Grande Marée

Grande Marée 2026: 22nd edition featuring circus, brass bands, and street arts

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, Grande Marée kicks off the summer in Saint-Nazaire for the 22nd time. From 3:30 PM to midnight, the Saint-Nazaire seafront — from the Sautron green space to Place Neptune and Villès-Martin beach — transforms into a large open-air stage, entirely free and accessible to all audiences.

A circus theme for the 2026 edition

Co-organized by the City of Saint-Nazaire, Le Théâtre – scène nationale, and the Les Escales association, this new edition honors the circus with a majority of invited circus companies, alongside brass bands, puppet theater, magic, and dances. The public is invited to wander between shows and bring their picnic for the traditional grand giant meal on the beach.

The afternoon: children's dance and brass bands

From 3:30 PM, Place Neptune hosts the Children's Dance animated by Trio Amañ, featuring traditional dances blending folk, Celtic, and world music. From 5 PM, the Mortal Combo brass band takes over the seafront with its energetic street sextet combining brass, saxophones, electric guitar, and portable drums.

The evening: acrobatic dance, big band, and itinerant shows

From 5:45 PM to 8:15 PM, Compagnie Système B presents L'arbre à danser on Villès-Martin beach, a spectacular dance combining local musical ensembles and residents of the area. The big band of the Saint-Nazaire Conservatory follows with Dancing in the Street on Place Neptune in two sets (7:45 PM and 8:25 PM), exploring swing, disco, R'n'B, mambo, and techno. From 8:15 PM, the seafront fills with itinerant shows: puppets from Ruby Box Theater, magic and close-up by Alexandre Fourchon, percussion from Table musique.

Grand final show on the beach

At 10:30 PM, Compagnie Remue Ménage concludes the evening with La Belle Illusion on Villès-Martin beach: an acrobatic ballet that blends dance, aerial straps, fire juggling, and circus arts, under the Saint-Nazaire summer sky. The giant picnic, associative food stalls, and refreshment stands accompany the entire evening.

Access and adapted transport

For this 2026 edition, STRAN network line 5 serves the site until 10 PM, supplemented by two «Hélyce by Night» buses at midnight to facilitate return. Free bicycle parking facilities are deployed around the site.

Saturday, June 6, 2026 — detailed program

• 3:30 PM – 5 PM — Children's Dance by Trio Amañ · Place Neptune. Traditional dances blending folk, Celtic, and world music, for families.
• 5 PM – 5:45 PM and 9 PM – 9:45 PM — Mortal Combo Brass Band · Seafront. Energetic street sextet: brass, saxophones, electric guitar, portable drums.
• 5:45 PM – 8:15 PM — L'arbre à danser by Compagnie Système B · Villès-Martin Beach. Spectacular dance with local musical ensembles and residents, the result of a shared creation with the territory.
• 7:45 PM – 8:05 PM and 8:25 PM – 8:55 PM — Dancing in the Street by the Saint-Nazaire Conservatory big band · Place Neptune. Dance music: swing, disco, R'n'B, mambo, techno.
• 8:15 PM – 10 PM — Itinerant shows on the seafront :
  • Ruby Box Theater — puppet theater.
  • Alexandre Fourchon — magic and close-up.
  • Table musique — itinerant percussion performance.
• 10:30 PM – 11:20 PM — La Belle Illusion by Compagnie Remue Ménage · Villès-Martin Beach. Grand final show: acrobatic ballet blending dance, aerial straps, fire juggling, and circus arts.

Throughout the event: giant picnic on the beach, associative food stalls (savory, sweet, drinks, prices €1–€12), refreshment stands.

• 22nd edition of Grande Marée, Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 3:30 PM to midnight
• Circus-themed edition with invited companies (Cie Système B, Cie Remue Ménage)
• Grand final pyrotechnic show La Belle Illusion on the beach at 10:30 PM
• Children's Dance with Trio Amañ at Place Neptune from 3:30 PM
• Mortal Combo Brass Band and Conservatory big band performing itinerantly
• Giant picnic on Villès-Martin beach, associative stalls (€1–€12)
• Completely free · STRAN line 5 until 10 PM, Hélyce by Night at midnight

Access to Grande Marée

By Car

From Nantes, take the RN171 towards Saint-Nazaire (approx. 1 hour). The Villès-Martin seafront is located along boulevard Albert Ier and boulevard de l'Océan. Parking is available near the seafront and the Sautron green space.

By Train

Saint-Nazaire station is served by TER Pays de la Loire from Nantes (45 min), Le Croisic, and La Baule. The Villès-Martin seafront is about a 25-minute walk from the station or accessible by the urban bus network.

By Bus

The STRAN network (urban transport of CARENE – Saint-Nazaire Agglomération) serves the seafront. Consult the website stran.fr for schedules and routes.

Hours

Grande Marée takes place on the first Saturday of June, from 3 PM to midnight. The afternoon (3 PM-6 PM) is dedicated to family activities in the Sautron green space. Street performances and concerts start at 6 PM on the seafront and Villès-Martin beach.

Price

Completely free entry for all performances and activities.

Food & Drink

Bars and food stalls are available on site. Visitors are invited to bring their own picnic to enjoy the traditional giant picnic on Villès-Martin beach.

Contact

Le Théâtre – scène nationale de Saint-Nazaire
Phone: 02 40 22 91 36
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.letheatre-saintnazaire.fr