Festival Plein Air de Guillaumes
A festival of all open-air arts in the heart of the red gorges of the Niceois Colorado
About Festival Plein Air
Art takes over the gorges of the Niceois Colorado
The Festival Plein Air is a multidisciplinary artistic event created in 2021 by the association ENTRE|DEUX. Its founding principle: to take over spaces not usually dedicated to art to bring a breath of creativity, foster encounters between audiences and artists, and make art accessible in all its forms. After the success of its first four editions in Breil-sur-Roya, the festival expanded in 2025 to Guillaumes, a village perched in the heart of the spectacular red gorges of the Niceois Colorado.
A route of artistic installations
The heart of the festival is a route of artistic installations through the streets and squares of the village. Artists create site-specific works — sculptures, immersive installations, participatory creations — that dialogue with the medieval architecture and the surrounding mountain landscape. Visitors are invited to wander freely through this ephemeral open-air museum, guided by curiosity and encounters with the creators.
Circus, dance, and street performances
The Festival Plein Air program combines contemporary circus, dance, street theater, and performances. Highlights include wandering dance and circus performances like “Éclats célestes” by Cie 7Pépinière and former students of the Centre régional des arts du cirque PACA, clown visits (“Impromptu burlesque”), urban dance by Cie Bakhus, and immersive sound naps.
Music and conviviality
The festival evenings are enlivened by DJ sets and open-air concerts that extend the celebration under the stars. In 2025, the DJ set “Space Is The Place” by Lego my Ego featured astral beats, cosmic dub, and dark techno, echoing the astronomy theme. Food is available on-site from 7 p.m., in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
A festival in synergy with the territory
The Festival Plein Air is part of a dynamic of promoting heritage and the territory of the hinterland of the Alpes-Maritimes. In Guillaumes, it takes place in synergy with the Festival du Livre Montagne, Nature et Traditions, which celebrates its 30th edition in 2025 on the theme of astronomy. This complementarity between visual arts, performing arts, and literature offers visitors a complete cultural weekend in an exceptional natural setting, between mountains and red gorges.
Free and participatory
True to its values of sharing and accessibility, the Festival Plein Air is entirely free. Participatory workshops — clay creation, collective murals, dance — invite the public to become active participants in the event. The festival is supported by the Department of Alpes-Maritimes and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Festival Plein Air — edition 2026
The 2nd edition of the Festival Plein Air in Guillaumes will take place on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026, under the theme of pastoralism on the occasion of the International Year of Pastoralism. Organized by the association ENTRE|DEUX in collaboration with the Festival du Livre Montagne, Nature et Traditions, this free artistic trail takes over the streets and squares of the village in the Alpes-Maritimes, in the heart of the red gorges of the Colorado niçois.
Plein Air #2: Pastoralism in Celebration
For its second edition in Guillaumes, the Festival Plein Air joyfully and unconventionally explores the world of pastoralism, within the framework of the International Year of Pastoralism. As is its custom, the association ENTRE|DEUX invests spaces not traditionally dedicated to art throughout the village to offer a circuit of works and performances for free wandering.
Circus, Performances, and Sensory Installations
The 2026 edition features acrobatic circus perched atop a ladder, burlesque tours, and sensory installations that evoke the valley's landscapes. Among the announced artists and companies: visual artists Hélène Bertin and Ève Pietruschi, companies Embrayage à Paillettes and Hors Surface, as well as Le Grand Large. The musical program is highlighted by the concert « Le Cycle du Temps Élastique » by Benjamin Fincher.
A Cultural Weekend in the Gorges of the Colorado niçois
The festival takes place in synergy with the Festival du Livre Montagne, Nature et Traditions, offering visitors a complete weekend combining visual arts, live performance, and literature in an exceptional natural setting. Open to all audiences, the event is entirely free and open for free wandering.
Programme Festival Plein Air 2026
Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026
Artistic trail with free wandering through the village of Guillaumes, on the theme of pastoralism. Announced artists and companies (detailed schedules not yet published by the organizer as of the verification date):
- Hélène Bertin — visual artist (installations)
- Ève Pietruschi — visual artist (sensory installations)
- Cie Embrayage à Paillettes — show / performance
- Cie Hors Surface — acrobatic circus perched atop a ladder
- Le Grand Large
- Benjamin Fincher — concert « Le Cycle du Temps Élastique »
Also on the program: burlesque tours and sensory installations evoking the pastoral landscapes of the valley.
Highlights Festival Plein Air 2026
- 2nd edition in Guillaumes, on the theme of pastoralism (International Year of Pastoralism)
- Acrobatic circus perched, burlesque tours, and sensory installations
- Concert « Le Cycle du Temps Élastique » by Benjamin Fincher
- Free artistic trail with free wandering, in synergy with the Festival du Livre
Prices Festival Plein Air 2026
Practical information — Festival Plein Air
Access
The festival takes place in the village center of Guillaumes and at the EPI, in the heart of the red gorges of the Niceois Colorado.
- By car: From Nice (80 km), take the D2202 via the Cians gorge or the Var valley. Approximately 1h30 drive.
- By bus: Line 675 from Nice.
- Inter-village shuttle: Available during the festival.
Prices
Free admission for all artistic routes, performances, and workshops.
Hours
Saturday: 5 p.m. to midnight. Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact
- Website: www.entredeux-artentreprise.fr
- Guillaumes Town Hall: www.guillaumes.fr
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Where does it take place — Festival Plein Air
Village de Guillaumes
Centre village et EPI, 06470 Guillaumes