Contes Éclatés
Storytelling Festival in Southern Ardèche — 2026 edition from August 4 to 9
About Contes Éclatés
Contes Éclatés is a storytelling festival organized in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune, in Southern Ardèche, at the Médiathèque André Brahic and Salle Doulovy. Heir to the Festival Contes sous le Tilleul (eleven editions from 2010 to 2020), the event is run by the associations ACL (Animation Culture et Loisirs) and Immanence under the artistic direction of Ardèche storyteller Eric Derrien, with the support of the municipality. The festival offers a week of storytelling performances, songs, poetry, open stages, and a public speaking workshop, with free admission.
The art of storytelling in the heart of the Ardèche Cévennes
The Contes Éclatés festival is an event dedicated to the art of storytelling and spoken word in the village of Saint-Paul-le-Jeune, at the gateway to the Ardèche Cévennes. Heir to the Festival Contes sous le Tilleul (eleven editions until 2020), the festival adopted its new name to mark a renewal in its programming and spirit, under the artistic direction of Ardèche storyteller Eric Derrien.
A shared word in all its forms
The festival offers an original program that goes beyond the traditional framework of storytelling:
- Professional storyteller performances: tales from around the world presented by invited artists each year
- Songs and poetry: words set to music and verse
- Exclamations and whispers: intimate and surprising narrative forms
- Cross-performances: encounters between storytellers, musicians, and poets
- Open stages: a practice space for amateurs and aspiring storytellers
- Public speaking workshop: guided transmission by Eric Derrien
Festival venues
The festival mainly takes place at the Médiathèque André Brahic, named after the famous French astrophysicist, and at the Salle Doulovy, integrated into the festive area of La Bête du Champval. These venues offer an intimate and warm setting perfectly suited to the art of storytelling, where the proximity between storytellers and audience creates an essential complicity for the magic of the narrative.
A free and friendly festival
True to its philosophy of accessibility, the festival is entirely free (voluntary contribution). A refreshment stand and light catering are available on site, allowing spectators to extend discussions with the artists in a friendly atmosphere. The 2026 edition runs from Tuesday, August 4 to Sunday, August 9, over six days of performances, open stages, and encounters centered around spoken tales.
Organization
The festival is run by the associations ACL (Animation Culture et Loisirs) and Immanence under the artistic direction of Eric Derrien, a storyteller based in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune, with the financial and logistical support of the municipality. Contact ACL: [email protected]. Artistic direction: 06 08 87 22 53.
Contes Éclatés — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Contes Éclatés festival spans six days, from Tuesday, August 4 to Sunday, August 9, 2026, in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune in southern Ardèche. The program announced by the organization brings together storytellers Martin Barotte, Solène, Catherine Caillaud, and Sylvie Vieille, songs by the duo Cocagne, a practical workshop La Fabrique du dire led by Eric Derrien, and several open stages. Free admission with hat participation.
A week of storytelling escapes in Ardèche Cévennes
For the 2026 edition, the Contes Éclatés festival takes over the Médiathèque André Brahic and the Salle Doulovy in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune from Tuesday, August 4 to Sunday, August 9, 2026, for six days of shows, meetings, and transmission centered around spoken storytelling.
Announced storytellers
The 2026 program brings together several voices from the French storytelling scene:
- Martin Barotte — storyteller of imagination and wonderful tales (already invited to the festival's winter evenings, notably around the figure of Merlin)
- Solène — storyteller invited for the 2026 edition
- Catherine Caillaud — storyteller who collected Ardèche tales for fifteen years (published by éditions de Borée)
- Sylvie Vieille — invited storyteller
- Cocagne — musical duo for sung breaks between performances
Workshop and transmission
As every year, the festival offers a time for transmission with the workshop La Fabrique du dire, led by Eric Derrien, the festival's artistic director. The workshop extends the annual cycle La Fabrique du Dire conducted in the Champval forest between January and June 2026.
Open stages
Several open stages punctuate the edition to allow amateurs, trainees, and aspiring storytellers to speak in front of the festival audience.
Program details
The detailed day-by-day program (precise times, order of storytellers, stages) will be published in the weeks preceding the event on the Contes Éclatés Facebook page and on the Médiathèque André Brahic website.
Highlights Contes Éclatés 2026
- Festival over 6 days from Tuesday, August 4 to Sunday, August 9, 2026
- 2026 program confirmed by the Cévennes d'Ardèche Tourist Office (Apidae update of March 12, 2026)
- Announced storytellers: Martin Barotte, Solène, Catherine Caillaud, Sylvie Vieille
- Songs: Cocagne duo
- Practical workshop La Fabrique du dire with Eric Derrien
- Open stages for amateurs and trainees
- Free admission — hat participation
- Médiathèque André Brahic and Salle Doulovy in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune (07460)
Prices Contes Éclatés 2026
Practical information — Contes Éclatés
Access
The festival takes place at the Médiathèque André Brahic and the Salle Doulovy, in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune (07460).
By car: from Les Vans (10 min), D901 towards Saint-Paul-le-Jeune; from Alès (40 min), D904 towards Les Vans then D901; from Aubenas (45 min), D104 then D901.
Prices
Free admission for all performances (voluntary contribution).
Catering
Refreshment stand and light catering on site, managed by volunteers, to extend the evenings in a friendly atmosphere.
Contact
Organization: ACL (Animation Culture et Loisirs) and Immanence — [email protected]
Artistic direction: Eric Derrien — 06 08 87 22 53
Saint-Paul-le-Jeune Town Hall: 04 75 39 80 14 — [email protected]
Médiathèque André Brahic: 04 75 39 28 82 — mediatheque07460.com
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Where does it take place — Contes Éclatés
Médiathèque André Brahic / Salle Doulovy
Médiathèque André Brahic, 07460 Saint-Paul-le-Jeune