Festival Aragne
Emerging contemporary art at Château Bouchet
2026
About Aragne
The Aragne Festival takes over Château Bouchet in Fareins each year, a former bourgeois residence built in 1867, for a weekend dedicated to emerging contemporary art. Emerging artists from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region exhibit paintings, tapestries, sculptures, and artistic installations in the historic salons and the vast wooded park of the estate. Concerts, round tables, and meetings with the creators punctuate these two free days, open to all, in a bucolic setting in the heart of the Dombes.
Aragne — edition 2026
The second edition of the Festival Aragne takes place at château Bouchet in Fareins on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM, and Sunday, September 13, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Fourteen emerging artists from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region will each occupy a room in the château under the theme "Des bois" (Of the Woods), featuring a Saturday concert evening, workshops, performances, and a roundtable. Free admission.
One room per artist
The L'Âtre association has reduced the number of exhibitors compared to the first edition, which brought together around thirty artists in September 2025, to give each one an entire space: the 14 rooms of château Bouchet are entrusted to individual artists, who are responsible for transforming them entirely. The château includes 7 lounges, 3 octagonal cabinets, and 4 auxiliary spaces (hall, staircase and glass roof, bedroom, bathroom). All visual arts are welcome: photography, design, sculpture, painting, textile art, and stained glass.
The theme: "Des bois" (Of the Woods)
Artists are free to interpret the theme. The association's call for entries describes the woods "as a forest, a grove crossed by paths" and "the place where mystery is expressed," a liminal space that lends itself to ecological, technical, poetic, or political interpretations.
Concerts, workshops, and roundtable
On the evening of Saturday, September 12, several emerging regional musicians will take the stage for sets lasting at least 30 minutes, ideally 45. The rest of the weekend includes artistic workshops, performances, dance, opera singing, a roundtable with the artists, and designer stalls. A refreshment bar and a food truck will be on-site. Both the exhibition and the concerts are free.
Organizers
The festival is organized by L'Âtre, a Lyon-based association of seven members (RNA W691110746) dedicated to contemporary young creation in Lyon and its region. The Fareins town hall provides the château Bouchet, and the Dombes Saône Vallée community of communes supports the event. The selection jury includes members of the association, Marceau Coiffard (2025 jury prize winner), Jocelyne Boissier (ArtFareins association), Joseph Belletante (director of the Lyon Printing Museum), Julien Menzel (artist and scenographer), Sara Belotti Saroli (director of the Paul Dini Artothèque in Villefranche-sur-Saône), and Alexandra Delprat (president of Des Vertes et des Pas Mûres).
Program status
As of mid-August 2026, the poster is printed and the artists are chosen, but neither the list of exhibitors nor the concert schedule is public. The association has launched a crowdfunding campaign on HelloAsso, with rewards to be collected on-site during the festival: drinks, the 2026 poster, and linocuts created by the association members.
Highlights Aragne 2026
- Second edition, Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026, at château Bouchet.
- 14 rooms in the château, one artist per room, themed "Des bois" (Of the Woods).
- Concert evening on Saturday, September 12; band names to be announced.
- Saturday from 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM, Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Free admission, including the exhibition and concerts.
Programme Aragne 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- 11:00 AM — Doors open. Exhibition across the 14 rooms of château Bouchet: 7 lounges, 3 octagonal cabinets, and 4 auxiliary spaces (hall, staircase and glass roof, bedroom, bathroom). One artist per room, exploring the theme "Des bois" (Of the Woods).
- Evening — Concerts: several emerging musicians from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region performing 30 to 45-minute sets. Lineup and schedule to be announced.
- Closing at 11:30 PM
Sunday, September 13, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- 11:00 AM — Doors open, exhibition across the 14 rooms.
- Closing at 7:00 PM
Throughout the weekend
- Artistic workshops, including the linocut sessions from the first edition.
- Performances, dance, and opera singing.
- Roundtable discussion with the artists.
- Designer stalls.
- Refreshments and food truck.
The day before
- Friday, September 11, 6:30 PM — Exhibition preview, as announced in the artist call for entries.
As of mid-August 2026, the detailed schedule has not yet been released. While the visual artists and musicians have been selected, their names remain under wraps. The L'Âtre association announced on Instagram on August 12 that "the program is coming very, very soon."
Prices Aragne 2026
Practical information — Aragne
Practical Information
Getting There
Château Bouchet is located in Fareins, in the Ain department (01), within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The village is situated 35 km north of Lyon and 25 km from Villefranche-sur-Saône.
- By car: From Lyon, take the A46 towards Bourg-en-Bresse and exit at Fareins. From Villefranche-sur-Saône, follow the D933 and then the D76.
- Address: Parc du Château Bouchet, Place de la Bascule, 01480 Fareins.
- By train: The nearest station is in Villefranche-sur-Saône (on the Lyon-Mâcon TER line). From there, it is about a 20-minute drive.
Opening Hours
2026 Edition: Saturday from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm, including the evening concert series, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Admission
Free entry. Both the exhibition and the concerts are free of charge.
Food and Drink
A refreshment bar and a food truck will be available on-site throughout the festival.
Contact
Association L'Âtre, festival organizers: [email protected], Instagram account @latre.art. You can also request information from the Ars-Trévoux Tourist Office: 04 74 00 36 32 (Trévoux office) or 04 74 08 10 76 (Ars-sur-Formans office).
Emerging Art in a Heritage Setting
The Aragne Festival is a unique artistic event that takes up residence at Château Bouchet, an elegant bourgeois residence built in 1867 in the heart of the village of Fareins, in the Dombes. Each autumn, during a September weekend, emerging artists from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region take over the premises to display their works: paintings and tapestries in the salons, artistic installations in the outbuildings and the park.
A Dialogue Between Heritage and Creation
The festival draws its strength from the dialogue it establishes between the château's architectural heritage and contemporary creation. Artists invest every corner of the property, from the grand staircase to the vaulted cellars. This singular staging offers visitors an immersive experience where art and place respond to and mutually enrich each other.
Meetings and Exchanges
Beyond the exhibition, the Aragne Festival emphasizes direct encounters between artists and the public. Round tables are organized on Sunday afternoons, allowing discussions with the creators about their approach, their techniques, and their vision of contemporary art. These moments of exchange, accessible to all, contribute to democratizing art and bringing current creation closer to the inhabitants of the region.
Concerts and Festive Atmosphere
Saturday evenings are enlivened by open-air concerts in the château's park, blending current music and acoustic atmospheres. The 2025 edition notably welcomed the rock band Lily Anger, as well as the electro dub duo Arman et Melvil. The carefully chosen musical program complements the festival's overall artistic experience.
A Free and Accessible Event
True to its mission of cultural democratization, the Aragne Festival is entirely free. Free entry allows everyone, families, curious individuals, art lovers, or simple strollers, to pass through the château gates and be surprised by the richness of the artistic offerings. The festival thus contributes to the cultural dynamism of the Dombes and the Ain department, providing a valuable showcase for young talents from the region.
Where does it take place — Aragne
Aragne in brief
History of Aragne
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Fareins
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