Les Années Joué
Street arts festival at Parc de la Rabière in Joué-lès-Tours
2026
About Les Années Joué
Les Années Joué is the largest street arts festival in Indre-et-Loire and a major highlight of the genre in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Every first weekend of June since 1998, this completely free festival transforms the Parc de la Rabière and the surrounding Rabière district in Joué-lès-Tours into a vast open-air theater.
Over three days, around forty companies from across France and abroad put on approximately 90 performances, ranging from street theater, circus acts, and clowning to dance, music, puppetry, roving performances, and grand illuminated night shows. Organized by the City of Joué-lès-Tours, which mobilizes over 200 staff members and numerous volunteers, the event draws at least 30,000 spectators each weekend and is centered around a unifying theme every year.
Les Années Joué — edition 2026
For its 29th edition, the Les Années Joué festival takes over the Parc de la Rabière and the surrounding neighborhood in Joué-lès-Tours, from Friday, June 5th to Sunday, June 7th, 2026. The theme for this year is "Histoires d'en rire" (Stories to Laugh About), a celebration of clowns, whimsy, and offbeat humor.
Around 40 theater companies from the Touraine region, Loir-et-Cher, Lorraine, as well as Switzerland, Spain, Austria, and Chile will perform approximately 90 free shows over three days across ten different performance areas. Street theater, circus arts, dance, music, puppetry, roving performances, and grand nighttime spectacles will run from Friday at 7:00 PM through Sunday night, all centered around a gourmet village with 40 food stalls, a funfair, and a dedicated family area.
Les Années Joué 2026: "Histoires d'en rire"
Following "Oh! Naturel" in 2024 and "tutoyer les étoiles" in 2025, the 29th edition of Les Années Joué turns the weekend into a festival of laughter. From June 5th to 7th, 2026, about 40 companies will present 90 entirely free performances in the Parc de la Rabière and the surrounding streets of Joué-lès-Tours. Clowns, visual comedies, parodies, and burlesque takes on literary classics—from Victor Hugo to Shakespeare—will blend with circus, dance, puppetry, and music.
Three major nighttime highlights
Saturday night is the weekend's peak with "Légendaire" by the Remue-Ménage company (9:45 PM–11:00 PM): a luminous procession of giant foxes, accompanied by dancers and acrobats amidst smoke and glowing lights, starting from Rue de Verdun and the Boulevard Jean Jaurès roundabout. The parade leads the audience to Place Mandela, where Les Filles du Renard Pâle will perform "Hors Ligne" at 11:00 PM—a high-wire act set to rock music, featuring a tightrope walker, an aerialist, five riggers, and two musicians.
On Friday, "L'Ethno Machine" by Nomad Nomad will roam with its fantastic metallic contraption at 10:00 PM (Boulevard Jean Jaurès roundabout) and again at 12:20 AM (Rond-point du Calvaire), while Vladimir Spoutnik turns the Place de la Marne into a Balkan-style dance party at 11:00 PM—and again on Saturday at 11:30 PM.
La Nouvelle Vague: emerging talent
In partnership with the Swiss festival in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the La Nouvelle Vague initiative showcases five emerging street art companies: four from the region and one from Switzerland. A panel of professionals, including Acteurs de Territoire (37), Les Filles du Jolivet (37), and Le Carroi (18), supports these teams in creating their public space performances. The project is backed by the Centre-Val de Loire region and the DRAC Centre-Val de Loire.
Collaborations with local residents
Several performances are the result of year-round work with local Jocondiens. "Aqui Aqua" by the Cincle Plongeur company is a participatory dance piece performed on Saturday by six classes from the La Rabière and L'Arche du Lude middle schools, after which the audience is invited to join in. "On voudrait juste marcher ensemble", a participatory video mapping project by the l'Astronef association and the Cité éducative, will light up the facade of the La Rabière middle school on Friday night. The MJC de Joué-lès-Tours will present the choreographic triptych "Pulsions" on Saturday and "Dembaya," a West African dance and percussion show, on Sunday.
Gourmet village, funfair, and family area
Spread across three sites, the gourmet villages feature bars, local restaurateurs, and Jocondien associations across 40 stands. The funfair runs throughout the festival, the Enf'amille area offers creative workshops themed around "Histoires d'en rire" in the shade of the woods near the Salle Jacques Brel, and the Big Bamboo team sets up their games, culture, and dance space in the gourmet village. An official mobile app allows you to customize your schedule, locate yourself on-site, and follow last-minute updates in real time.
