La Déferlante
Free music and street arts festival on the Atlantic coast
2026
About La Déferlante
La Déferlante — edition 2026
The 33rd edition of La Déferlante in Pornic unfolds in two main phases. The Spring Déferlante took place on May 16 and 17, 2026, at Jardin de Retz and on the Esplanade de la Ria with « L'Odyssée » by Cie Bravache and « Monique » by Projet Coin. The Summer Déferlante takes over from July to the end of August 2026, notably featuring the Giorgio Harmonie brass band on July 17 at Place du Môle / Place Macé and several shows announced at Jardin de Retz, the Clion-sur-Mer annex town hall, and Place du Môle. Detailed program on ladeferlante.com.
La Déferlante 2026 in Pornic — 33rd edition of the network
For 2026, the La Déferlante network celebrates its 33rd season on the Atlantic coast, faithful to its mission of free, open-air cultural programming. In Pornic, the edition unfolds as every year in two main phases, from spring to late summer.
The Spring Déferlante — May 16 and 17, 2026
For Ascension weekend, two entirely free shows have been programmed in Pornic:
- Saturday, May 16, 5 PM — Jardin de Retz: « L'Odyssée » by Cie Bravache. Theatrical adaptation of Homer's epic, 50 minutes, from 8 years old.
- Sunday, May 17, 3 PM and 5 PM — Esplanade de la Ria: « Monique » by Projet Coin. Circus around the unicycle, two performances of 35 minutes, from 3 years old.
The Summer Déferlante — July and August 2026
The summer program covers July and August in Pornic's emblematic sites. The first confirmed events to date:
- Friday, July 17 — Place du Môle / Place Macé: Giorgio Harmonie, a retro-contemporary choreographed brass band.
- Jardin de Retz: « Mort ou Vif » by Silembloc Cie — a circus creation with western and rock'n'roll accents, mixing juggling, balance, dance, and live music (from 5 years old).
- Green space, Clion-sur-Mer annex town hall: young audience show by Tuga, a Chilean mime from Valparaíso, for a poetic stroll for all audiences.
The rest of the summer program (street theater, contemporary circus, concerts) is gradually announced by the organizers on ladeferlante.com and destinationpornic.com.
All festival sites in Pornic
- Jardin de Retz: a green setting in the heart of the city, the main venue for performances.
- Place Macé: near the historic center, hosts large-scale street performances.
- Place du Môle: facing the old port and the castle, a spectacular setting for evenings.
- Esplanade de la Ria: new site used for Spring 2026.
- Green space, Clion-sur-Mer annex town hall: opening of the festival to peripheral neighborhoods.
All shows remain entirely free, without reservation, in line with the network's mission of cultural democratization.
Highlights La Déferlante 2026
- 33rd edition of the La Déferlante network in 2026
- 100% free and open-air festival, no reservation required
- Spring Déferlante on May 16 and 17, 2026 (Jardin de Retz and Esplanade de la Ria)
- Summer Déferlante from July to late August 2026 in the city's emblematic sites
- Giorgio Harmonie brass band on July 17 at Place du Môle / Place Macé
- « Mort ou Vif » circus by Silembloc Cie at Jardin de Retz
- Young audience show Tuga in Clion-sur-Mer
Programme La Déferlante 2026
The Spring Déferlante — Pornic
- Saturday, May 16, 2026, 5 PM — Jardin de Retz: « L'Odyssée » by Cie Bravache (street theater, 50 min, from 8 years old)
- Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3 PM and 5 PM — Esplanade de la Ria: « Monique » by Projet Coin (circus / unicycle, 35 min, from 3 years old)
The Summer Déferlante — Pornic
- Friday, July 17, 2026 — Place du Môle / Place Macé: Giorgio Harmonie (retro-contemporary choreographed brass band)
- Summer 2026 — Jardin de Retz: « Mort ou Vif » by Silembloc Cie (western / rock'n'roll circus, from 5 years old)
- Summer 2026 — Green space, Clion-sur-Mer annex town hall: young audience show by Tuga (Chilean mime, all audiences)
The complete program for the Summer Déferlante 2026 is gradually announced by the organizers. Detailed calendar updated on ladeferlante.com.
Prices La Déferlante 2026
Practical information — La Déferlante
Practical Information
Performance venues in Pornic
- Jardin de Retz — 44210 Pornic (main venue, green setting in the town center)
- Place Macé — 44210 Pornic (near the historic center)
- Place du Môle — 44210 Pornic (facing the old port)
- Green space, Clion-sur-Mer town hall annexe — 44210 Pornic
Prices
All performances are completely free, for both La Déferlante de Printemps and La Déferlante d'Été. No reservations are necessary.
Schedules
Performances usually take place in the late afternoon and evening, generally between 6 PM and 9 PM. Some spring performances start as early as 3 PM. Consult the detailed program on the official website.
Access
By car: Pornic is located 50 km west of Nantes. From Nantes, take the D751 or the A83 then the D758. Free parking near the town center.
By bus: Aléop line from Nantes to Pornic.
By train: Pornic station, TER connection from Nantes (approx. 1 hour).
By carpooling: The festival recommends carpooling for an ecological and economical approach.
Tips
- Arrive early for the most popular performances, seating is not numbered.
- Bring clothing suitable for the weather: performances are held outdoors.
- Check the calendar on ladeferlante.com for the exact dates of performances in Pornic.
Contact in Pornic
Cultural Service of the City of Pornic
Phone: 02 40 82 31 11 / 02 40 82 57 91
Email: [email protected]
La Déferlante: The cultural wave of the Atlantic coast
Since 1994, La Déferlante has brought together seaside towns on the Atlantic coast around a common project: to offer everyone, free of charge and in the open air, a quality artistic program. Born from the desire to extend the "Les Arts au Soleil" operation, which disappeared in the early 1990s, the network has continuously grown to become one of the most popular street arts festivals in France.
Pornic, land of shows
In Pornic, La Déferlante transforms the most beautiful sites in the city into open-air stages. The Jardin de Retz, a true green setting in the heart of the city, hosts the majority of the performances in an intimate and friendly atmosphere. Place Macé and Place du Môle, facing the old port and the castle, offer a spectacular setting for large-scale street performances. The green space of the Clion-sur-Mer town hall annexe completes the setup by opening the festival to the peripheral neighborhoods.
Two seasons, one energy
The festival unfolds in two annual highlights. La Déferlante de Printemps, programmed each year during the Ascension weekend since 2007, launches the cultural season with street theater, circus, and puppet shows in a family-friendly atmosphere. La Déferlante d'Été, programmed from July to August since 1995, offers a wider range of street arts, contemporary music concerts, world music, dance, contemporary circus, and visual performances.
A network of 13 towns
The strength of La Déferlante lies in its network organization. The 13 member towns — Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, Pornic, Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, Barbâtre, La Barre-de-Monts-Fromentine, Notre-Dame-de-Monts, Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Brem-sur-Mer, Jard-sur-Mer, and La Tranche-sur-Mer — pool their resources to program high-level national and international companies. Each town has its own programmer, ensuring a program adapted to local specificities.
All street arts disciplines
La Déferlante covers all street arts disciplines: street theater, contemporary circus, puppetry, dance, music, visual performances, brass bands, and parades. Companies take over public spaces to create unique moments of sharing, where the line between artists and spectators blurs for a joyful and unifying collective experience.
Where does it take place — La Déferlante
La Déferlante in brief
Other festivals near Pornic
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