Festival Regards sur Rue

The Festival Regards sur Rue: Street Arts in La Seyne-sur-Mer

Since its creation, the Festival Regards sur Rue has established itself as one of the flagship cultural events in La Seyne-sur-Mer and the Toulon Provence Méditerranée urban community. Led by Le Pôle — Arts en Circulation, a national center for street arts and public spaces, this three-day festival transforms part of the city into a vast outdoor space for creation and artistic encounters every autumn.

Le Pôle, a Major Player in Street Arts

Le Pôle — Arts en Circulation is a national cultural organization based in the Toulon Provence Méditerranée territory. From its Espace Chapiteaux de la Mer in La Seyne-sur-Mer and its Théâtre du Pôle in Le Revest-les-Eaux, it supports, accompanies, and promotes street arts and public spaces throughout the year. It hosts companies in residence, co-produces shows, trains artists, and offers a season of multidisciplinary performances open to all audiences.

The Festival Regards sur Rue is one of the highlights of Le Pôle's outreach activities. It allows for the presentation of shows produced or supported by the organization in real public spaces, alongside invited companies from all over France and abroad.

A Free, Multidisciplinary Festival

True to the philosophy of street arts, Regards sur Rue is a completely free festival, accessible without reservation or ticket, open to all audiences regardless of age, situation, or familiarity with the performing arts. This free access is a strong political statement: street arts belong to the public space, and the public space belongs to everyone.

The disciplines represented cover the entire spectrum of street arts and contemporary performing arts: street theater, circus (aerial, ground, contemporary), clowning and comedy arts, public space dance, live and processional music, and participatory performances. The invited companies offer short and long formats, shows for adults, families, and children, all designed to interact with the urban environment and its inhabitants.

Iconic Locations in La Seyne-sur-Mer

The festival primarily takes over the Parc de la Navale, a former shipyard site of the great Seynoise shipbuilding industry, now converted into a cultural and landscape space, and the city center of La Seyne-sur-Mer. These historically rich locations, deeply rooted in the city's working-class and maritime identity, provide a poetic and symbolic backdrop for the performances.

The Espace Chapiteaux de la Mer, located at Avenue Jean-Baptiste Mattei in La Seyne-sur-Mer, serves as a logistical and artistic hub during the festival, hosting some performances under a big top and providing areas for socializing.

The 6th Edition: September 2025

The sixth edition of the Festival Regards sur Rue took place from September 26 to 28, 2025, in La Seyne-sur-Mer. The program featured 15 companies, 36 performances over three days, and 68 artists involved across all sites. It was a particularly dense and festive edition, welcoming several thousand spectators in an atmosphere of popular and artistic celebration.

In addition to the festival, the Entre 2 Rues project—born from the collaboration between Le Pôle and local residents and stakeholders—held its third edition, blending professionals and amateurs in shared creations.

The Rade Marée, a friendly space for food, workshops, and meetings, also enlivened the festival evenings, extending the celebration beyond the performances.

A 2026 Edition in Preparation

The seventh edition of the Festival Regards sur Rue is expected in autumn 2026 in La Seyne-sur-Mer. The program will be announced by Le Pôle during 2026 on the official website le-pole.fr.