Highlights Les Années Joué 2026
- 29th edition themed "Histoires d'en rire" — around 40 companies, approximately 90 free performances over three days
- "Légendaire" — Remue-Ménage, Saturday, June 6th, 9:45 PM–11:00 PM: a procession of luminous foxes, dancers, and acrobats, starting from Rue de Verdun. The weekend's main event
- "Hors Ligne" — Les Filles du Renard Pâle, Saturday, June 6th, 11:00 PM at Place Mandela: high-wire act with a rock soundtrack, featuring an aerialist, riggers, and musicians
- "L'Ethno Machine" — Nomad Nomad, Friday, June 5th, 10:00 PM and 12:20 AM: a fantastic, aerial contraption traveling through the city at night
- Balkan dance party with Vladimir Spoutnik, Friday at 11:00 PM and Saturday at 11:30 PM, Place de la Marne
- Bar hosted by Le Temps Machine, Saturday night at Place de la Marne: Ha Ha Hands at 9:00 PM followed by Rita Amoureux at 10:00 PM
- La Nouvelle Vague: five supported emerging companies (four regional and one Swiss), in partnership with the Swiss festival in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Burlesque takes on classics: "Les Misérables" by Les Batteurs de Pavés and "Roméo & Juliette" by Brasse de l'Air, at Lycée d'Arsonval
- Collaborations with residents: "Aqui Aqua" (six classes from La Rabière and L'Arche du Lude middle schools) and "On voudrait juste marcher ensemble", video mapping on the La Rabière middle school facade
- Entirely free admission, gourmet village with 40 stands, funfair, and Enf'amille family area
Programme Les Années Joué 2026
Friday, June 5th, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Festival opening · Maison du Parc
- 7:15 PM–8:00 PM — Spectralex / Diane Bonnot, "Geniève de Keransac" (kick-off) · Maison du Parc
- 7:20 PM–8:05 PM — Gromic (Barcelona), "La tendresse du rire" · Middle school parking lot
- 7:30 PM–8:15 PM, 9:00 PM–9:45 PM and 11:00 PM–11:45 PM — Théâtre de la Toupine, "Le Pianoteur" · Gourmet village
- 7:30 PM–8:30 PM — Tuga, "Un verano naranja" · Parc de la Rabière plain
- 8:00 PM–8:50 PM and 10:00 PM–10:50 PM — Compagnie Albedo, "Les Tonys" · Gourmet village (roving)
- 8:10 PM–11:10 PM — Progéniture, "Allô?" · Place de la Marne
- 8:15 PM–9:45 PM — Opus, "80 m²" · Salle Jacques Brel forecourt
- 8:30 PM–9:30 PM — 126 Kilos et toi d'abord, "Quatuor" · La Rabière gymnasium, basketball court
- 8:45 PM–9:45 PM — Brasse de l'Air, "La très excellente et lamentable tragédie de Roméo & Juliette" · Lycée d'Arsonval, Tapisserie courtyard
- 10:00 PM–10:45 PM and 12:20 AM–1:00 AM — Nomad Nomad, "L'Ethno Machine" · Bd Jean Jaurès roundabout then Rond-point du Calvaire
- 10:15 PM–11:15 PM — L'Astronef, "On voudrait juste marcher ensemble" (participatory video mapping) · Middle school courtyard
- 11:00 PM–12:20 AM — Vladimir Spoutnik, "Y'a du monde aux Balkans" · Place de la Marne
Saturday, June 6th, 2026
- 12:30 PM–1:15 PM, 7:00 PM–7:45 PM and 10:20 PM–11:05 PM — Théâtre de la Toupine, "Le Pianoteur" · Gourmet village
- 2:30 PM–8:00 PM — Dame du Mûrier / Les Elfes, "Plouf Land" · Rue de la Olla woods
- 3:00 PM–3:30 PM and 6:30 PM–7:00 PM — MJC de Joué-lès-Tours, "Pulsions" · Gourmet village stage
