Le Nouveau Printemps
Contemporary creation festival in Toulouse, with Rossy de Palma as associate artist in 2026
About Le Nouveau Printemps
Le Nouveau Printemps is a contemporary creation festival held annually in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne (Occitanie). Created in 1991 by Mathe Perrin under the name Le Printemps de Cahors, becoming Le Printemps de septembre, then renamed Le Nouveau Printemps in 2023, it invites an associate artist each year to take over a different district of the city and compose a program of exhibitions, installations, and performances there.
The 2026 edition, the 38th of the festival, is associated with the Spanish artist Rossy de Palma and takes place in the Marengo, Bonnefoy, and Jolimont districts from May 29 to June 28, 2026. Free admission to all venues on the route.
A contemporary creation festival rooted in Toulouse
Le Nouveau Printemps is one of the major contemporary art events in Occitanie. Founded in 1991 by Mathe Perrin, the festival has had several names (Le Printemps de Cahors, Le Printemps de la photographie, Le Printemps de septembre a Toulouse) before being renamed Le Nouveau Printemps in 2023 under the impetus of its new president Eugenie Lefebvre.
A reinvented district each year
The principle is unique: each year, the festival invites an associate artist to take over a different district of Toulouse. With them, the festival creates a program of exhibitions, performances, concerts, and meetings in public places, art spaces (Lieu-Commun, Les Abattoirs - Frac Occitanie), cultural institutions (Mediatheque Cabanis, Cinematheque, Instituto Cervantes, Centre culturel Bonnefoy) and heritage or unusual sites (Gare Matabiau, Observatoire de Jolimont).
A demanding and accessible artistic vision
The festival champions contemporary creation that is locally rooted, artistically demanding and avant-garde, open to the world, and attentive to social and environmental issues. The entire program offers free admission, in an effort to democratize contemporary art.
The team and governance
The festival is run by the association Le Nouveau Printemps, chaired by Eugenie Lefebvre. Artistic director: Clement Postec. Executive director: Anaelle Bourguignon. The board of directors brings together eight administrators from major French cultural institutions (Centre Pompidou, Institut du Monde Arabe, etc.).
Le Nouveau Printemps â edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Le Nouveau Printemps takes place from May 29 to June 28, 2026 in Toulouse. For this 38th edition, the festival is associated with Spanish artist Rossy de Palma and takes over the Marengo, Bonnefoy, and Jolimont districts. On the program: a circuit of exhibitions, installations, performances, and free-entry meetings.
2026 Edition - Rossy de Palma in Marengo, Bonnefoy, and Jolimont
The 38th edition of Le Nouveau Printemps runs from May 29 to June 28, 2026 in Toulouse. This year, the festival invites Spanish artist Rossy de Palma, a figure of AlmodĂłvar's cinema and a multidisciplinary artist (music, dance, theatre, photography, design), as its associated artist.
Three districts to explore
With her, the festival takes over the Marengo, Bonnefoy, and Jolimont districts, located east of Toulouse, around Matabiau train station. A circuit of works spans sixteen exhibition venues, from the Centre culturel Bonnefoy to the MédiathÚque José Cabanis, passing through Les Abattoirs - Frac Occitanie, the CinémathÚque, the Instituto Cervantes, Lieu-Commun, the Observatoire de Jolimont, and several public spaces.
Theme: forbidden dances, borders, and living together
The 2026 circuit brings together twelve artists from the Occitanie region around the themes of borders, migrations, and forgotten or forbidden dances. Contemporary musical creation plays an important role with unprecedented sound creations and musical performances exploring the limits of genres.
A carte blanche to Rossy de Palma
The edition offers several carte blanches to Rossy de Palma: an exhibition at Les Abattoirs with Spanish and Hispanic artists from the museum's collections, and a cycle of eight screenings at the CinémathÚque de Toulouse, including four films in which she has acted.
Free entry
The entire circuit has free entry, faithful to the festival's mission of promoting contemporary creation open to all audiences.
