Nez Rouge Festival

The Nez Rouge Festival: The Clown Celebration in Montbéliard

Born from the passion of the association Les Clowns de la Chiffogne, founded in Montbéliard in 1983, the Nez Rouge Festival is a biennial event that celebrates the art of clowning in all its diversity. Since the 1990s, this unique festival has transformed Montbéliard into the capital of laughter and clown poetry for a long weekend.

A Program Between Indoor and Street

The Nez Rouge Festival unfolds over four days, alternating between indoor shows and street entertainment:

• Thursday — Opening Evening: Indoor show paying tribute to the founders and great figures of clowning
• Friday — Indoor Shows: Acts by invited companies, blending humor, acrobatics, and poetry
• Saturday — The Nuit des Clowns: The highlight of the festival, a competition where aspiring artists from all over France and abroad present their acts before a jury and the public
• Sunday — Clown Release: Free outdoor entertainment in the Parc du Près-la-Rose, with parades, improvisations, and street performances

The Nuit des Clowns: A Unique Competition

The Nuit des Clowns is the festival's main event. This competition, held at the Théâtre de Montbéliard, brings together about fifteen candidate artists from all over France and abroad each edition. The public and a jury of professionals award prizes for the best clown acts.

Les Clowns de la Chiffogne: 40 Years in the Service of Laughter

The association Les Clowns de la Chiffogne was founded in 1983 in Montbéliard. It currently has 17 active members — 12 adults and 5 children called "clownets". Les Clowns de la Chiffogne are almost exclusively silent clowns, perpetuating a clowning tradition based on gesture, physical expression, and visual poetry.

A Festival Supported by the City and the Department

The Nez Rouge Festival is supported by the City of Montbéliard and the Department of Doubs. Its last edition, the 12th, took place from May 2 to 5, 2019, bringing together 13 companies and 17 candidate artists for the Nuit des Clowns.