- 3:15 PM–4:15 PM — Brasse de l'Air, "Roméo & Juliette" · Lycée d'Arsonval, Tapisserie courtyard
- 3:20 PM–4:00 PM and 8:30 PM–9:10 PM — Imperial Kikiristan, "Kikiristani's Fantasy" · Gourmet village
- 3:45 PM–5:10 PM — Les Urbaindigènes, "Ensemble on va trop loin" · Rue du Maréchal Foch
- 4:00 PM–4:50 PM and 8:00 PM–8:50 PM — Compagnie Albedo, "Les Tonys" · Gourmet village
- 4:00 PM–5:00 PM — La Césure, "Toute ma vie" · Salle Jacques Brel forecourt (100 seats, reservation required)
- 4:00 PM–5:30 PM — Spectralex, "Les aventures de Robin des Bois" · Salle Jacques Brel woods
- 4:00 PM–4:30 PM — Carmes, "Ça a mal chessé" · Behind the cemetery, facing 25 Rue Fleming
- 4:20 PM–5:10 PM — Compagnie N°8, "Golem" · Departure Rue de Verdun (roving to gourmet village)
- 4:20 PM–5:50 PM — Opus, "80 m²" · Salle Jacques Brel forecourt
- 4:30 PM–5:50 PM — Le Grand Colossal Théâtre, "Feu Mme Singer" · La Rabière gymnasium, basketball court
- 4:30 PM–7:00 PM and 9:20 PM–10:45 PM — Progéniture, "Allô?" · Place de la Marne
- 4:35 PM–5:45 PM — La Rouille, "Le Chienchien des Babaskerville" · Middle school courtyard
- 4:45 PM–5:45 PM — Les Batteurs de Pavés (Switzerland), "Les Misérables" · Lycée d'Arsonval, Tapisserie courtyard
- 5:00 PM–6:00 PM — La Populaire, "La Création" · Gourmet village
- 5:50 PM–6:50 PM — Tuga, "Un verano naranja" · Parc de la Rabière plain
- 6:00 PM–6:30 PM — Académie Capoeira Itaparica · Gourmet village stage
- 6:00 PM–9:00 PM — Theater Gili Gili, "Funny Hats" · Place de la Marne
- 6:00 PM–7:00 PM — Kadavresky, "Les Madeleines de Poulpe" · Middle school, sports field
- 6:10 PM–7:10 PM — AfAg Théâtre, "La vraie vie des pirates!" · Salle Jacques Brel woods
- 6:15 PM–7:00 PM — Monsieur K, "Rien?" · Fleming parking lot
- 6:15 PM–7:15 PM — 126 Kilos et toi d'abord, "Quatuor" · La Rabière gymnasium, basketball court
- 6:40 PM–7:30 PM — Cincle Plongeur, "Aqui Aqua" (participatory dance) · Square Picot
- 7:00 PM–8:05 PM — Les Sanglés et En Corps en l'Air, "Gagarine is not dead" · Parc de la Rabière plain
- 7:10 PM–7:50 PM — Compagnie Crinoline (Switzerland), "Bouboule & Quatzieux" · Restos du Cœur courtyard
- 7:10 PM–7:55 PM — Gromic, "La tendresse du rire" · Middle school parking lot
- 7:20 PM–8:05 PM — La Contrebande, "Clan Cabane" · Parc de la Rabière, in front of the pond
- 8:00 PM–8:45 PM — Collectif Le Grand Festin, "Mariage Carnage" · Rond-point du Calvaire, Rue de Verdun
- 8:10 PM–8:55 PM — Leandre Clown (Barcelona), "Fly me to the moon" · La Rabière gymnasium, outdoor sports field
- 8:15 PM–9:00 PM — Theater Gili Gili (Vienna), "Barto" · Middle school parking lot
- 9:00 PM–10:00 PM — Ha Ha Hands, then 10:00 PM–11:00 PM Rita Amoureux · Bar hosted by Le Temps Machine, Place de la Marne
- 9:45 PM–11:00 PM — Remue-Ménage, "Légendaire" · Departure Rue de Verdun / Bd Jean Jaurès roundabout
- 11:00 PM–12:00 AM — Les Filles du Renard Pâle, "Hors Ligne" (tightrope) · Place Mandela
- 11:30 PM–12:50 AM — Vladimir Spoutnik, "Y'a du monde aux Balkans" · Place de la Marne
Sunday, June 7th, 2026
- 12:00 PM–3:00 PM — Le Big Bamboo · Gourmet village
