Les Avant Curieux
Circus and street arts festival in Nantes
2026
About Les Avant Curieux
Les Avant Curieux is a circus and street arts festival held in Nantes, produced by the agencies L'Avant Courrier (circus) and Curios (street arts), in partnership with Le Grand T, the Loire-Atlantique theater, and the Onyx theater in Saint-Herblain. Held biennially in early autumn, the event balances professional industry sessions—including project showcases, works-in-progress, and panel discussions—with a day of free performances and workshops open to the public in the Dalby-Manufacture district.
Les Avant Curieux — edition 2026
The 5th edition of Les Avant Curieux takes place from October 7th to 10th, 2026, at the Théâtre ONYX in Saint-Herblain, at Mixt, and in the Dalby-Manufacture district in Nantes. The professional highlight on October 8th and 9th will feature showcases, project presentations, and Cogites Curieuses focusing on works in development for 2027–2029.
On Saturday, October 10th, the festivities move to the Place de la Manu: enjoy sung readings, music, dance, circus workshops with Chapidock, a shared picnic, and the Song Swap in a yellow truck—all free of charge.
Programme Les Avant Curieux 2026
Wednesday, October 7th, 2026 · Théâtre ONYX, Saint-Herblain
- 2:30 PM — Si c’est sûr c’est pas peut-être · Cie Takakrôar · circus and music, ages 6+, 50 min · public performance (second show at 8:30 PM)
- 8:30 PM — Si c’est sûr c’est pas peut-être · Cie Takakrôar · public performance
Thursday, October 8th, 2026 · professional day · Théâtre ONYX, Saint-Herblain
- 9:30 AM — Coffee reception
- 10:00 AM — Cogite Curieuse: Artistic Feedback, with Élise Denier and Aurélia Garnier · presentation and workshop, 1h30
- 11:45 AM — Showcases: Tribu(S) (La Fausse Cie) and Subsistance Musclée (Cie Saxifrage / Fanny Sintès)
- 1:00 PM — Lunch
- 2:30 PM — Si c’est sûr c’est pas peut-être · Cie Takakrôar · professional session
- 3:40 PM — Project presentations: MURDRUM (Cie Maboul Distorsion), La Formule du bonheur (La Volte-Cirque), Cavalcade (Espèces d’Espaces), HIKI (Galapiat Cirque / Mad Collective)
- 6:00 PM — Showcases: QU’IL FAILLE (Cie Jusqu’à Maintenant) and Aux racines de nos agacements (Margo Chou)
- 7:00 PM — Si c’est sûr c’est pas peut-être · Cie Takakrôar · public performance
- 7:15 PM — Aperitif dinner
- 8:30 PM — Le Cabaret Les Elles · Cirque du Docteur Paradi · circus and music, 1h
Friday, October 9th, 2026 · professional day · Mixt, Nantes
- 9:00 AM — Coffee reception
- 9:30 AM — Cogite Curieuse: Little Guide to Creative Resistance · Labo Zone · lecture, 2h
- 11:40 AM — Showcase: #BalanceTesAncêtres · Ourdire Compagnie / Ari Hamot
- 12:20 PM — Lunch
- 2:00 PM — Showcases: Faillir (Mathieu Despoisse), La Maison Noire (Cirque du Docteur Paradi), Maelström (Cie Presque Siamoises)
- 4:30 PM — Project presentations: Sancho et Syphilis (Cie Presque Siamoises), L’Aiguillée (Cie BRUMES), Oh Bonne Mère ! (Pauline Dau / Asso. Pauline à la plage), Ilma and Willow (Vivii Rohia / Cie Lineae)
- 6:15 PM — Aperitif · food available on-site
- 8:30 PM — Silence Volcan · Cie BRUMES · documentary performance, 1h · open to all
Saturday, October 10th, 2026 · public day, free admission · place de la Manu, Nantes
- 10:30 AM–11:30 AM — Song collecting (Song Swap)
- 11:00 AM — Les Petits Bonnets, sung reading · Cirque du Docteur Paradi (Pascaline Herveet) · 50 min
- 12:00 PM — Tribu(S), premières rencontres · La Fausse Cie · musical journey, 45 min
- 12:30 PM–2:00 PM — Social lunch: bring your own picnic
- 2:00 PM — D’ici là · Cie Jusqu’à Maintenant · dance and spoken word duo, 25 min
- 2:30 PM–4:30 PM — Circus workshop · Chapidock · juggling, object balancing
- 3:30 PM–4:30 PM — Song collecting (Song Swap)
- 4:30 PM — Tribu(S), premières rencontres · La Fausse Cie
- 5:30 PM — Song Swap Concert · Duo Cabaret / Delarozière · Cie Tramontana · 1h
- 6:00 PM — Silence Volcan · Cie BRUMES · at Mixt
- 7:30 PM — Je me suis réfugiée là, là, là · Margo Chou · table-side storytelling, 1h20 to 2h · Café Le Printemps, 74 boulevard Dalby
Full program from the brochure published by the organizers in July 2026. Reservations are mandatory for professional days via partner venues; bar and food available on-site.
Prices Les Avant Curieux 2026
Where does it take place — Les Avant Curieux
Les Avant Curieux in brief
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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