Festival Normandie Impressionniste
Impressionist and contemporary art across all of Normandy
About Normandie Impressionniste
Created in 2010, the Festival Normandie Impressionniste is one of the major cultural events in the Normandy region. Organized every two to three years, this international festival celebrates the Impressionist heritage through a resolutely contemporary and multidisciplinary program: exhibitions, live performances, public space installations, multidisciplinary creations, tourist routes, and educational projects. From Rouen to Le Havre, from Giverny to Honfleur, the entire Norman territory transforms into a vast open-air museum, attracting several hundred thousand visitors.
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Normandy Impressionist: Monet's Legacy for Contemporary Creation
Since its first edition in 2010, the Festival Normandie Impressionniste has established itself as one of the most ambitious cultural events in France. Born from the desire to celebrate the inseparable link between Normandy and the Impressionist movement—which originated there with Claude Monet's foundational painting Impression, soleil levant, painted in Le Havre in 1872—the festival has moved beyond mere commemoration to become a true laboratory for contemporary creation.
Organized under the auspices of a Public Interest Group (GIP) bringing together the Normandy Region, departments, metropolises, and major Norman cultural institutions, Normandie Impressionniste benefits from the support of the Ministry of Culture and numerous patrons.
A Festival Across an Entire Territory
The originality and strength of Normandie Impressionniste lie in its territorial deployment. The festival is not limited to a single location but invests all of Normandy: museums, galleries, public spaces, gardens, historical monuments, performance venues, and unique sites host the artistic proposals. From major cities like Rouen, Le Havre, Caen, and Honfleur to villages and gardens in the Seine Valley, the festival weaves a network of events that invites discovery of the Norman territory.
A 100% Contemporary Program
While Impressionism forms the festival's common thread, the program is resolutely focused on contemporary creation. Each edition brings together leading international artists—visual artists, photographers, videographers, performers, musicians, dancers, architects—to engage with the Impressionist heritage and offer a new perspective on Norman landscapes, light, and color.
Exhibitions in major Norman museums (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, MuMa in Le Havre, Musée des impressionnismes Giverny) are complemented by monumental installations in public spaces, live performances, artistic trails in nature, and educational programs for all audiences.
International Reach
With its successive editions, each attracting several hundred thousand visitors, Normandie Impressionniste has gained international renown. The festival powerfully contributes to Normandy's tourist and cultural appeal, offering a unique experience where contemporary art resonates with the landscapes that inspired the Impressionist masters.
Normandie Impressionniste — edition 2026
The 6th edition of the Festival Normandie Impressionniste will be held from May 29 to September 27, 2026, on the occasion of the centenary of Claude Monet's death. Themed "A Possible Garden," this edition celebrates the garden as a space for creation and dialogue, extending Monet's garden across Normandy. Over 70 resolutely contemporary projects will be presented with leading international artists.
6th Edition — Centenary of Claude Monet's Death
The 6th edition of Normandie Impressionniste, from May 29 to September 27, 2026, is part of the centenary of Claude Monet's death (1840-1926). Themed "A Possible Garden", this edition celebrates the garden as a space for creation, contemplation, and dialogue between art and nature.
Over 70 projects will be presented in a 100% contemporary and multidisciplinary program: exhibitions, live performances, public space installations, multidisciplinary creations, educational projects, and tourist routes. The entire Norman territory will be mobilized, particularly along the Seine, Monet's lifeline, from Le Havre to Paris, via Honfleur, Rouen, and Vernon.
Invited Artists
Among the major figures of the international and French art scene announced are: Ai Weiwei, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, Fujiko Nakaya, Jacques Perconte, Lionel Sabatté, Mika Ninagawa, Noémie Goudal, Sarah Moon, Studio Drift, and Tanja Smeets.
Programme Normandie Impressionniste 2026
2026 Program
The 6th edition will feature:
- Exhibitions in the major Norman museums (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, MuMa in Le Havre, Musée des impressionnismes Giverny)
- Monumental Installations in public spaces, gardens, and Norman landscapes
- Live Performances and multidisciplinary creations
- Artistic Trails along the Seine and in Norman gardens
- Major Artists: Ai Weiwei, Fujiko Nakaya, Sarah Moon, Studio Drift, and many others
Highlights Normandie Impressionniste 2026
To Note for 2026
- Dates: May 29 to September 27, 2026
- Theme: "A Possible Garden" — Centenary of Claude Monet's death
- Over 70 Projects across Normandy
- International Artists: Ai Weiwei, Fujiko Nakaya, Sarah Moon, Studio Drift
- 6th Edition of Normandy's major cultural festival
Prices Normandie Impressionniste 2026
Practical information — Normandie Impressionniste
Practical Information
Venues
The Festival Normandie Impressionniste unfolds across the entire Normandy region. The main exhibition and event venues include:
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen — Esplanade Marcel Duchamp, 76000 Rouen
- MuMa - Musée d'art moderne André Malraux — 2 boulevard Clemenceau, 76600 Le Havre
- Musée des impressionnismes Giverny — 99 rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny
- Abbaye de Jumièges — 24 rue Guillaume le Conquérant, 76480 Jumièges
- Numerous other museums, galleries, and public spaces in Normandy
Prices
Prices vary depending on the venue and exhibitions. Many public space installations are free to access. Museum exhibitions are subject to the admission fees of each institution. Consult the program on the official website for detailed pricing.
Getting Around
SNCF offers special deals and low-carbon fares to reach the festival sites in Normandy. Tourist routes connect the various exhibition venues.
Contact
Normandie Impressionniste
14 bis avenue Pasteur, BP 89
76100 Rouen
Tel: 02 35 52 92 93
Website: normandie-impressionniste.fr
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Normandie Impressionniste
Normandie entière (multi-sites)
14 bis avenue Pasteur, BP 89, 76100 Rouen