Festival en Arc
Theater in all its forms in Arc-lès-Gray
About Festival en Arc
Festival en Arc: Theater for Everyone in the Heart of the Val de Gray
The Festival en Arc was born in 2011 from the desire of Xavier Coquibus, its founder and first president, to bring live performance to the Val de Gray. Located in Arc-lès-Gray, a small town two kilometers from Gray, the festival found in the Halle Perrey an original and atypical setting to host a program dedicated to the performing arts.
Ten Days of Shows for All Audiences
Every year in September, the Festival en Arc offers about ten days of intense programming mixing theater, comedy, music, conferences, and shows for young audiences. The 2025 edition marked a record with 17 performances, a number never reached in the festival's history. From mainstream comedy to engaged theater, from shows for schoolchildren to evenings of laughter, the programming covers a wide range while maintaining constant artistic quality.
The Halle Perrey: A Venue with Character
The Halle Perrey, located on Rue Louis Chauveau in Arc-lès-Gray, is the beating heart of the festival. This versatile venue with its unique architectural character offers acoustics and a proximity between artists and the public that make the event charming. A ticket and reception chalet is set up in front of the hall for the entire duration of the festival.
A Commitment to Accessibility
The Festival en Arc displays a deliberately accessible pricing policy: 16 EUR for evening shows, 8 EUR on Sunday mornings, and reduced rates for schoolchildren and groups. The objective, supported by the ATFA (Association Théâtre et Fêtes en Arc), is to make live culture accessible to as many people as possible, including in rural areas.
Strong Territorial Roots
Supported by the municipality of Arc-lès-Gray, the Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the Conseil départemental de Haute-Saône, the Val de Gray Community of Communes, the DRAC, and the FDVA, the festival has become a major cultural player in the region. In 2024, it welcomed over 50,000 spectators and 20,000 schoolchildren, remarkable figures for an event run by only 45 volunteers. The 2025 edition, the first without its founder Xavier Coquibus who passed away shortly before, demonstrated the team's strength and resilience.
Festival en Arc — edition 2026
The 15th edition of the Festival en Arc will take place from September 18 to 27, 2026, in Arc-lès-Gray, between the Halle Perrey and the new Espace Festi'Val. The program includes about a dozen shows for all audiences, mixing theater, comedy, music, and humor, complemented by a program dedicated to schools, all at an accessible price.
15th Edition — September 18 to 27, 2026
For its 15th anniversary, the Festival en Arc returns from September 18 to 27, 2026 in Arc-lès-Gray. This year, the program unfolds across two venues: the Halle Perrey, the festival's historic setting, and the new Espace Festi'Val. The festival maintains its mission: to make live performance accessible to everyone in rural areas, with a program that is both demanding and appealing to a wide audience.
About a Dozen Shows for All Audiences
The 2026 edition notably features: Tant qu'il y aura des coquelicots, Lettre d'une inconnue, Simon Fache, pianiste tout terrain, L'utopie des arbres, Le menteur, Conférence Bacchus, Une heure de philosophie, Le malade imaginaire en la majeur, an Improvisational Theater Match, 2789, Cendrillon and Le Révizor.
School Program
As every year, a program is reserved for school groups (from kindergarten to high school), notably including: La brouille, L'homme qui plantait des arbres, Une heure de philosophie, Des chansons dans nos cartons and Le malade imaginaire en la majeur.
The detailed day-by-day schedule (times and venues for each show) will be specified on the official festival website closer to the event.
Programme Festival en Arc 2026
Shows for All Audiences (September 18 to 27, 2026)
- Tant qu'il y aura des coquelicots
- Lettre d'une inconnue
- Simon Fache, pianiste tout terrain
- L'utopie des arbres
- Le menteur
- Conférence Bacchus
- Une heure de philosophie
- Le malade imaginaire en la majeur
- Improvisational Theater Match
- 2789
- Cendrillon
- Le Révizor
School Program
- La brouille
- L'homme qui plantait des arbres
- Une heure de philosophie
- Des chansons dans nos cartons
- Le malade imaginaire en la majeur
The precise times and venues (Halle Perrey or Espace Festi'Val) for each performance will be published on the official website closer to the festival.
Prices Festival en Arc 2026
Practical information — Festival en Arc
Access
Halle Perrey: Rue Louis Chauveau, 70100 Arc-lès-Gray, 2 km from the centre of Gray. Since 2026, part of the programme has also been held at Espace Festi'Val, in Arc-lès-Gray.
By car: from Dijon (50 km) or Besançon (50 km), direction Gray then Arc-lès-Gray. Free parking near Halle Perrey.
By train: Gray station (Dijon-Besançon line), then 5 minutes by car or 25 minutes on foot.
Prices
For the 2026 edition, the festival has adopted a single price of €15 per show, and €20 for the closing night. Reduced rates maintained for schoolchildren and groups.
Tickets
Online at festivalenarc.fr and at the Halle Perrey reception chalet during the festival. Contact: 06 95 98 46 93 — [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Festival en Arc
Halle Perrey
Rue Louis Chauveau, 70100 Arc-lès-Gray