Complètement Gaga - Street Arts Festival
Street arts festival in Saint-Étienne
About Complètement Gaga
Created in 2019, Complètement Gaga is a street arts festival that takes over the squares of Saint-Étienne's city center, Parc François Mitterrand, and the Cité du Design every year. For three days, music, dance, theater, and circus arts take over public spaces to deliver quality, benevolent, and inclusive artistic content through an all-ages and accessible program. Driven by a passionate team of volunteers, the festival operates on a "pay-what-you-want" (hat) system and offers festive evenings with homemade vegetarian catering and local drinks. Complètement Gaga promotes gender parity in its programming, visibility for minorities, eco-responsibility, and risk reduction, making this event a popular and committed fixture in Saint-Étienne's cultural scene.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Complètement Gaga at the best price.
Sponsored link
Complètement Gaga: When Street Arts Take Over Saint-Étienne
Complètement Gaga is a street arts festival that sets up camp every year in Saint-Étienne, in the Loire region. The festival's name is a nod to the local dialect: in Saint-Étienne's patois, "Gagas" refers to the inhabitants of Saint-Étienne. To be "completely gaga" therefore means to be deeply Saint-Étienne, but also a little crazy – much like this festival that blows a wind of artistic madness through the city.
An Adventure Born from Volunteer Passion
The Complètement Gaga association was founded in September 2018 by a collective of volunteers driven by the desire to promote performing arts and street arts. The first edition of the festival took place in May 2019, with the ambition of reclaiming public space through art and revitalizing the city center of Saint-Étienne. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, evolving from a niche event to a major fixture on the Saint-Étienne and regional cultural scene.
An Eclectic and Demanding Program
For three days, the city center squares, Parc François Mitterrand, and the Cité du Design are transformed into open-air stages. The program blends street theater, contemporary circus, dance, concerts, participatory performances, and itinerant shows. The festival seeks a balance between different forms of street art, between local artists and companies from elsewhere, and between daring creations and shows accessible to all audiences.
Artistic gender parity is a strong commitment of the festival: the program ensures a balance between male and female artists, and the visibility of underrepresented minorities in performing arts.
A Solidarity-Based Economic Model
Complètement Gaga operates on a pay-what-you-want (or "hat") system: each spectator is free to contribute to the financing of the event according to their means and desire. This economic model, based on trust and solidarity, ensures the event's accessibility to the widest possible audience. All artists and technicians receive a fixed remuneration, independent of the "hat" revenue.
Festive Evenings at Parc François Mitterrand
The festival village, located in Parc François Mitterrand, is the beating heart of the festival. Spectators can dance, eat, and extend the celebration during evenings featuring concerts and DJ sets. The catering is 100% vegetarian and homemade, made with organic and local products. The drinks offered are also local, reflecting a strong commitment to eco-responsibility.
A Committed Festival
Complètement Gaga is committed on several fronts: eco-responsibility (reusable cups, dry toilets, waste sorting, shared equipment), prevention and risk reduction in festive environments with a dedicated stand, and combating sexist and sexual violence with a trained team and an intervention protocol. The festival is also a place for transmission, with participatory workshops and shows designed for young audiences.
Complètement Gaga — edition 2026
The 8th edition of the Complètement Gaga festival will take place from May 15 to 17, 2026, in Saint-Étienne. For three days, music, dance, theater, and circus arts will once again take over the city center squares, Parc François Mitterrand, and the Cité du Design. The program is currently being developed.
8th Edition — May 15 to 17, 2026
Complètement Gaga returns for its 8th edition from May 15 to 17, 2026! For three days, street arts will once again take over Saint-Étienne. The city center squares, Parc François Mitterrand, and the Cité du Design will be transformed into open-air stages, hosting street theater, circus, dance shows, concerts, and participatory performances.
The festive evenings at Parc François Mitterrand will again feature concerts, DJ sets, and homemade vegetarian catering, in the warm and friendly atmosphere that defines the festival.
The full program will be announced in spring 2026 on the festival's official website and social media.
Programme Complètement Gaga 2026
2026 Program
The program for the 8th edition is under development. As every year, the festival will offer:
- Street theater performances in the city center squares and at the Cité du Design
- Circus and dance shows in the open air
- Concerts and DJ sets during the festive evenings at Parc François Mitterrand
- Participatory performances open to all audiences
The full program will be unveiled on festivalcompletementgaga.fr and the festival's social media channels.
Highlights Complètement Gaga 2026
To Note for 2026
- Dates: Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17, 2026
- 8th edition of the Saint-Étienne street arts festival
- 3 venues: Parc François Mitterrand, city center squares, Cité du Design
- Pay-what-you-want (hat) for all shows
- Festive evenings with homemade vegetarian food and local drinks
- Program to be announced on festivalcompletementgaga.fr
Prices Complètement Gaga 2026
Practical information — Complètement Gaga
Practical Information
Festival Locations
Parc François Mitterrand (main festival village): bar, food, stalls, main stage. Festive evenings on Friday and Saturday nights, all-day programming on Sunday.
Saint-Étienne City Center Squares: daytime shows in various emblematic locations (Place Jean Jaurès, Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, etc.).
Cité du Design: daytime and evening shows.
Access and Transport
By tram: Lines T1 and T2, "Cité du Design" stop.
By bus: Lines 8, 9, 10, and 14, "Cité du Design" stop.
By car: Parking available near Parc François Mitterrand and Cité du Design. The festival encourages soft mobility and public transport.
Prices
Complètement Gaga operates on a pay-what-you-want (hat) system: each spectator is free to contribute to the financing of the event according to their means and desire. Access to all shows and concerts is free.
Food and Drink
The festival village at Parc François Mitterrand offers vegetarian, homemade food, made with organic and local products. A bar with local drinks is also available.
Accessibility
The festival is committed to welcoming all audiences. For any specific needs, please contact the volunteers on-site who will do their best to find suitable solutions.
Eco-Responsibility
The festival implements numerous eco-responsible practices: reusable cups, shared event equipment, 100% vegetarian organic and local catering, dry toilets, waste sorting and reduction.
Prevention and Safety
A risk reduction stand is present on the festival site, offering free materials and advice. A trained team is dedicated to combating sexist and sexual violence. If needed, approach identifiable volunteers or contact the festival by email.
Volunteering
The festival relies entirely on the work of volunteers. Training is organized the weekend before the festival. To register as a volunteer: [email protected]
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Complètement Gaga at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Complètement Gaga
Parc François Mitterrand, Centre-ville et Cité du Design
Parc François Mitterrand, Boulevard Jules Janin, 42000 Saint-Étienne