C'est comme ça ! Festival
Contemporary dance and performing arts festival in Château-Thierry
2026
About C'est comme ça !
The C'est comme ça ! Festival is the annual highlight for contemporary dance and performing arts hosted by L'échangeur — CDCN Hauts-de-France, taking place in Château-Thierry and across the southern Aisne region. From mid-September to mid-October, it brings together around twenty choreographic works and "other stage" performances, alongside exhibitions, films, meet-and-greets, and workshops. Established in 2006, the festival is structured around its "Traversées"—thematic weekends—and concludes with the Nuit de la danse.
C'est comme ça ! — edition 2026
The 20th edition of C'est comme ça! takes place from September 17 to October 10, 2026, in Château-Thierry and the southern Aisne region, with dates in Brasles, Nogent-l'Artaud, Soissons, and Creil. L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France brings together about thirty events: contemporary dance, films, cabaret, readings, escape games, workshops, and four exhibitions at Silo U1. The Dance Night concludes the festival on October 10.
2026 Edition: The festival's 20th anniversary
C'est comme ça! celebrates its 20th edition from September 17 to October 10, 2026. L'échangeur - CDCN Hauts-de-France, which has organized it since 2006, is spreading the program over four weeks in Château-Thierry and its surrounding region.
Performances are divided between L'échangeur (Main Hall, Room A·B, Le Garage U1), La Biscuiterie, the Palais des Rencontres, the Silo U1, the Centre social Nicole Bastien, the Médiathèque Jean Macé, and the Cinéma-Théâtre in Château-Thierry, the Espace Commun in Brasles, and Le Bidule in Nogent-l'Artaud. Three dates are outside the southern Aisne: Impromptu + Sacre, by Daniel Larrieu, at the Cité de la Musique et de la Danse in Soissons on September 29, and Danser ensemble, by Alice Davazoglou, at Le Mail in Soissons on October 6, then at La Faïencerie in Creil on October 8.
The opening night on September 17 is hosted at Guet-Apens, the inclusive café of Apei des 2 Vallées located at La Biscuiterie: presentation of the program and a dance performance by the Singul'art group.
Two pieces involve local amateurs. Les Sisyphe, by Julie Nioche, is restaged on September 24 with students from the 5e CHAAP class at Collège Jean Racine. Parad(i)s, by Marion Muzac and musicians from Sables Noirs, is rehearsed in workshops on October 8 and 9 and performed twice on October 9, at 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM; registration is free and open until September 14, 2026, for dancers, musicians, and singers aged 16 and up ([email protected], 06 70 85 13 67).
The festival ends on October 10: Dance Afternoon with open access from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM, followed by the Dance Night starting at 7:00 PM, featuring five hours of shows, performances, and a dancefloor in the Espaces d'activités U1.
Highlights C'est comme ça ! 2026
- 20th edition of the festival, from September 17 to October 10, 2026
- Cold Song, a performed reading by Daniel Larrieu on the AIDS years, on September 22, followed by the launch of the book co-published with the CN D
- Austerlitz, by Gaëlle Bourges, on September 25 at the Palais des Rencontres
- Les Sisyphe, by Julie Nioche, restaged on September 24 with students from the 5e CHAAP class at Collège Jean Racine
- La Barbichette Cabaret, by Jérôme Marin, on October 3 at La Biscuiterie
- Four exhibitions at Silo U1, including Régis Huvier, t'es mort ou pas cap! and Résidences • 1993 - 2026 by Quentin Bertoux
- Dance Night closing on October 10 at 7:00 PM: five hours of shows, performances, and a dancefloor
Programme C'est comme ça ! 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- 7:00 PM — C'est comme ça! at Guet-Apens, dance in ambush · La Biscuiterie, Château-Thierry · 1h — Opening night at Guet-Apens, the inclusive café of Apei des 2 Vallées: presentation of the program and a dance performance by the Singul'art group from the day activity center. Bar and light refreshments on site.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Opening of the exhibitions at Silo U1 for the European Heritage Days, with a book signing of Résidences 2022-2026 by photographer Quentin Bertoux
- 4:00 PM — Que peut un corps · Grand magasin · L'échangeur - CDCN, Le Garage U1, Château-Thierry · 1h
- 8:30 PM — 120 BPM (Beats Per Minute), film by Robin Campillo · Cinéma-Théâtre · 2h23
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Exhibitions at Silo U1, second day of the European Heritage Days
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Jean-Romuald, un garçon de son âge · Mickaël Phelippeau · L'échangeur - CDCN, Main Hall · 1h · school session for ages 9 and up, €3.50
- 7:00 PM — Cold Song · Daniel Larrieu · L'échangeur - CDCN, Room A·B · 35 min · performed reading about the AIDS years, followed by the launch of the Cold Song text, co-published by L'échangeur-CDCN and the CN D, then a discussion around the exhibition Régis Huvier, t'es mort ou pas cap!
