Grand PianO Festival
Piano in the spotlight in all its diversity
About Grand PianO Festival
The piano makes Orléans vibrate
Since its creation in 2023, the Grand PianO Festival has established itself as a must-attend event on the cultural scene of Orléans and the Centre-Val de Loire region. Supported by the City of Orléans, this festival celebrates the piano in all its forms, from classical repertoire to contemporary music, including jazz, blues, electro, and world music.
A rich and eclectic program
Each edition brings together national and international renowned artists around an original theme. The first edition in 2023 hosted Sofiane Pamart, Oxmo Puccino & Yaron Herman, GoGo Penguin, Vanessa Wagner, and Mentissa. In 2024, Zaho de Sagazan, Hania Rani, Flavien Berger, Shani Diluka, and the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio left a lasting impression. The 2025 edition, themed around New Orleans, featured Lucas Debargue, Baptiste Trotignon, L'Impératrice, and Ayọ.
Strong values
The Grand PianO Festival is based on four fundamental pillars:
- Accessibility: free concerts in public spaces, affordable prices for paid evenings, programming for all ages.
- Musical diversity: from classical to jazz, from chanson to electro, all genres meet around the keyboard.
- Conviviality: moments of sharing and meeting between artists and the public in a festive atmosphere.
- Environmental commitment: eco-responsible approach and sustainable practices.
Iconic venues
The festival takes over the most beautiful sites in the center of Orléans. The Campo Santo, a historic cloister classified as a Historic Monument located near the Sainte-Croix Cathedral, hosts the major open-air evenings. The Salle de l'Institut, on Place Sainte-Croix, offers an acoustic setting for classical concerts. Pianos for public use are set up at the media library, the Tourist Office, in front of the Museum of Fine Arts, and in the Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier collegiate church, allowing everyone to express themselves at the keyboard.
A festival by the Loire
Since 2024, the festival has also extended to the banks of the Loire with family activities and open-air concerts on Place de Loire. The shopping streets and squares of the city center come alive with performances by young talents and DJ sets. The Grand PianO Festival is more than just a music festival: it is a celebration of encounters, sharing, and the infinite richness of keyboards.
Grand PianO Festival — edition 2026
Fourth edition of the Grand PianO Festival in Orléans, from June 25 to 28, 2026. Under the theme « Let Dreams Pass Through », the festival transforms the city into an open-air musical stage with 20 events spread across cultural venues, shops, and public spaces. Headliners at Campo Santo: Yamê, Avishaï Cohen, Yaël Naim and Yoa. Free evenings along the Loire with Paul Lay, Forever Pavot and Yaron Herman. Interactive recital by Claire-Marie Le Guay at the Salle de l'Institut.
Fourth Edition: « Let Dreams Pass Through »
The Grand PianO Festival returns from June 25 to 28, 2026 for its fourth edition. True to its spirit of encounter, sharing, and diversity, the festival offers 20 events spread across Orléans, both indoors and outdoors, with varied formats and styles. Two evenings are ticketed (Salle de l'Institut and Campo Santo), all others are free and open access.
The 2026 edition honors artists with contrasting aesthetics: the sensitive pop of Yoa, the introspective universe of Yaël Naim, the universal groove of Avishaï Cohen in a trio with pianist Itay Simhovich (album « Eternal Child »), and the energy of Yamê, male revelation at the Victoires de la Musique 2024. The Campo Santo evening concludes with the elegant DJ set by Le Syndisque.
Along the Loire, free evenings bring together the jazz of Paul Lay (Victoires du Jazz 2021), the American contemporary scene of Sam Kuslan, the songs of Suzanne Belaubre, the orchestral pop of Forever Pavot and the solo recital by Yaron Herman, blending composition and improvisation.
The opening is entrusted to Claire-Marie Le Guay, winner of the Victoires de la musique classique and a regular at Carnegie Hall, in a participatory recital where the audience chooses the works performed. Self-service pianos are placed throughout the city (media library, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Boîte à piano quai du Châtelet, Pathé cinema) for everyone to play.
