Festival Michtô
The street arts and circus festival in Maxéville
2026
About Michtô
Michtô is a street arts and circus tent festival held in Maxéville, just outside Nancy. Since 2006, it has been built by a collective of associations, circus and theater companies, artists, and volunteers. Every autumn, it takes place at MEMÔ, an artistic production hub located on the site of the Grand Sauvoy and the former breweries, drawing nearly 10,000 visitors. The program features big-top shows, street theater, concerts, sideshows, circus workshops, and open construction sites.
Michtô — edition 2026
Michtô XX, the 20th edition of the street arts and big top festival, will take place at MEMÔ in Maxéville on October 16, 17, 18 and 22, 23, 24, 2026. This event marks the venue's reopening to the public following the cancellation of the 2025 edition. The collective has released an initial list of artists, with the full program expected in September.
Michtô XX: Celebrating 20 Years
Following the cancellation of the 2025 edition, the Michtô collective has set its 20th anniversary event for October 16, 17, 18 and 22, 23, 24, 2026, at the MEMÔ site in Maxéville. A statement released on August 7, 2026, announced: "From October 16 to 24, we celebrate the strength of a collective."
Reopening MEMÔ to the Public
The same statement describes this anniversary edition as "a major milestone: the reopening of MEMÔ to the public and the recognition of its long-term viability," following months of administrative work and renovations. The venue had been closed to the public since the summer of 2025 after a safety commission appointed by the City of Maxéville ordered a suspension of public access on June 18, 2025. This was due to urban planning issues rather than immediate safety concerns, required to regularize the building permits for the wooden big top and other site structures. This closure led to the cancellation of Michtô 2025.
Current Announcements
Fourteen companies and groups have been named, though specific dates and times are not yet available. The collective notes on the festival website: "We are busy preparing Michtô XX and will share the full program in September." No ticket sales are open as of mid-August 2026.
Highlights Michtô 2026
- Michtô XX, the 20th edition, postponed from 2025 to 2026
- Reopening of MEMÔ to the public, which had been closed since June 2025
- Six days of festival over two weekends, from October 16 to 24
- Fourteen companies and groups already announced, including Le Grand Colossal Théâtre, Spectralex, Nicanor de Elia, and Super parquet
Programme Michtô 2026
Program Status
The Michtô collective has announced the dates and an initial list of artists, without specific performance times. The detailed schedule is expected in September 2026 on the festival website.
Opening Days
- First weekend: Friday, October 16, Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Second weekend: Thursday, October 22, Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, 2026
Announced Artists and Companies
Gathered by the Michtô collective, according to the August 7, 2026 statement:
- Le Grand Colossal Théâtre
- La Dépliante
- Maboul Distorsion
- La Famille Goldini
- Underclouds
- Paon dans le ciment
- Muchmuche Compagny
- La Compagnie du Clair Obscur
- Nicanor de Elia
- Margo Chou
- Spectralex
- Schooler division
- Super parquet
- Blond Bélier
The statement adds that these fourteen names will be joined by "many accomplice artists who have shaped the festival's history or are writing its new chapters today," though they remain unnamed for now.
Dates Confirmed by Artists
- Friday, October 16 — Super Parquet, psychedelic traditional music · the band has listed Maxéville on their tour schedule with the note "TBA"
- Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24 — Un Os dans le Cosmos, Maboul Distorsion · the company has listed Maxéville on their "2026 tour," which they state contains only confirmed dates
No performance times have been published to date.
Prices Michtô 2026
Practical information — Michtô
Access
The festival takes place at the MEMÔ site, 215 rue des Solidarités in Maxéville. The official website notes that this address is sometimes incorrectly located by GPS and recommends searching for "Le Memô" or "Festival Michtô" instead.
By bus: From Nancy city center, take line 10 towards Pompey Fond de Lavaux and get off at the CARSAT or Brasseries stop for lower access; take line 2 towards Laxou Plateau de Haye and get off at the Jean Lamour stop for upper access.
By bike, foot, or car: The site is somewhat isolated and has very limited parking. The organizers encourage visitors to arrive on foot or by bike, or to park in the surrounding neighborhood. Bicycle parking is available on-site. Residential vehicles for the public are not permitted.
Accessibility
There are no steps on the site, but there is a steep incline. An accessible restroom is available. The organization requests that you contact them in advance if you require assistance upon arrival.
Payments
The festival does not have credit card terminals. Please bring cash or "florains" (digital or physical). The nearest ATM is a 20-minute walk away, next to the MJC des Trois Maisons.
Contact
Email: [email protected] · Phone: +33 6 81 68 59 15 · Official website: festivalmichto.com · Venue: le-memo.com
Circus and street arts celebration in Maxéville
Since 2006, the Michtô festival has brought Maxéville, near Nancy, to life every autumn with a focus on contemporary circus and street arts. The collective behind the event brings together cultural associations, circus and theater troupes, artists, and numerous volunteers under a collaborative governance model. The festival attracts nearly 10,000 people.
MEMÔ: A hub for artistic creation
The festival is hosted at MEMÔ, located on the grounds of the Grand Sauvoy and the former breweries of Maxéville. Born from the festival itself, the venue is managed by the association CU.BI Production and serves as a space for creation, performance, and training. Since September 2020, it has housed a circus school, Memô Circuscool, which welcomes 160 students weekly. A long-term lease signed in 2023 with the Departmental Council runs until 2039.
The Program
Past editions have featured a mix of big-top performances, street theater, concerts, sideshows, cabarets, circus workshops, and scenographic projects open to the public. Some events are free, while others require a ticket.
From the 2025 cancellation to the 20th anniversary
On July 30, 2025, the collective announced the cancellation of Michtô 2025. A safety commission appointed by the City of Maxéville had concluded on June 18 that public access should be suspended due to urban planning issues rather than immediate safety concerns, pending the regularization of the site's building permit; Mayor Christophe Choserot had issued an administrative closure. In place of the festival, the collective held a collaborative workshop followed by a "Mini Michtô" day on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
The 20th edition, Michtô XX, is scheduled for October 16, 17, 18 and 22, 23, 24, 2026, and is intended to mark the reopening of MEMÔ to the public.
Where does it take place — Michtô
Michtô in brief
History of Michtô
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Maxéville
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