Festival Maintenant
Festival of electronic and digital cultures in Rennes
2026
About Maintenant
Maintenant is Rennes' festival of arts, music, and new technologies, organized by the Electroni[k] association. Concerts, exhibitions, installations, and meet-ups take place in October across a dozen venues in the Rennes metropolitan area, spanning 4 to 10 days. The association has been running the festival since 2001—initially under the name Electroni[k], then Cultures Electroni[k], and finally Maintenant since 2013. It was held annually until 2024 and has since moved to a biennial format.
Maintenant — edition 2026
The 25th edition of the Maintenant festival takes place from October 1st to 11th, 2026, in Rennes. Featuring arts, music, and technology, the program includes 23 events across 10 venues, with 13 free exhibitions and installations, three electronic music nights at La Salle de la Cité, and Gaspar Claus's audiovisual concert, Cells, at Le Tambour.
2026 Edition
Maintenant returns to Rennes from October 1st to 11th, 2026, for its 25th edition—the second since the Electroni[k] association shifted the festival to a biennial format in 2024. The program features 23 events spread across 10 venues in Rennes, including exhibitions, installations, performances, concerts, and a day of professional networking.
The Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne, Les Ateliers du Vent, and Le Jeu de Paume host the main exhibition circuit, which is free and open from Wednesday to Sunday. The evening events will take place at La Salle de la Cité on October 8th, 9th, and 10th. Four exhibitions extend beyond the festival dates: Le Monde invisible at Les Champs Libres (since May 19th), s3lf.tech at 40mcube (until December 19th), Les notes de Fortuna at Basalt (until November 8th), and Fanion Locomotion at the Centre d'art Les 3 CHA (until December 13th).
The visual identity for this edition was created by Brazilian artist Rafaela Mascaro, whose installation, Now Bodies, is presented at the Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne. Ticket sales open on August 24th, 2026. Monday, October 5th, is the only day without scheduled events.
Highlights Maintenant 2026
- Three Ambiance électronique nights at La Salle de la Cité on October 8th, 9th, and 10th
- Cells, an audiovisual concert by Gaspar Claus at Le Tambour, Tuesday, October 6th at 8:00 PM
- Now Bodies by Rafaela Mascaro, creator of the 2026 visual identity, at the Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne
- Le Monde invisible, an art and science exhibition by Flavien Théry & Fred Murie at Les Champs Libres, until October 11th
- Super Samedi!, a free family afternoon at Le Jeu de Paume, Saturday, October 3rd
- 25th edition, the second since the shift to a biennial format
Programme Maintenant 2026
Exhibitions and installations, October 1st to 11th, 2026
Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne · Wednesday to Friday 2:00 PM → 7:00 PM, weekends 10:00 AM → 7:00 PM · free
- Now Bodies — Rafaela Mascaro · digital and generative art, artificial intelligence · the animated visual identity of the 2026 edition
- Implausible rainbows: an exercise in skyscaping — Lukas Truniger & Bruce Yoder · kinetic and optical art · a light and sound installation that artificially recreates rainbows
- L'Harmonie De Notre Absence — Paul Vivien · low-tech, contemplative music, vinyl repurposing · rotating dioramas played by a modified turntable
Les Ateliers du Vent · Wednesday and Friday 2:00 PM → 7:00 PM, Thursday 2:00 PM → 8:00 PM, weekends 10:00 AM → 7:00 PM · free
- inference_commons — David Lazar · solarpunk and critical art, permacomputing · a digital installation on the governance of artificial intelligence
- recalls — Lukas Persyn · kinetic art, electromagnetic waves · a light installation paying tribute to radio towers. Not suitable for photosensitive individuals or those prone to epileptic seizures
- Bivouac — Bérengère Amiot · an interactive installation on landscape and memory, with sound design by Guillaume Fournier
- La Planète d'Au-Dessus de la Terre — Elly Oldman · illustration, synth-pop, augmented reality, and video games · a transmedia adventure exploring eco-anxiety