- 2:00 PM–7:30 PM — Dame du Mûrier / Les Elfes, "Plouf Land" · Rue de la Olla woods
- 3:00 PM–3:30 PM — MJC de Joué-lès-Tours, "Dembaya" · Gourmet village stage
- 3:00 PM–4:00 PM — AfAg Théâtre, "La vraie vie des pirates!" · Salle Jacques Brel woods
- 3:00 PM–5:00 PM and 5:50 PM–7:00 PM — Progéniture, "Allô?" · Place de la Marne
- 3:15 PM–3:55 PM and 6:45 PM–7:25 PM — Imperial Kikiristan, "Kikiristani's Fantasy" · Gourmet village
- 3:30 PM–4:20 PM and 6:15 PM–7:05 PM — Compagnie Albedo, "Les Tonys" · Gourmet village
- 3:30 PM–4:00 PM — Carmes, "Ça a mal chessé" · Behind the cemetery, facing 25 Rue Fleming
- 3:40 PM–4:45 PM — Les Sanglés et En Corps en l'Air, "Gagarine is not dead" · Parc de la Rabière plain
- 3:45 PM–5:10 PM — Les Urbaindigènes, "Ensemble on va trop loin" · Rue du Maréchal Foch
- 3:45 PM–4:55 PM — La Rouille, "Le Chienchien des Babaskerville" · Middle school courtyard
- 3:45 PM–4:45 PM — La Césure, "Toute ma vie" · Salle Jacques Brel forecourt
- 4:00 PM–4:30 PM — Académie Capoeira Itaparica · Gourmet village stage
- 4:00 PM–4:45 PM — La Contrebande, "Clan Cabane" · Parc de la Rabière, in front of the pond
- 4:00 PM–4:45 PM — Monsieur K, "Rien?" · Fleming parking lot
- 4:05 PM–5:35 PM — Spectralex, "Les aventures de Robin des Bois" · Salle Jacques Brel woods
- 4:30 PM–5:20 PM — Compagnie N°8, "Golem" · Departure Rue de Verdun
- 4:30 PM–7:30 PM — Theater Gili Gili, "Funny Hats" · Place de la Marne
- 4:45 PM–5:45 PM — La Populaire, "La Création" · Gourmet village
- 4:45 PM–6:05 PM — Le Grand Colossal Théâtre, "L'imagination au pouvoir" · La Rabière gymnasium, basketball court
- 4:50 PM–5:50 PM — Les Batteurs de Pavés, "Les Misérables" · Lycée d'Arsonval, Tapisserie courtyard
- 5:00 PM–5:40 PM — Compagnie Crinoline, "Bouboule & Quatzieux" · Restos du Cœur courtyard
- 5:00 PM–5:45 PM — Theater Gili Gili, "Barto" · Middle school parking lot
- 5:45 PM–6:30 PM — Collectif Le Grand Festin, "Mariage Carnage" · Rond-point du Calvaire, Rue de Verdun
- 5:45 PM–6:45 PM — Kadavresky, "Les Madeleines de Poulpe" · Middle school, sports field
- 6:15 PM–7:00 PM — Leandre Clown, "Fly me to the moon" · La Rabière gymnasium, outdoor sports field
- 7:30 PM–8:00 PM — Spectralex / Diane Bonnot, "Geniève de Keransac" (festival closing) · Salle Jacques Brel forecourt
Continuous areas and activities
- Gourmet village (40 stands across 3 sites) — Friday 6:00 PM–1:00 AM, Saturday 12:00 PM–1:00 AM, Sunday 12:00 PM–10:00 PM
- Funfair — Friday 6:00 PM–1:00 AM, Saturday 11:30 AM–1:00 AM, Sunday 11:30 AM–9:00 PM
- Enf'amille area (creative workshops, woods near Salle Jacques Brel) — Friday 7:00 PM–10:00 PM, Saturday 3:00 PM–10:00 PM, Sunday 3:00 PM–7:00 PM
- Le Big Bamboo (games, culture, and dance, at the gourmet village) — Friday 8:00 PM–1:00 AM, Saturday 8:00 PM–1:00 AM, Sunday 12:00 PM–3:00 PM
Prices Les Années Joué 2026
The only exception is "Toute ma vie" by the La Césure company, which is limited to 100 seats. Reservations are mandatory via SMS to the company at 06 95 94 70 42, only during the festival and on the day of the performance.
