Festival du Rire de Villeneuve-sur-Lot

The Festival du Rire: over 30 years of humor in Villeneuve-sur-Lot

Created in 1992, the Festival du Rire de Villeneuve-sur-Lot has established itself over the decades as one of the major humor events in the Southwest of France. Organized every year in June, this festival offers a week of comedy shows in the heart of this historic town in Lot-et-Garonne, between a medieval bastide and the banks of the Lot.

A program balancing headliners and discoveries

The Festival du Rire focuses on a balanced program that mixes established comedians and emerging young talents. Each edition hosts well-known names from the French comedy scene: Dany Boon, Ahmed Sylla, Caroline Vigneaux, Nora Hamzawi, Nawell Madani, and Jeanfi Janssens have graced the stage of the Théâtre Georges-Leygues for the festival.

The Théâtre Georges-Leygues, the festival's jewel box

The main shows take place at the Théâtre Georges-Leygues, a magnificent Italian-style theater located on boulevard de la République. This listed municipal theater offers an intimate and prestigious setting for the performances. A free evening is also offered at the Centre Culturel Jacques Raphaël-Leygues, rue Étienne Marcel, allowing as many people as possible to enjoy the festival.

The Grand Concours National d'Humoristes

One of the unique features of the Festival du Rire is its Grand Concours National d'Humoristes, a springboard that has gained national renown. Six selected candidates each have 20 minutes in the opening act of the festival shows to convince a jury chaired by a recognized artist. This competition has helped launch talents who have become major figures in French humor today, such as Guillaume Meurice, Stéphane Guillon, Christophe Alévêque, Titoff, and Éric et Ramzy.

The prizes awarded

The jury awards several prizes during the competition final, including the Jury Prize and the City Prize, which offer the winners valuable visibility and programming opportunities in venues and festivals across France.

Street entertainment for a festive atmosphere

Beyond the indoor shows, the Festival du Rire takes over the streets of Villeneuve-sur-Lot with street performers who liven up the town throughout the week. These free outdoor performances, accessible to all, contribute to creating a joyful and friendly atmosphere in the city center, making the festival a truly popular event.

A festival driven by enthusiasts

The Festival du Rire is organized by a dedicated association, co-chaired by Tony Feijoo and Jean-Pierre Lagreze, under the artistic direction of André Delas. Thanks to the support of about sixty local and regional partners, the festival has grown and retained an ever-larger audience, confirming its status as a benchmark in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine humor scene each year.