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Dance workshop with Ma compagnie / Marc Lacourt · Centre social Nicole Bastien, Château-Thierry · 1h30 · ages 6+, free, reservation required
Thursday, September 24, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Les Sisyphe (Julie Nioche) /// Jean-Romuald, un garçon de son âge (Mickaël Phelippeau) · L'échangeur - CDCN, Main Hall · 1h20 — Les Sisyphe is restaged by about twenty local teenagers, students from the 5e CHAAP class at Collège Jean Racine in Château-Thierry
Friday, September 25, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Hutte · Marc Lacourt · Esplanade du Palais des Rencontres, Château-Thierry · 40 min · school session for ages 7 and up, free, public space, reservation required
- 10:00 AM — Cuddly Books, reading with the Médiathèque Jean Macé · 30 min · ages 0-3, free · information and reservations: 03 23 85 30 85
- 4:30 PM — Hutte · Marc Lacourt · Esplanade du Palais des Rencontres · 40 min
- 7:00 PM — Hutte · Marc Lacourt · Esplanade du Palais des Rencontres · 40 min
- 8:30 PM — Austerlitz · Gaëlle Bourges · Palais des Rencontres, Château-Thierry · 1h45
Saturday, September 26, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Germaine Acogny, l'essence de la danse, film by Greta-Marie Becker · Cinéma-Théâtre · 1h33
- 7:00 PM — About Love and Death · Emmanuel Eggermont · Espace Commun, Brasles · 1h15
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM — Exhibitions open at Silo U1 (show night)
- 9:00 PM — Voler le feu · Jenny Victoire Charreton · L'échangeur - CDCN, Main Hall · 1h15
Sunday, September 27, 2026
- 3:30 PM — Escape game at the Musée d'Orsay · Hortense Belhôte · Le Bidule, Nogent-l'Artaud · 1h
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Impromptu + Sacre · Daniel Larrieu · Cité de la Musique et de la Danse, Soissons · 1h · tickets to be reserved through the Cité de la Musique et de la Danse
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
- 3:00 PM — Gourmet Books, reading with the Médiathèque Jean Macé · Le Silo U1 · 30 min · ages 3+, free · information and reservations: 03 23 85 30 85
Thursday, October 1, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Na Djoro · Tatiana Gueria Nade · Espace Commun, Brasles · 40 min · school session for ages 11 and up, €3.50
Friday, October 2, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Na Djoro · Tatiana Gueria Nade · Espace Commun, Brasles · 40 min
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM — Exhibitions open at Silo U1
- 9:00 PM — People · Claudio Stellato · L'échangeur - CDCN, Main Hall · 50 min
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Les enfants d'Isadora, film by Damien Manivel · Cinéma-Théâtre · 1h25
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM — Exhibitions open at Silo U1
- 8:00 PM — La Barbichette Cabaret · Jérôme Marin · La Biscuiterie, Château-Thierry · 2h · song, comedy, dance, and burlesque
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Danser ensemble · Alice Davazoglou · Le Mail, Soissons · 1h · open seating, reservation through Le Mail
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- 3:30 PM — Guided tour of the Silo U1 exhibitions by the L'échangeur mediation team · 1h · free, reservation recommended
Thursday, October 8, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Danser ensemble · Alice Davazoglou · La Faïencerie, Creil · 1h · open seating, reservation through La Faïencerie
Friday, October 9, 2026
- 2:00 PM — Parad(i)s · Marion Muzac · L'échangeur - CDCN, Main Hall · 40 min · school session
- 7:00 PM — Monday · Arno Schuitemaker · Espace Commun, Brasles · 1h
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM — Exhibitions open at Silo U1
- 9:00 PM — Parad(i)s · Marion Muzac · L'échangeur - CDCN, Main Hall · 40 min
Saturday, October 10, 2026 — Closing Day
Dance Afternoon, for the whole family, from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Espaces d'activités U1: free, open access.
- from 2:00 PM — Exhibitions at Silo U1, open access
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM — Crafts with the library · Silo U1 · open access
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM — Dance workshop in the exhibitions with ART21 · Silo U1 · ages 6+, free, by reservation
- 4:15 PM — Faire soi.e · Bérénice Legrand · La Biscuiterie · 30 min · by reservation
- 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Invitation to dance with Ladji Koné · courtyard of the Espaces d'activités U1 · open access
- all afternoon — games, candy, cotton candy, photobooth
- 7:00 PM — Dance Night · Espaces d'activités U1 · 5h · shows, performances, and dancefloor until the end of the night. L'échangeur will keep the schedule details for the evening itself.
