or Marseille). The Vauban Citadel is about a 15-minute walk from the station.
Times
- Musical: Doors open at 8:30 PM, show starts at 9:30 PM. Duration: approx. 1 hour.
- Street performances: During the day and in the evening depending on the program.
Prices
- Street performances: Free
- Musical: Paid (prices vary by edition)
Ticketing
- Online booking at reservation.serre-chevalier.com
- Booking phone: 04 92 24 98 80
Contact
- Briançon Town Hall: 04 92 21 20 72
- Serre Chevalier Vallée Briançon Tourist Office: 04 92 24 98 98
- Website: ville-briancon.fr
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Where does it take place — Briançon sous les Étoiles
Cité Vauban de Briançon
Cité Vauban, 05100 Briançon