Programme Le Nouveau Printemps 2026
2026 Program
Opening Weekend: May 29-31, 2026
- Friday, May 29 - Official inauguration, opening of exhibitions throughout the circuit
- Saturday, May 30 - Performances, meetings with artists, guided tours
- Sunday, May 31 - Collective performance by Pilar AlbarracĂn, activities in the districts
Exhibitions and installations (May 29 - June 28)
- Forbidden Dances - collective exhibition around forgotten, prohibited, or hindered dances, with twelve artists from the Occitanie region - Centre culturel Bonnefoy and associated venues
- Carte blanche to Rossy de Palma and Ăngel Pantoja - Centre culturel Bonnefoy and Jardin Michelet
- Carte blanche to Rossy de Palma at Les Abattoirs - selection of works by Spanish and Hispanic artists from the museum's collections - Les Abattoirs - Frac Occitanie
- Multiform - interactive game and installation by Gabriel Fontana, public space
- Sound installations and musical performances - contemporary creations exploring the limits of musical genres - multiple venues
- Installations in the Gare Matabiau, the Observatoire de Jolimont, the Instituto Cervantes, the MĂ©diathĂšque Cabanis, and the Lieu-Commun space
CinémathÚque de Toulouse - Carte blanche to Rossy de Palma
Cycle of eight screenings programmed during the festival, including four films starring Rossy de Palma (Almodóvar filmography and others). Detailed program available on the CinémathÚque website.
Meetings, workshops, and guided tours
Throughout the festival: free guided tours of the circuit, mediation workshops for schools (40 euros per class for the 1st visit, free thereafter), meetings with artists, occasional performances in public spaces.
Full program, precise performance times, and reservations on lenouveauprintemps.com/agenda
Highlights Le Nouveau Printemps 2026
- 38th edition of Le Nouveau Printemps - contemporary creation festival in Toulouse
- Associated artist 2026: Rossy de Palma, figure of AlmodĂłvar's cinema and multidisciplinary artist
- Investment in the Marengo, Bonnefoy, and Jolimont districts (east of Toulouse, around Matabiau train station)
- Theme: forbidden dances, borders, and living together, with 12 artists from the Occitanie region
- Carte blanche to Rossy de Palma at Les Abattoirs - Frac Occitanie (selection of Spanish and Hispanic artists)
- Cycle of 8 screenings at the CinémathÚque de Toulouse, including 4 films with Rossy de Palma
- 16 exhibition venues spread across the 3 districts (Centre culturel Bonnefoy, MĂ©diathĂšque Cabanis, Lieu-Commun, Gare Matabiau, Observatoire de Jolimont, Instituto Cervantes, etc.)
- Collective performance by Pilar AlbarracĂn on May 31
- Interactive game Multiform by Gabriel Fontana in public space
- Opening weekend from May 29 to 31, 2026 with performances and meetings
- Free entry for the entire circuit
Prices Le Nouveau Printemps 2026
Practical information — Le Nouveau Printemps
Practical Information
2026 Edition
The 2026 edition of Le Nouveau Printemps takes place from May 29 to June 28, 2026 in the Marengo, Bonnefoy, and Jolimont districts of Toulouse.
Exhibition Venues
- Centre culturel Bonnefoy - 4 rue du Faubourg Bonnefoy, 31500 Toulouse
- Mediatheque Jose Cabanis
- Les Abattoirs - Musee - Frac Occitanie Toulouse
- Cinematheque de Toulouse
- Instituto Cervantes de Toulouse
- Lieu-Commun artist run space
- Gare Matabiau
- Observatoire de Jolimont
- Public spaces in the district (rue des Jumeaux, rue du Maltens, rue Saint-Laurent)
Prices
Free admission to all venues on the route.
Hours (Centre culturel Bonnefoy)
- Weekdays: 9:00 AM-12:30 PM and 1:30 PM-6:00 PM
- Weekends: 9:00 AM-12:30 PM and 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
Access
The Marengo/Bonnefoy/Jolimont district is served by Matabiau SNCF train station, Marengo-SNCF metro station (line A), and several Tisseo bus lines.
Contact
Phone: 05 67 73 83 60
Official website: lenouveauprintemps.com
Mediation: [email protected]
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Where does it take place â Le Nouveau Printemps
Multi-sites - quartiers Marengo, Bonnefoy, Jolimont
Centre culturel Bonnefoy, 4 rue du Faubourg Bonnefoy, 31818 Toulouse