Chap à Chap
Pluridisciplinary street arts festival in Grésivaudan
About Chap à Chap
Created in 2014 by the association L'Atelier Perché, the Chap à Chap festival is a traveling multidisciplinary event located in the Grésivaudan valley in Isère. Mixing street arts, circus, theater, music, and activities for young audiences, it takes over the streets and squares of Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard and neighboring towns under tents and in the open air. Supported by about a hundred volunteers, the festival promotes access to culture in rural areas through a friendly and family-oriented program based on free pricing.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Chap à Chap at the best price.
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Chap à Chap: The Cultural Escape in Grésivaudan
Born in 2014 in Chapareillan under the name "Chaps à Chap", the Chap à Chap festival is a multidisciplinary performing arts event that takes over the streets, squares, and public spaces of Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard and the Grésivaudan valley, at the foot of the Belledonne massif in Isère, every summer. Supported by the association L'Atelier Perché, founded in 2012, the festival aims to bring culture to rural areas by offering a rich and accessible program for all audiences.
A Festival Born from a Passion for Performing Arts
L'Atelier Perché, a collective of artists and enthusiasts based in Grésivaudan, was created with the ambition to invest rural areas with performing arts. After initial experiments in the form of cultural evenings and associative bars, the association launched the first edition of the festival in Chapareillan in July 2014: four days of popular celebration featuring no less than 35 shows and 16 concerts, introductory workshops for children, a folk dance, and fireworks. The success was immediate and confirmed the cultural appetite of this mountain region.
In 2015, the festival evolved into a traveling format under the name "De Chap en Chap", crisscrossing several towns in Grésivaudan — Chapareillan, Barraux, Saint-Vincent-de-Mercuze, La Terrasse, La Pierre, Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard, and Allevard — before refocusing on Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard for subsequent editions, with an enriched program and strengthened territorial roots.
Street Arts, Circus, Music, and Shows for Young Audiences
The Chap à Chap program is distinguished by its multidisciplinarity and its festive spirit. Each edition offers more than twenty shows in the streets and under tents, mixing contemporary circus, street theater, clowning, magic, puppetry, storytelling, and itinerant performances. The evenings are punctuated by eclectic concerts — gypsy jazz, swing, hip-hop, afro-funk, drum'n'bass — bringing together up to ten bands over several evenings.
The festival gives a special place to young audiences with dedicated shows, discovery and artistic initiation workshops (circus, visual arts, music), as well as fairground attractions designed for families. This family and intergenerational dimension is at the heart of the festival's identity.
A Philosophy of Accessibility and Social Mix
True to its founding values, Chap à Chap upholds a pricing policy based on free and conscious pricing, allowing everyone to access the shows regardless of their financial situation. The association has made the courageous choice to base the majority of its revenue on voluntary contributions from spectators, in order to raise public awareness of the value of culture while ensuring its accessibility. This approach is part of a broader desire to promote social and cultural diversity, bringing together diverse audiences around a varied and unifying program.
An Event Rooted in its Territory
Located in the heart of the Grésivaudan valley, between the Chartreuse and Belledonne massifs, the Chap à Chap festival is fully involved in the cultural animation of this rural mountain territory. With its on-site bars and restaurants, its campsite, and its parking facilities, it transforms Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard into a festive village for a weekend, where locals, festival-goers, and artists mingle in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Chap à Chap — edition 2026
The Chap à Chap festival returns to Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard from July 9 to 12, 2026, for a new multidisciplinary edition. Street arts, circus, theater, music, and shows for young audiences will take over the village streets and squares at the foot of Belledonne. Program to be announced.
2026 Edition: See You from July 9 to 12
The Chap à Chap festival returns to Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard for a new edition from July 9 to 12, 2026. For four days, the association L'Atelier Perché and its volunteers will once again transform the town center into a festive village dedicated to performing arts and conviviality.
As every year, the program will mix street arts, circus, theater, music, and shows for young audiences. More than twenty performances are expected in the streets and under tents, accompanied by concert evenings featuring bands with varied styles. Children will find the discovery and artistic initiation workshops that are a hallmark of the festival.
The festival will also offer its traditional catering area with local products, its friendly bar, and its campsite to welcome festival-goers. The entire program will be offered at free and conscious pricing, in the spirit of accessibility and social diversity that has characterized Chap à Chap since its creation.
The detailed program and the list of invited companies will be announced in the spring of 2026 on the festival's website and the social media channels of L'Atelier Perché.
Programme Chap à Chap 2026
2026 Program
The complete program for the 2026 edition will be unveiled in the spring of 2026. As every year, the festival will offer:
- Street and tent performances: circus, theater, clowning, magic, puppetry, itinerant shows
- Concert evenings: contemporary music, jazz, swing, world music
- Young audience shows: performances dedicated to children
- Initiation workshops: circus, visual arts, music for children
- Activities: artisan market, fairground games, open stage
Check the website chapachap.fr and the Facebook page of L'Atelier Perché for program announcements.
Highlights Chap à Chap 2026
- Dates: Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12, 2026
- More than 20 performances expected in streets and under tents
- Concert evenings with contemporary music bands
- Artistic workshops for children
- Free and conscious pricing
- Detailed program to be announced in spring 2026
Prices Chap à Chap 2026
Practical information — Chap à Chap
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By car: Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard is located about 40 km northeast of Grenoble, in the Grésivaudan valley. From Grenoble, take the A41 towards Chambéry, exit Le Touvet/Goncelin, then follow the D525 towards Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard (about 45 minutes). From Chambéry, take the A43 then the D925 via Pontcharra (about 50 minutes).
By train: The nearest TER station is Goncelin or Pontcharra, on the Grenoble-Chambéry line. From the station, plan for a vehicle or carpooling to reach Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard (about 15 minutes by car).
By bus: The Isère intercity transport network (Transisère) serves Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard from Grenoble and the towns of Grésivaudan. Check schedules during the summer period on the Transisère website.
Parking
Free parking is available during the festival in the town center and near the performance venues. Plan to arrive early enough to find a spot during concert evenings.
Accommodation
A camping area is available on-site during the festival. Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard and its surroundings also offer various accommodation options: gîtes, bed and breakfasts, holiday rentals, and campsites in the Grésivaudan valley and at the foot of the Belledonne massif. It is advisable to book in advance during the summer season.
Food and Drink
A bar and a catering area are set up on the festival site throughout the event, offering local products and friendly cuisine. Food stalls complement the offerings during concert evenings.
Prices
The festival operates mainly on the principle of free and conscious pricing. Most street and tent shows are free to access. Some concert evenings may offer a free contribution or a modest fee (generally around 6 euros). The goal is to make culture accessible to everyone.
Practical Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking between the different performance venues.
- Bring sun protection and warm clothing for the evenings (the mountain climate can be cool in the evenings).
- The festival is suitable for all ages with many shows and workshops for children.
- Do not hesitate to contribute to the hat or the free ticketing: your participation directly finances the artists and the festival's sustainability.
- Follow the Facebook page and website of L'Atelier Perché for the detailed program and show schedules.
Contact
For any further information, contact the association L'Atelier Perché by email at [email protected] or visit the festival website.
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Chap à Chap at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Chap à Chap
Rues et places de Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard
Centre-bourg, 38830 Saint-Pierre-d'Allevard