Festival Ah?
Street arts and performing arts in Parthenay
About Ah?
Parthenay, open-air stage for street arts
Since 2003, the Festival Ah? has brought the streets of Parthenay to life with the rhythm of street arts. Organized by the Ah? association, this festival transforms the medieval city every spring into an open-air stage where clowns, acrobats, musicians, actors, magicians, puppeteers, and DJs take over the cobbled streets, squares, and ramparts of the town.
A demanding and multidisciplinary program
Each edition welcomes around fifteen companies and twenty artists offering circus shows, street theatre, street arts, puppetry, concerts, brass bands, and exhibitions. The festival places live performance in public spaces at the heart of its program, with particular attention to circus and fairground aesthetics. The discovery of new artistic talents is a stated priority.
A festival rooted in its territory
The Festival Ah? is not limited to Parthenay: it extends to about ten communes in Gâtine — Châtillon-sur-Thouet, La Chapelle-Bâton, Saint-Loup-Lamairé, Saint-Aubin-le-Cloud, Saint-Pardoux-Soutiers, Thénezay, Adilly, Les Forges, Vasles, and Germond-Rouvre — bringing live performance to the villages of the region. This itinerant dimension, sometimes called « Caravan'Ah? », strengthens the link between artistic creation and local life, making the festival a major player in the cultural life of Deux-Sèvres.
A cultural season all year round
Beyond the festival, the Ah? association offers a cultural season throughout the year with shows at the Palais des Congrès in Parthenay and the Maison des cultures de pays, as well as cultural mediation activities for schools and the region. The festival is thus the highlight of a permanent artistic program.
Ah? — edition 2026
24th edition of the Festival Ah?, from May 29 to June 7, 2026. Ten days of street arts in Parthenay and the communes of Gâtine, centered around the theme « Mission Transmission »: 15 companies, 42 events, circus, theater, puppets, concerts and brass bands.
Festival Ah? 2026 — 24th edition « Mission Transmission »
The Festival Ah? returns for its 24th edition from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, June 7, 2026, in two parts: a first weekend dedicated to indoor shows and performances at residents' homes (Shakespeare Diptych, « Fuguer or not fuguer ») from May 29 to 31, followed by the festival's highlight starting June 1 with the official inauguration on Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 PM at the church square in Saint-Aubin-le-Cloud.
« Mission Transmission » — a tribute to popular education
This 24th edition is dedicated to transmission: transmission of artistic know-how, transmission between generations, transmission of the spirit of popular education that has animated the Ah? association since 2003. The edition is dedicated to the memory of Christine and François, “travel companions” of the festival.
15 companies, 42 events, 11 locations
The 2026 program brings together 15 companies and nearly 20 artists for 42 events spread between Parthenay and 10 communes of Gâtine: Châtillon-sur-Thouet, La Chapelle-Bâton, Saint-Loup-Lamairé, Saint-Aubin-le-Cloud, Saint-Pardoux-Soutiers, Thénezay, Adilly, Les Forges, Vasles and Germond-Rouvre. Circus, theater, street theater, clown, dance, puppets, concerts, brass bands and exhibitions follow one another for ten days.
