Horizons Arts-Nature en Sancy

20th Anniversary — June 20 to September 27, 2026

Horizons “Arts-Nature” en Sancy is blowing out 20 candles, once again transforming the Massif du Sancy into a vast canvas for artistic creation. For this special edition, ten artists are installing their monumental works across ten natural sites in the Auvergne volcanic massif from June 20 to September 27, 2026—an extended season compared to previous years.

The ten selected creations were chosen from 280 submissions by artists from 36 countries for their uniqueness, their message, and how they enhance the natural landscapes that host them. Over 200,000 visitors are expected throughout the season.

The 10 Works of the 2026 Edition

• 1. Une Sentinelle — Olivier Thomas (France), in Compains. A 4m monumental figure wrapped in a dark, organic coat made of wood, recycled truck inner tubes, and aluminum. A subtle opening allows visitors to step inside.
• 2. Le Géant du Souffle — Wilfried De Cock (Belgium), in Picherande. A 2.5m kneeling colossus made of corten steel and wood, composed of thousands of openwork flowers; its open hands welcome visitors to sit. Inspired by the legend of the “Good Giant who loved flowers.”
• 3. Le Repos — Nora Simon (France), in Murol. A young shepherd lying against a traditional stone hut (buron), 3.5m long, made of wood and recycled paper, inspired by a painting by Swedish artist Amalia Lindegren. A tribute to the memory of the buronniers.
• 4. Paysage Respirant — Réka Szabo (Romania), in Le Vernet-Sainte-Marguerite. A 4m tall stylized lung made of wood and metal, whose scales open and close with the wind, as if the installation were breathing.
• 5. Aquila Serta — Jérémy Labarre (France), in Valbeleix. A massive 3.6m bird of prey nest made of solid wood and black cork, where humans feel tiny. A tribute to the raptors of the Sancy.
• 6. À la Dérive — G'Dal (Gilles Gabry) & Winoxsculpt (Sébastien Fargueta) (France), in Montgreleix. A 4m polygonal stainless steel sculpture, visible from 360°: a mother polar bear and her cub stranded on a piece of ice that has drifted to the Sancy.
• 7. L'Étreinte — Antoine Janot (France), in Saint-Pierre-Colamine. A 6m fairy-tale tree made from dead oak trunks twisted together to form a living knot, evoking the solidarity of nature.
• 8. Les Gardiens du Sancy — Rodolfo Liprandi (France), in La Bourboule. Two large 3m tall and 4m long mouflons, made of natural branches assembled exclusively with screws, without glue or synthetic materials.
• 9. Loup — Matthew Burton (France), in Chastreix. A 4m giant wolf made of Douglas fir and vine roots, howling at the top of a volcanic hill, inspired by the local “Wolf of Courlande” legend.
• 10. L'Offrande — Acelya Toker & Maud Dubray (France), in Murat-le-Quaire. Three giant wooden flowers, 8, 5, and 2 meters in diameter, created by two students in event scenography.

An 11th Participatory Work for the 20th Anniversary

In addition to the ten creations, an eleventh participatory work is being crafted by hundreds of “artists for a day.” Made of natural materials, it bears the human traces and messages left by everyone, embodying cooperation, ecology, and the sensitive bond between humans and nature. It will take shape during a grand festive weekend at Super-Besse, at the puy de Chambourguet, on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2026, featuring entertainment, concerts, and a giant picnic.

Horizons in Paris and for Kids

Extending the open-air exhibition, the Orangerie du Sénat at the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris will host the exhibition “Horizons Arts-Nature en Sancy – 20 years of monumental creations” from July 31 to August 11, 2026, with free admission daily. Two decades of ephemeral installations will be highlighted through photographs and a unique scenography designed by students from the Clermont-Ferrand “Arts and Design” program.

For younger audiences, Little Horizons offers original games around the artworks, surprises, and a reward, which can be found on the map distributed at Sancy tourist offices. Each year, an artistic project is also carried out by local school children with two local visual artists and exhibited in exceptional natural sites.