Les Échappées Belles
Festival of performing arts and street arts in Alençon
About Échappées Belles
Les Échappées Belles: the city of Alençon on stage
For nearly thirty years, the festival Les Échappées Belles has animated the city of Alençon every summer, transforming public space into a vast open-air theater. Organized by the City of Alençon with the support of the Department of Orne, this performing arts festival has become an essential cultural event of the Norman summer.
A multidisciplinary outdoor festival
Les Échappées Belles offers a rich and varied program mixing theater, dance, contemporary circus, music, and street arts. The 2025 edition, the 28th of its name, featured 14 shows, 2 artistic installations, and 1 practical workshop, taking over the streets, gardens, squares, and courtyards of the "cité des Ducs" for five days of artistic discoveries.
The city as a natural backdrop
One of the festival's originalities is the use of Alençon's architectural heritage as a natural backdrop for the shows. Artists take over emblematic places in the city: historic squares, public gardens, inner courtyards, and pedestrian streets become ephemeral stages where performances can emerge at every street corner.
Musical evenings to close
Each day of the festival concludes with an evening concert offering a varied panorama of current music. The 2025 edition featured jazz and pop evenings with Ana Kap, pop with The Songwriters, folk and French chanson by Patakes, Balkan trip-hop with Lautarescu, and the songs of Cyrarno du Pâtelain.
A festival accessible to all
Les Échappées Belles stands out for its very accessible pricing policy: admission is free for children aged 0-12, €3 for 13-18 year olds, and €4 for adults. This financial accessibility, combined with the diversity of artistic offerings, makes the festival a truly popular and family-friendly event.
A highlight of the Alençon summer
From Wednesday to Sunday, the festival sets the rhythm of life in the city of Alençon and attracts a loyal audience composed of families, performing arts enthusiasts, and curious visitors eager to discover original and surprising artistic forms in an exceptional heritage setting.
Échappées Belles — edition 2026
The 29th edition of Les Échappées belles takes place from July 15 to 19, 2026 in Alençon: five days of theatre, dance, circus, music, and street arts in the streets, squares, and gardens of the city centre. A summer festival programmed by Scène nationale 61 for the City of Alençon.
Les Échappées belles 2026 — the city becomes an open-air stage
From July 15 to 19, 2026, Alençon hosts the 29th edition of Les Échappées belles, its summer artistic interlude programmed by Scène nationale 61. Around fifteen shows — theatre, dance, circus, music, and street arts — take over the squares, parks, and heritage sites of the city centre.
Performances unfold across several sites: Place Lamagdeleine, Cour carrée de la Dentelle, Parc des Promenades, Parc Simone Veil, Halle au blé, and Théâtre d'Alençon. Indoor shows, strolls, and free-access installations follow one another from morning to evening, in a family-friendly and popular spirit.
A ticket is required to attend shows, including those that are free; access is interrupted once the performance has begun. Some outdoor formats are free to access, without reservation.
Programme Échappées Belles 2026
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
- 3:00 PM — Big Fish · Place Lamagdeleine
- L'Atelier de Jeanne (July 15 and 16) · Halle au blé
Thursday, July 16, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Alors on danse · Place Lamagdeleine
Friday, July 17, 2026
- 3:00 PM — Moustachos · Parc Simone Veil
Saturday, July 18, 2026
- 5:00 PM — Cochon-cochon · Parc des Promenades
Around fifteen shows in total (theatre, dance, circus, music), including Atacama. Full program and schedules on the official ticketing website.
Highlights Échappées Belles 2026
- 5 days of shows in Alençon city centre
- Theatre, dance, circus, music, and street arts
- Shows at €4, free for children under 12
- Several venues: Place Lamagdeleine, Parc des Promenades, Parc Simone Veil, Théâtre d'Alençon
Prices Échappées Belles 2026
Practical information — Échappées Belles
Access
By car: Alençon is accessible via the A28 from Rouen or Le Mans, and via the N12 from Paris (2h30). Free and paid parking in the city center near the performance venues.
By train: Alençon SNCF station, served by the Paris-Granville line and TER Normandie. The city center is accessible on foot from the station (15 min).
Ticketing
Tickets on sale on-site 45 minutes before each performance. Payment by card, check, or cash. Prices: free for 0-12 year olds, €3 for 13-18 year olds, €4 for adults. Online ticketing at billetterie-alencon.mapado.com.
Practical information
The performances take place outdoors in various locations in the center of Alençon. In case of rain, some performances may be moved. Consult the detailed program on the City of Alençon website for precise times and locations of each performance.
Contact: Ville d'Alençon – Culture Department – Website: www.alencon.fr
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Where does it take place — Échappées Belles
Centre-ville d'Alençon