Programme Ah? 2026
Friday, May 29 — Saturday, May 30 — Sunday, May 31, 2026: indoor and at-home opening
Shakespeare Diptych — Maison des cultures de pays, Parthenay
- Friday, May 29 · 7:00 PM — « A Mid-May Night's Dream »
- Friday, May 29 · 9:00 PM — « The True Story of Hamlet »
- Saturday, May 30 · 7:00 PM — « A Mid-May Night's Dream »
- Saturday, May 30 · 9:00 PM — « The True Story of Hamlet »
- Sunday, May 31 · 2:00 PM — « A Mid-May Night's Dream »
- Sunday, May 31 · 4:00 PM — « The True Story of Hamlet »
« Fuguer or not fuguer » — David Sire · itinerant show at residents' homes
- Friday, May 29 · 8:30 PM — Vasles
- Saturday, May 30 · 8:30 PM — Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet
- Sunday, May 31 · 5:30 PM — Germond-Rouvre
Monday, June 1, 2026
- 7:30 PM — « Feeding humanity, it's a profession » · La Chapelle-Bâton (locality Le Chiloup)
Thursday, June 4, 2026 — official inauguration
- 6:30 PM — Festival inauguration · Place de l'église, Saint-Aubin-le-Cloud (free access)
- 8:30 PM — « Advice to spectators » · Cie La Martingale · Palais des Congrès, Parthenay
Friday, June 5, 2026
- 7:45 PM — « Are you there, wolf? » · Les Royales Marionnettes · Jardin public, Parthenay
- 9:45 PM — « The Other Lady of Paris » · Jardin des Cordeliers, Parthenay
Saturday, June 6, 2026 — highlight
- 11:15 AM — « Are you there, wolf? » · Les Royales Marionnettes · Jardin public, Parthenay (young audience session)
- 4:45 PM — « The Giant Swing » · Jardin des Cordeliers, Parthenay
- 7:45 PM — « Dead or Alive » · Place de la mairie, Parthenay
- 9:45 PM — « Blanche, the odyssey of a life » · Cie Echo en casa · Palais des Congrès, Parthenay
- Evening — « The creaking of the cork » · RE-Sources network · Saint-Pardoux-Soutiers
Sunday, June 7, 2026 — closing
- 4:30 PM — « Blanche, the odyssey of a life » · Cie Echo en casa · Palais des Congrès, Parthenay
Program from the official ticketing ahsaisonetfestival.com and the Deux-Sèvres Department sheet. Other shows, street brass bands, exhibitions, writing workshops and documentary screenings complete the program (notably « Bookiwi » by Cie La Cerise sur le mot). Full program and updates on the official website.
Highlights Ah? 2026
- 24th edition of Festival Ah?, theme « Mission Transmission »
- 10 days of street arts, from May 29 to June 7, 2026
- Official inauguration Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 PM in Saint-Aubin-le-Cloud
- 15 companies and 42 events in Parthenay and 10 communes of Gâtine
- Shakespeare Diptych as opening (May 29-31) at the Maison des cultures de pays
- « Advice to spectators » by Cie La Martingale at the Palais des Congrès on June 4
- « Are you there, wolf? » by Les Royales Marionnettes at the Jardin public on June 5 and 6
- « Blanche, the odyssey of a life » by Cie Echo en casa at the Palais des Congrès on June 6 and 7
- Itinerant component « Caravan'Ah? » in 10 communes of Gâtine
- Edition dedicated to the memory of Christine and François
Prices Ah? 2026
Practical information — Ah?
Access
The festival takes place in the streets and squares of Parthenay city center (79200) and in about ten communes in Gâtine. Parthenay is accessible via the N149 from Niort (45 min) or Poitiers (50 min). Parthenay SNCF station is served by TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Prices
Most street shows are free to access. Some indoor shows (Palais des Congrès, Maison des cultures de pays) or those hosted by residents are paid at a modest price. Membership to the Ah? association costs 10 € per season (September 1st to August 31st), or 20 € for a support membership. Online ticketing is done via the Helloasso platform, free of charge with a credit card.
Ticketing and reservations
Reservations by phone at 05 49 71 22 37 (leave a message with name, phone, and email) or by email at [email protected]. On-site purchase is possible at the Palais des Congrès in Parthenay on the days preceding the festival and throughout the event. Tickets are also available on helloasso.com/associations/association-ah.
Practical information
Festival late May - early June, lasting about ten days. Detailed program and precise schedules on the official website ahsaisonetfestival.com. Association headquarters: L'Archipel, 7 rue de la citadelle, 79200 Parthenay. Catering available in the town's establishments and occasional stands during outdoor shows.
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Where does it take place — Ah?
Centre-ville de Parthenay et communes de Gâtine
L'Archipel, 7 rue de la citadelle, 79200 Parthenay