Jeu de Paume · continuous · free
- BlockSmog — Guillaumit · a triptych graphic mural with augmented reality and mini-games, featuring a sensor that measures air quality and modifies the game in real-time
- BlockSmog : Eco Feelings — Guillaumit · illustration, interactive 10-question quiz powered by data from the Transition to 8 project
Long-term exhibitions
- Le Monde invisible — Flavien Théry & Fred Murie · Les Champs Libres · May 19th to October 11th, 2026 · Tuesday to Friday 12:00 PM → 7:00 PM, weekends 2:00 PM → 7:00 PM · free · an art and science exhibition featuring around twenty works, with a musical score by Thomas Poli
- s3lf.tech — Émilie Brout & Maxime Marion · 40mcube · June 6th to December 19th, 2026 · Wednesday to Saturday 2:00 PM → 7:00 PM · free · video installations, objects, and web extensions exploring VTubing and avatars
- Les notes de Fortuna — Thomas Besset · Basalt · September 18th to November 8th, 2026 · Wednesday to Saturday 2:00 PM → 6:00 PM · free · biomechanical kinetic and sound sculptures
- Fanion Locomotion — Pinaffo & Pluvinage · Centre d'art Les 3 CHA · October 2nd to December 13th, 2026 · Wednesday and Friday 2:00 PM → 5:00 PM, Thursday 11:00 AM → 1:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM → 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM → 6:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM → 1:00 PM · free · a kinetic landscape of automata and moving fabrics
Friday, October 2nd, 2026
- 9:00 AM → 4:00 PM — Professional Meetings · Jeu de Paume · free with registration (details to follow) · round tables, peer-to-peer networking, and exhibition tours focused on cultural management, distribution, and training, in partnership with HACNUM and Formaculture
- 5:30 PM → 6:30 PM — Toni Caillou · Les Champs Libres · free · electroacoustic music played on motorized lithophones carved from slate and schist
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
- 2:00 PM → 6:00 PM — Super Samedi!, family afternoon · Jeu de Paume · free, no registration required · workshops based on Rafaela Mascaro's universe: Gang Friends Noises, a scavenger hunt to find the Mystery Room, Arts & Sciences Lab workshop, "Which Gang Friend are you?" quiz, the Gang Friends' den, merchandising stand, relaxation area, motor skills zone, giant games, and a syrup bar
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Cells, Gaspar Claus · Le Tambour, Université Rennes 2 cultural season · full price €12, reduced €5, Sortir! €3, free for Rennes university students · an audiovisual concert blending cello, electronic music, and light design
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026
- 12:30 PM → 1:30 PM — Exuvie (live AV), Noémi Büchi · Les Champs Libres · free · electroacoustic and orchestral live set, featuring visuals by dancer Rebeka Mondovics and artist Brigitte Faessler
Thursday, October 8th, 2026
- 7:00 PM → 12:15 AM — Ambiance électronique #1 · La Salle de la Cité · full price €15, reduced €10, Sortir! €5 · Subdermal by Katarina Gryvul (live) + Cwtch (live) + Bound By Endogamy (live) + Blood of Aza (DJ set)
Friday, October 9th, 2026
- 7:00 PM → 12:15 AM — Ambiance électronique #2 · La Salle de la Cité · full price €15, reduced €10, Sortir! €5 · Dj Startup (live) + Oonagh Haines (live) + Annie-Claude Deschênes (live) + Antilogic (DJ set)
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
- 7:30 PM → 12:15 AM — Ambiance électronique #3, Whack to the West · La Salle de la Cité · full price €15, reduced €10, Sortir! €5 · carte blanche to W*ack in Rennes featuring UNDER/GROUND: whacking battles, jams, and performances
Sunday, October 11th, 2026
- 4:00 PM → 5:00 PM — Fernande, Cecile, Natasha Pirard · Musée des beaux-arts de Rennes · free · ambient performance and field recording, featuring voice, synthesizer, and violin
Date to be announced
- Dognip + (live AV) — s8jfou · multimedia art, UK bass and break, Max/MSP · date, venue, and ticketing information to be announced
Prices Maintenant 2026
Ambiance électronique nights (October 8th, 9th, and 10th) at La Salle de la Cité: full price €15, reduced €10, Sortir! rate €5.