Programme Grand PianO Festival 2026
Thursday, June 25, 2026
- 5:30 PM — Conservatoire d'Orléans · Paul Lay Masterclass with Conservatoire students (free)
- 7:00 PM — Orléans Comedy Club · Diane Borderieux, singer, dancer, and pianist (free)
- 8:30 PM — Salle de l'Institut · Claire-Marie Le Guay, interactive recital — the audience chooses the works (€15)
- 9:00 PM — Charlotte Fever (free)
- 9:30 PM — Vincent Viala & Amrat Hussain, piano-tabla dialogue (free)
Friday, June 26, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Natch & Traüme (free)
- 5:30 PM — Léo Salommez (free)
- 5:30 PM — Julian Trevelyan (free)
- 6:30 PM–11:45 PM — Place de Loire · Free evening along the Loire:
- Paul Lay · jazz pianist, Victoires du Jazz 2021
- 8:00 PM–8:45 PM — Sam Kuslan · American contemporary scene
- 9:15 PM–10:15 PM — Suzanne Belaubre
- 10:30 PM–11:30 PM — Forever Pavot · orchestral pop, electronic experiments, and film music
June 25–26 — Place O young talents: showcases by young artists in Place de la République (free)
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Sam Kuslan Conference (free)
- 1:00 PM — Pavin Caffè · Nicolas Vicquenault (piano) & Laëtitia Pinault (vocals) · jazz, repertoire from the 1930s to the 2000s (free)
- 4:00 PM — Médiathèque d'Orléans · Duo TAKU (Thibault Malon, violin & PianoKad, piano) · reinterpretation of Japanese pop culture themes (free)
- 6:00 PM–1:00 AM — Campo Santo · Grand evening (ticketed, €28 full price / €20 presale / €18 Culture Pass / free for under 10s):
- 6:00 PM — Opening DJ set
- 6:30 PM–7:30 PM — Yoa · sensitive pop
- 8:00 PM–9:00 PM — Yaël Naim · album « Solaire », unique voice and introspective piano
- 9:30 PM–10:30 PM — Avishaï Cohen in a trio with Itay Simhovich · jazz groove, album « Eternal Child »
- 11:00 PM–12:00 AM — Yamê · male revelation Victoires de la Musique 2024, blending rap, jazz, and afro sounds
- 12:15 AM — Le Syndisque · Closing DJ set, elegant trance
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM — Le Manège du Contrevent (Cie Grandet Douglas) (free)
- 12:00 PM — L'Artistic · Olivier Mallory (piano) & Tristan Camus · fusion of classical music and cinema (free)
- 3:00 PM & 4:30 PM — Musée des Beaux-Arts · Mini • Maxi (collectif Chapi Chapo & les petites musiques de pluie) · playful concert combining toys and electronic instruments (free)
- 4:00 PM — Célia Oneto Bensaid (free)
- 5:15 PM — Sam Kuslan × Orléans Jazz Band (free)
- 6:30 PM — UsOpen (free)
- 8:00 PM — Place de Loire · Yaron Herman · solo recital, free dialogue between classical and jazz (free)
June 25–28 — Self-service pianos throughout the city: Médiathèque (4th floor), Musée des Beaux-Arts, Boîte à piano (quai du Châtelet), Pathé cinema, Tourne-disque.
Highlights Grand PianO Festival 2026
- 4th edition of the Grand PianO Festival — theme « Let Dreams Pass Through »
- 20 events throughout the city, indoors and outdoors
- Yamê (Victoires de la Musique 2024), Avishaï Cohen in a trio, Yaël Naim (album « Solaire ») and Yoa at Campo Santo
- Claire-Marie Le Guay in an interactive recital at the Salle de l'Institut
- Free evenings along the Loire with Paul Lay, Forever Pavot, and Yaron Herman
- Self-service pianos throughout the city
- The majority of events are free and open access
Prices Grand PianO Festival 2026
Practical information — Grand PianO Festival
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place in the center of Orléans, easily accessible by all means of transport.
- By train: Orléans station, a 15-minute walk from the Campo Santo. Orléans is 1h10 from Paris-Austerlitz by direct train.
- By car: A10 motorway (Orléans Centre exit). Nearby parking: Campo Santo parking, Cathédrale parking.
- By tram: Line A or B, « De Gaulle » or « Royale-Châtelet » stop, a few minutes' walk from the concert venues.
Ticketing
The majority of concerts and events are free and open to all. Only the evenings at the Salle de l'Institut and the Campo Santo are ticketed. Tickets are available online on the official website of the City of Orléans.
Indicative prices
- Salle de l'Institut evening: approximately €15
- Campo Santo evening: €25 to €28 (full price) / €18 to €20 (reduced price or presale)
- Free for children under 10 at the Campo Santo
- Pass Culture accepted: €18
Catering
Food stands and bars are set up at the Campo Santo during ticketed evenings. The many restaurants and bars in the center of Orléans are also in the immediate vicinity.
PMR Accessibility
The festival venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility. For any specific requests, please contact the City of Orléans.
Contact
Ville d'Orléans — Direction de la Culture, des Arts et de l'Économie Créative
1 place de l'Étape, 45040 Orléans Cedex 1
Tel: 02 38 79 22 22
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Where does it take place — Grand PianO Festival
Campo Santo, Salle de l'Institut et centre-ville d'Orléans
Campo Santo, 16 rue Dupanloup, 45000 Orléans