Le Manège, the national stage in Reims, which is chartering a bus for this evening (bus departure at 5:30 PM, return late in the evening), is also announcing two performances in Château-Thierry on October 10: at 7:00 PM Leïla se meurt, by Ali Chahrour, a concert-dance-lamentation centered on a Shiite mourner (1h), and at 9:00 PM Chorus, by Mickaël Phelippeau, with the 24 singers of the a cappella ensemble Voix Humaine performing a Bach cantata (1h). Le Manège is also organizing an "Itinéraire bis" carpooling option to arrive on-site by 4:30 PM to attend the presentation of the Danses sans visa project, a journey of about 2 hours, followed by a visit to two exhibitions.
Exhibitions, ongoing
Four exhibitions at Silo U1 throughout the festival.
- Régis Huvier, t'es mort ou pas cap! — Laura Lemeray and Amélie Villeneuve: multimedia exhibition dedicated to the dancer and choreographer from Charly-sur-Marne, who died of AIDS at 29 in 1995, based on archives from his inner circle.
- Le Royaume des objets oubliés — Sahab Koanda: masks and creatures made of scrap metal, rubber, and recycled objects by the Burkinabe artist, who invites his friend Kader Kaboré to present several works.
- Résidences • 1993 - 2026 — Quentin Bertoux: thirty years of portraits of artists hosted in residence at L'échangeur, including the series D'après moi, le déluge.
- Château-Thierry sous l'œil de la caméra — Gaëlle Bourges // Thibaut Ras: the trilogy Fables misapi, Ruines, and Chatô directed by Claire Ananos, and the dance film series All We Can Do is dance.
Opening hours: Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20 from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM for the European Heritage Days; Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM; on show nights of September 26, October 2, and October 9 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, then 30 minutes after the end of the last performance; October 3 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Prices C'est comme ça ! 2026
Practical information — C'est comme ça !
Access
L'échangeur — CDCN, 53 rue Paul Doucet, 02400 Château-Thierry. Administrative offices are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
- By train: L'échangeur is a 15-minute walk from the Château-Thierry train station.
- By car: Take the A4 motorway, exit at Château-Thierry. Free parking is available on rue Paul Doucet and quai Coutelier.
- By bus: Use the Mal Leclerc or Collège Jean Racine stops on the Fablio network.
- By bike: Bike racks are available in the courtyard of the Espace d'activités U1.
Other festival venues
In Château-Thierry: La Biscuiterie, the Silo U1, the Palais des Rencontres, the Centre social Nicole Bastien, the Médiathèque Jean Macé, and the Cinéma-Théâtre. Elsewhere: Espace Commun in Brasles, Le Bidule in Nogent-l'Artaud, the Cité de la Musique et de la Danse and Le Mail in Soissons, and La Faïencerie in Creil.
Rates
Shows and workshops: €6 full price, €3.50 reduced rate. This is the standard rate for the L'échangeur season and its two festivals, C'est comme ça ! and Kidanse. Some evenings may have different pricing: please check the current edition's schedule. Reduced rates are available with proof for: those under 26, students, people with disabilities, job seekers, performing arts professionals, civic service volunteers, RSA beneficiaries, and groups of 10 or more. Residency showcases are offered for free throughout the year.
Contact and tickets
Phone: 03 23 82 87 22. Email: [email protected]. Online ticketing: billetterie.echangeur.org.
A month of contemporary dance in southern Aisne
Since 2006, L'échangeur — Centre de développement chorégraphique national Hauts-de-France has organized the C'est comme ça ! Festival every autumn in Château-Thierry and its surrounding area. Over four weeks, from mid-September to mid-October, audiences can enjoy around twenty choreographic and "other stage" performances. The program closely follows the work of artists currently in residence at L'échangeur.
The Traversées
The program is structured around "Traversées": weekends that group together performances sharing a common theme, subject, or artistic connection, often built around a guest artist or a partner organization.
Beyond dance
The festival also features exhibitions at the Silo U1, film screenings at the Cinéma-Théâtre, discussions, readings at the Jean Macé media library, and workshops open to everyone. Tickets for shows and workshops are €6, with a reduced rate of €3.50; exhibitions and meet-and-greets are free.
The Nuit de la danse
Each edition wraps up with the Nuit de la danse, featuring five hours of shows and performances that take over L'échangeur and the Espace d'activités U1, followed by a dance floor open to all. The full program remains a secret until the very evening.
Where does it take place — C'est comme ça !
C'est comme ça ! in brief
Other festivals near Château-Thierry
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