Cells by Gaspar Claus (October 6th) at Le Tambour: full price €12, reduced €5, Sortir! rate €3, free for Rennes university students.
Reduced rate: under 26s, students, job seekers, and recipients of AAH or social minimums (proof required, dated within the last 3 months).
Sortir! rate: for holders of the Sortir! card, tickets available only at the Rennes Métropole Tourist Office or at the door for concerts and performances.
Free admission for companions of people with disabilities, upon prior request to [email protected] or by calling 02 99 59 55 57.
Prices listed exclude booking fees. The price for the Dognip + live set by s8jfou has not yet been announced.
Practical information — Maintenant
Practical Information
Venues
The festival is held at multiple sites. The 2026 edition will be spread across 10 venues in Rennes: 40mcube, Basalt, the Centre d’art Les 3 CHA, the Jeu de Paume, La Salle de la Cité, Le Tambour (Université Rennes 2), Les Ateliers du Vent, Les Champs Libres, the Musée des beaux-arts de Rennes, and the Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne. The festival headquarters is located at the Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne.
Access
All venues are served by the STAR public transport network (bus and metro). From Rennes airport, bus lines 57 and C6 provide access to the city center; the train station is served by both metro and bus. The Vélo STAR service provides approximately 900 bicycles at 55 stations, available 24/7. Handistar offers dedicated transport for people with disabilities; call 02 99 26 05 50.
Mediation and accessibility
Mediation teams are present throughout the festival at every installation and can be identified by their « Bonjour » badges. Mediation guides are available at the Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne. The association also develops programs with schools, colleges, high schools, universities, social centers, CCAS, CDAS, CLIC, nursing homes (EHPAD), and libraries, which should be arranged in advance. A dedicated contact address is available for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.
On-site
Earplugs and protective earmuffs for children are available at the bar. For shows and performances, please arrive 20 minutes before the start; a box office opens on-site 30 minutes before the performance, subject to availability.
Contact
Association Electroni[k], Halles en commun, 24 avenue Jules Maniez, 35000 Rennes. Phone: 02 99 59 55 57, Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Official website: https://www.maintenant-festival.fr
The Maintenant Festival
Maintenant is a festival dedicated to arts, music, and new technologies held in Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine. It is organized by the Electroni[k] association, which has been working since 2001 to promote creation in the fields of sound, image, and new media, with a focus on multidisciplinary forms. In 2024, the Ministry of Culture recognized the association as a Regional Center for Artistic Creation in Digital Environments.
The festival began in 2001 as Electroni[k], became Cultures Electroni[k] in 2008, and was renamed Maintenant in 2013. It is a nomadic event: each edition is spread across a dozen venues in Rennes, including museums, concert halls, art centers, libraries, and theaters, with its headquarters located at the Théâtre du Vieux St-Étienne, near Place Sainte-Anne.
A biennial rhythm since 2024
The festival was held annually until 2024, and now takes place every two years. In years without a festival, the association organizes the Saison Maintenant, a series of events hosted by various Breton cultural institutions: 25 projects across three departments over 86 days in 2025.
Previous editions
Summary of the 24th edition, held from October 8 to 13, 2024, as published by the organizers: 13,000 attendees, 48 artists and speakers, 12 venues utilized in Rennes, and 700 people engaged through mediation activities.
Where does it take place — Maintenant
Maintenant in brief
History of Maintenant
Edition 2024 Oct 2024Other festivals near Rennes
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