Festival des Monts de la Balle
Rural street arts festival in the Monts du Forez
About Les Monts de la Balle
Created in 1996 by a group of young parents who settled in Verrières-en-Forez, the Les Monts de la Balle festival is a multidisciplinary event dedicated to street arts, held annually on Pentecost weekend in this village of 750 inhabitants in the Monts du Forez, in the Loire region. Supported by the Familles Rurales association of Verrières-en-Forez, the festival transforms the entire village into a huge live performance space: about fifteen circus, street theater, dance, and music companies perform on six to nine stages scattered throughout the village streets and squares. Each year, the village is entirely decorated by a professional artist designer around a different theme. True to its values of conviviality, accessibility, and artistic quality, the festival welcomes around 6,000 spectators over two days, thanks to the commitment of 180 volunteers from over 30 surrounding municipalities. The "PréAmballes", a decentralized program in about fifty municipalities in the Loire Forez agglomeration, extends the artistic adventure the week before the festival.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Les Monts de la Balle at the best price.
Sponsored link
Les Monts de la Balle: When a Village Becomes an Open-Air Stage
Since 1996, the Les Monts de la Balle festival has made Verrières-en-Forez, a small village in the Monts du Forez perched at 819 meters above sea level, an essential artistic meeting place in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Born from the desire of a group of young parents to offer quality cultural programming in a rural area, the festival has become an anticipated event for the entire region over the years.
An Associative Project Rooted in the Territory
Supported by the Familles Rurales de Verrières-en-Forez association, the festival is based on an exemplary associative model combining a permanent employee and nearly 180 volunteers from 33 different municipalities, 35% of whom are residents of Verrières. The watchwords of the organization are quality and conviviality, reflected in the artistic programming, public reception, and technical management.
A Multidisciplinary and Demanding Program
Each edition hosts about fifteen street arts companies on six to nine stages set up throughout the village. Contemporary circus, street theater, dance, music, burlesque performances, and aerial shows make up an eclectic program designed to amaze young and old alike. Since its creation, the festival has hosted nearly 1,000 companies from France and around the world: Belgium, Italy, Japan, the United States, Spain, Ethiopia, Switzerland.
A Village Decorated Every Year
One of the festival's signatures is the complete decoration of the village by a professional artist designer, centered around a theme renewed each year. This scenography transforms the streets, squares, and facades into an immersive and poetic journey that guides spectators from one performance to another.
Les PréAmballes: Culture in the Villages
The week before the festival, the PréAmballes spread culture throughout about fifty municipalities in the Loire Forez agglomeration. Performances are scheduled in the surrounding villages, creating a territorial cultural network that extends far beyond the borders of Verrières-en-Forez.
An Eco-Responsible Commitment
The festival is committed to environmental respect: selective sorting, reusable cups (Ecocup), dry toilets, and the festival's local currency demonstrate this ecological commitment shared by organizers and the public.
Les Monts de la Balle — edition 2026
The 31st edition of the Festival des Monts de la Balle will take place on May 23 and 24, 2026, in Verrières-en-Forez, during Pentecost weekend. The theme of the year is colors. About fifteen street arts companies will perform throughout the village to delight young and old, with circus, street theater, and music. The organizing committee welcomes many new members for this edition.
31st Edition - May 23 and 24, 2026 - Theme: Colors
The Les Monts de la Balle festival returns for its 31st edition on May 23 and 24, 2026, during the Pentecost weekend. After celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025 with the theme of wood, this new edition explores the theme of colors, which will inspire the complete decoration of the village by a professional artist designer.
As every year, about fifteen street arts companies will take over the streets and squares of Verrières-en-Forez, offering contemporary circus, street theater, dance, music, and unique performances. Performances will follow each other on six to nine stages scattered throughout the village, on Saturday from 2 PM and on Sunday from 11 AM.
The organizing committee welcomes many new members for this edition, perpetuating the volunteer dynamic that has been the festival's strength and authenticity since its inception. The PréAmballes, decentralized performances in the municipalities of the Loire Forez agglomeration, will take place the week before the festival.
Programme Les Monts de la Balle 2026
2026 Program
The official program for the 31st edition will be unveiled in the spring of 2026. As every year, the festival will offer:
- About fifteen street arts companies (circus, street theater, dance, music)
- Six to nine stages set up throughout the village
- PréAmballes: decentralized performances in the municipalities of the Loire Forez agglomeration
- Artisan market and local food
Highlights Les Monts de la Balle 2026
To Note for the 2026 Edition
- Dates: Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24, 2026, Pentecost weekend
- Theme: colors
- 31st edition of the rural street arts festival
- About fifteen companies expected
- Saturday from 2 PM, Sunday from 11 AM
- Free access at a free price (donation-based)
Prices Les Monts de la Balle 2026
Practical information — Les Monts de la Balle
Practical Information
Access
By car: Verrières-en-Forez is located about 20 minutes from Montbrison and 45 minutes from Saint-Étienne. From Montbrison, take the D496 towards Monts du Forez. The village is at an altitude of 819 meters in the Monts du Forez.
Parking: Parking lots are available on the outskirts of the village for the occasion. Follow the signage put in place by the organization.
Hours
On Saturday, performances start from 2 PM. On Sunday, opening from 11 AM. Performances follow each other throughout the day on the different stages of the village.
Prices
Access to the festival is free price (donation-based). The detailed program is sold for €2 at the entrance. The festival uses its own currency for food and drinks.
Food
An artisan market and food stalls are set up on the festival site. The festival favors local products and short supply chains.
Eco-Responsible Approach
The festival implements selective sorting, reusable cups (Ecocup), and dry toilets. Remember to bring your water bottle.
Contact
Association Familles Rurales de Verrières-en-Forez
12 Chemin des Râpeaux, 42600 Verrières-en-Forez
Tel: 09 65 33 88 13
Email: [email protected]
Website: lesmontsdelaballe.org
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 Les Monts de la Balle at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Les Monts de la Balle
Village de Verrières-en-Forez
Place du village, 12 Chemin des Râpeaux, 42600 Verrières-en-Forez