Funfair attractions and food/drink at the gourmet village are paid.
Les Années Joué — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 5 June to 7 June 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Les Années Joué
Access and transport
- Free shuttle between the La Borde leisure center car park (near the Albaladéjo rugby stadium) and the festival on Rue Fleming: Friday 6:30 PM–1:30 AM, Saturday 11:30 AM–1:30 AM, Sunday 11:30 AM–9:30 PM.
- Tram line A: stops at “Rotière” or “Rabière”. Park-and-ride facilities are available at the L'Heure Tranquille and Lycée Jean Monnet stops. Service runs from 11:30 AM to 1:05 AM, Friday and Saturday only.
- Fil Bleu bus: lines 16 and 31 (stop “Joué centre”), line 15 (stop “Rotière”), line 31 (stop “Gamard A10”).
- By bike: a bicycle parking area is located next to the Maison du Parc on Rue de Verdun.
- By car: parking is available in the town center of Joué-lès-Tours, at the Albaladéjo rugby stadium (shuttle departure point), and at the park-and-ride tram lots.
On-site
- Two information points distribute programs and provide assistance: near the Salle Jacques Brel and near the Maison du Parc, within the Parc de la Rabière.
- Gourmet Village: spread across three sites, it brings together bars, local restaurants, and associations from Joué-lès-Tours with around forty stalls.
- Funfair and Enf'amille area (creative workshops for children in the shade of the woods near the Salle Jacques Brel) run alongside the performances.
- Official mobile app “Les Années Joué”, available on the App Store and Play Store: features a customizable schedule, on-site geolocation, and real-time alerts for any show changes or cancellations.
- The Parc de la Rabière is a natural site: waste sorting stations, bio-waste and used oil collection in the gourmet village, and a cleaning crew operating throughout the site.
Contact
Events Department of the City of Joué-lès-Tours — 02 47 39 76 02 — [email protected]
Les Années Joué: The Largest Street Arts Festival in Touraine
Since 1998, Les Années Joué has transformed the Parc de la Rabière and the streets of Joué-lès-Tours into a huge open-air theater every year in early June. This free street arts festival has become, over the years, one of the most popular cultural events in the Tours metropolitan area, attracting thousands of spectators for three days of celebration, surprises, and artistic discoveries.
A Rich Program of Street Arts
Each edition of Les Années Joué hosts about twenty companies offering around a hundred performances over three days. The program covers the entire spectrum of street arts: circus, street theater, dance, music, acrobatics, parades, pyrotechnic shows, and unclassifiable performances. The shows unfold in the streets, squares, and green spaces of the Rabière district, offering unexpected artistic encounters at every turn. Over the years, the festival has hosted some of the most prestigious companies in the genre, such as Royal de Luxe, Transe Express, or Compagnie Off.
Parc de la Rabière: An Exceptional Natural Setting
The Parc de la Rabière is the beating heart of the festival. This vast green space located south of Joué-lès-Tours offers an ideal natural setting for outdoor performances. The shaded paths, lawns, and undergrowth are transformed into stages and performance spaces, creating a unique atmosphere where nature dialogues with artistic creation. The Rabière district itself, with its squares and streets, becomes a natural extension of the festival.
A Free and Popular Festival
Total free access is a founding principle of Les Années Joué. This choice allows all audiences to access a quality artistic program without economic barriers. The festival is designed as a moment of sharing and conviviality, a meeting place between the residents of the district, the people of Joué, and visitors from all over Touraine. This popular and inclusive dimension makes Les Années Joué much more than a festival: it is a neighborhood celebration with an artistic dimension.
Each Year, a Unifying Theme
Each edition of Les Années Joué revolves around a unifying theme that gives color and coherence to the program. Recent themes such as "Oh! Naturel" (2024) or "Les Années Joué décrochent les étoiles!" (2025) demonstrate the festival's imagination and ambition, which renews its approach each year to surprise and delight the audience.
Where does it take place — Les Années Joué
Les Années Joué in brief
Other festivals near Joué-lès-Tours
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)