Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac
The world's largest street theatre festival
About Festival d'Aurillac
Created in 1986 by Michel Crespin, the Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac is the world's largest gathering dedicated to street arts. Every year in August, for four days, the city of Aurillac transforms into a huge open-air stage, hosting over 600 companies from around the world and attracting more than 100,000 spectators. Organized by the association ÉCLAT, National Centre for Street Arts and Public Space, the festival is a popular, intergenerational, and largely free event, a key reference point at the European and international level.
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The Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac: A World-Unique Artistic Adventure
Since 1986, the Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac has established itself as the unmissable event for street arts in Europe and worldwide. Created by director and set designer Michel Crespin, nicknamed "the pope of street arts," this festival was intentionally located in a rural area, in the prefecture of Cantal, with the ambition of democratizing access to culture and revitalizing territories through art.
A Story of Passion and Commitment
Michel Crespin, after founding Lieux publics in Marseille in 1982, chose Aurillac to create a festival entirely dedicated to street theatre. His intuition: to make public space a place for creation, encounters, and sharing. After his departure in 1993, Jean-Marie Songy took over the artistic direction until 2018, followed by Frédéric Remy since 2019. Each has enriched the festival's identity while preserving its spirit of openness and artistic excellence.
The association ÉCLAT, created in 1988 to organize the festival, is now recognized as a National Centre for Street Arts and Public Space, a label that attests to its major role in supporting contemporary creation.
A Festival of Exceptional Scale
Each year, for four days at the end of August, Aurillac's population multiplies by nine. The official selection, known as "In," brings together about twenty companies chosen for the quality and originality of their artistic proposals. In parallel, the Compagnies de passage (Passing Companies) event, a true "Off" festival, brings together over 600 artistic teams from dozens of countries, offering nearly 3,000 performances in the city's streets, squares, and parks.
The festival thus hosts over 2,000 artists and technicians, making Aurillac a unique place for artistic creation, research, and dissemination. Performances take over all urban spaces: streets, squares, gardens, parking lots, building courtyards, under tents, or in the open air.
Multiple Artistic Forms
Street theatre in all its diversity is at the heart of the festival: theatre, contemporary circus, dance, performance, puppetry, visual arts, music, participatory interventions. The creations question our relationship with public space, the city, and living together, offering artistic experiences that are often immersive and always accessible to the greatest number.
A Festive and Popular Atmosphere
The atmosphere of the Festival d'Aurillac is unique. The city center transforms into a giant playground where families, long-time festival-goers, the curious, and performing arts professionals mingle. The vast majority of shows are free and open to all, true to the festival's founding philosophy: art for everyone, everywhere, without barriers.
The nights in Aurillac are as legendary as the days, with nocturnal performances, parades, and an effervescence that only fades in the early morning. The festival is also a time for conviviality, encounters, and gastronomic discoveries, with numerous food stalls offering local specialties and world cuisines.
International Reach
Recognized by French and European cultural institutions, the Festival d'Aurillac is a benchmark for professionals in the sector. It hosts programmers, journalists, and cultural actors from around the world each year, making this event a true international marketplace for street arts and a springboard for emerging companies.
Festival d'Aurillac — edition 2026
The 39th edition of the Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac will take place from August 19-22, 2026. The world's largest street theatre festival will once again host over 600 companies and thousands of artists in the streets of Aurillac for four days of performances, encounters, and artistic creations.
39th Edition - August 19-22, 2026
The Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac returns for its 39th edition from August 19 to 22, 2026. For four days, the prefecture of Cantal will once again transform into the world's largest street theatre stage.
The official selection will bring together about twenty companies invited by the ÉCLAT association, while the Passing Companies event will host over 600 artistic teams from around the world. The Champ libre ! (Free Field!) program, a creative laboratory for street arts, will take place from July 25 to August 9, 2026, preceding the main festival.
The full program and ticketing information will be announced in the spring of 2026 on the festival's official website.
Programme Festival d'Aurillac 2026
2026 Program
The official program for the 39th edition will be unveiled in the spring of 2026. As every year, the festival will feature:
- Official Selection: about twenty companies chosen by ÉCLAT's artistic direction
- Passing Companies: over 600 artistic teams with free access in the streets
- Champ libre !: from July 25 to August 9, 2026, a traveling tour in the towns of Cantal
Highlights Festival d'Aurillac 2026
To Note for 2026
- Dates: Wednesday, August 19 to Saturday, August 22, 2026
- Champ libre !: July 25 to August 9, 2026
- 39th edition of the world's largest street theatre festival
- Over 600 companies expected and thousands of performances
- Official program to be announced in spring 2026
Prices Festival d'Aurillac 2026
Practical information — Festival d'Aurillac
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By car: Aurillac is accessible via the A75 motorway (from Clermont-Ferrand) then the RN122, or via the RN120 from the south. Allow about 2.5 hours from Clermont-Ferrand and 3 hours from Toulouse.
By train: Aurillac station is served by trains from Paris-Austerlitz (with a connection in Brive-la-Gaillarde), Clermont-Ferrand, and Toulouse. SNCF offers special festival deals. A TER Festival Pass is available for travel in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
By bus: Regional bus lines serve Aurillac. During the festival, a Bus Festival Pass (6 days for €6) allows unlimited travel on the urban and suburban lines of the Trans'cab network.
Parking
Several free parking lots are available during the festival, including the event area parking with free shuttles to the city center. Free park-and-ride lots at Place du 8 Mai (with shuttle) and Georges Pompidou are also available. Please note: the Foirail parking becomes paid during the festival. Free shuttles run from 10 am to 2 am between the parking lots and the city center.
Accommodation and Camping
Three campsites are accessible nearby: Camping de l'Ombrade in Aurillac, Camping de la Cère in Arpajon-sur-Cère, and Camping du Moulin in Jussac. Eleven campervan sites are also available. It is strongly recommended to book your accommodation as early as possible, as hotels are fully booked during the festival.
Food and Drink
Numerous food stalls are set up in the city during the festival, offering both Auvergne specialties (truffade, aligot, Cantal AOP cheeses) and world cuisines. The city's restaurants are also open, but reservations are advised.
Accessibility
The festival is committed to accessibility for people with disabilities. A specific reception service is in place. For any information, contact the festival team at [email protected] or by phone at 04 71 43 43 70.
Practical Tips
- The majority of shows are free and open to all in the streets.
- Some shows in the official selection are ticketed or require booking.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking around the city.
- Bring sun protection and rain gear (Cantal weather can be changeable).
- The festival reception and ticket office are located on the forecourt of the Cantal Departmental Council.
- Download the app or check the official program on the website before your visit.
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Festival d'Aurillac at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Festival d'Aurillac
Centre-ville d'Aurillac
20 rue de la Coste, 15000 Aurillac