Horizons Numériques

Digital arts festival at the Abbaye de l'Escaladieu in Bonnemazon (discontinued)

Tarbes — Hautes-Pyrénées (65)
Classical Variety
Horizons Numériques
Edition
2026
Edition 2026 — event currently on hold

There is no edition scheduled in 2026 for this event. This page remains accessible to archive the history of the manifestation and will be updated if a new edition is announced.

Horizons Numériques

About Horizons Numériques

Horizons Numériques was the digital arts festival of the Hautes-Pyrénées Department, held at the Abbaye de l'Escaladieu in Bonnemazon, about thirty kilometers southeast of Tarbes. Launched in 2009, it took place every September and blended interactive installations, performances, concerts, digital poetry, and virtual reality experiences, such as pedal-powered light machines, sensory sound walls, and augmented greenhouses. The 9th edition, held on September 2nd and 3rd, 2017, is the last one documented by any available source. The pages previously dedicated to the festival on the abbey's website have since been removed, and it no longer appears in their programming.
Dates 05 Sep — 06 Sep 2026
Location Tarbes (65)
Prices
Status Cancelled
Edition 2026

Horizons Numériques — edition 2026

ℹ️ 2026 edition cancelled — the festival is on hiatus. There will be no Horizons Numériques festival on September 5th and 6th, 2026. The official program for the abbaye de l'Escaladieu for June–September 2026, published by the Département des Hautes-Pyrénées, does not mention the festival, and the abbey's online calendar shows no events for September 5th. The last confirmed edition was the 9th, held on September 2nd and 3rd, 2017.

No 2026 edition

Horizons Numériques does not appear in the official program for the abbaye de l'Escaladieu for June–September 2026 (a 36-page document published by the Département des Hautes-Pyrénées), nor in its online calendar, nor in the Department's announcements regarding the abbey's 2026 cultural season. The abbey's website has been redesigned, and its former pages dedicated to the festival now redirect to the homepage.

At the abbaye de l'Escaladieu in September 2026

The digital festival has no replacement, but the abbey has announced the following events in Bonnemazon (not Tarbes):

  • Sunday, September 6th, 3:00 PM — "Secrets of Trees" guided tour, by Sophie Maillé (Nature en Occitanie) and Xavier De Muyser (A.R.B.R.E.S): remarkable trees in the park, their history, management, and the importance of water · 1h 30m · all ages · booking recommended
  • Friday, September 11th, 8:05 PM — Torchlight tour of the abbey · booking required
  • Wednesday, September 16th, 4:00 PM — "La Nuit d'Elif", an immersive musical show by Cie A Noise · for ages 2 and up
  • Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th, 10:00 AM - 6:15 PM — European Heritage Days, free: guided tour of the "Le chant de l'eau" exhibition (Saturday 10:30 AM, Sunday 10:00 AM); "The Abbey and its History" guided tour (Saturday and Sunday 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 5:00 PM); "Water and Works" guided tour (Saturday 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM, Sunday 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM); "Painting the River" workshop, collective mural with Sandy Mossion (Saturday and Sunday 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM); musical stroll through the exhibition by Xabi Pagola on the hang drum (Saturday 5:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM)
  • Friday, September 25th, Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday, September 27th — Festival Diosas: performances, lecture, craft market, guided tours, and workshops

The "Le chant de l'eau" exhibition is on display from April 3rd to November 1st, 2026, included with the abbey entrance ticket. Open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:15 PM.

Practical information

Practical information — Horizons Numériques

ℹ️ Festival discontinued. Horizons Numériques is no longer held; the last confirmed edition was the 9th, on September 2nd and 3rd, 2017. The Abbaye de l'Escaladieu remains open to visitors and continues to host a year-round cultural program.

Access

The Abbaye de l'Escaladieu is located in Bonnemazon, about thirty kilometers southeast of Tarbes, roughly a 30-minute drive. Allow 50 minutes from Pau and 1 hour 30 minutes from Toulouse.

Location

Abbaye de l'Escaladieu, 65130 Bonnemazon (Hautes-Pyrénées).

Abbey opening hours

Open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:15 PM (June-September 2026 season). The Pass Culture is accepted.

Contact

Abbaye de l'Escaladieu
Phone: 05 31 74 39 50
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.abbaye-escaladieu.com

Accessibility

The site is partially accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. For specific needs, please contact the abbey in advance.

ℹ️ Festival discontinued. Horizons Numériques, the digital arts festival organized by the Hautes-Pyrénées Department at the Abbaye de l'Escaladieu, is no longer held. The 9th edition, on September 2nd and 3rd, 2017, was the last one confirmed by accessible records. The official program for the abbey for June-September 2026, published by the Department, makes no mention of it, and the abbey's website no longer hosts any pages regarding the event.

Digital creation in a Cistercian abbey

Horizons Numériques was a digital arts festival organized by the Hautes-Pyrénées Department. It took place at the Abbaye de l'Escaladieu, a former Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century in the village of Bonnemazon, about thirty kilometers southeast of Tarbes. Launched in 2009, it returned every year in early September.

Program

Highlights included:

  • Interactive installations: pedal-powered light machines, sensory sound walls, and augmented greenhouses
  • Virtual reality: immersive experiences and VR headsets
  • Performances: shows blending art and technology
  • Concerts: electronic music and sound design
  • Digital poetry: new forms of writing and storytelling

A festival for everyone

Horizons Numériques offered a playful and unconventional approach to digital art, accessible to both beginners and enthusiasts alike.

The Abbaye de l'Escaladieu

Founded in the 12th century, the Abbaye de l'Escaladieu is a former Cistercian abbey located in Bonnemazon (65130). It remains open to visitors and maintains a cultural program throughout the year, including exhibitions, shows, guided tours, and workshops. In 2026, it is hosting the exhibition "Le chant de l'eau" from April 3rd to November 1st.

Where does it take place — Horizons Numériques

Abbaye de l'Escaladieu
Abbaye de l'Escaladieu, 65130 Bonnemazon, 65000 Tarbes

Horizons Numériques in brief

Classical Variety Hautes-Pyrénées

History of Horizons Numériques

Edition 2025 Sep 2025

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Contact Horizons Numériques
Tel 05 31 74 39 50

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