Les Embuscades
Humor festival in the countryside
2026
About Les Embuscades
Les Embuscades — edition 2026
The 41st edition of Les Embuscades takes place from September 24 to October 10, 2026, in Cossé-le-Vivien and four neighboring towns in Mayenne. The festival of humor and eccentricity features storytelling, cabaret, chanson, street theater, magic, a film-concert, and an artistic stroll at the Robert Tatin Museum. Guillaume Meurice and Éric Lagadec, Yohann Métay, Adèle Zouane, Le Petit théâtre de pain, and the trio Les Cop(i)nes are on the program. Ticket sales open on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
2026 Edition
Les Embuscades is holding its 41st edition from September 24 to October 10, 2026. The festival maintains its traveling format: the FCC Hall in Cossé-le-Vivien hosts the opening night, the four Comedy Nights, and the Unusual Wednesday, while the village nights are held in La Selle-Craonnaise, Quelaines-Saint-Gault, Astillé, and Athée. The Robert Tatin Departmental Museum and the Saint-Exupéry Hall also host performances.
Jérôme Rouger has succeeded Jean L'Oury as the festival's artistic director. Fred Billy opens the edition with "La fabuleuse histoire des Embuscades", a fifty-minute narrative commissioned to tell the story of the festival since 1986. The 2026 poster was designed by Hélène Dahéron.
Two festival creations
"Ça avait l'air d'une bonne idée" brings together Yohann Métay, Maria Dolores, and Stanislas Hilairet on October 2 and 3: each received about thirty photos of Cossé-le-Vivien and the region, and tells a fifteen-minute story based on the same images. Tatin Sunday, on October 4, is a two-hour stroll through the Robert Tatin Departmental Museum, featuring eight artistic interludes of about ten minutes each.
What's free
The inauguration on Saturday, September 26 at 2:30 PM and the two exhibitions at the FCC Hall and the Crédit Agricole lobby are free. "Le disco des oiseaux", on October 8 at the Saint-Exupéry Hall, is free with reservation.
Highlights Les Embuscades 2026
- Guillaume Meurice and astrophysicist Éric Lagadec, "Vers l'Infini mais pas au-delà", October 9 and 10 at the FCC Hall
- "Ça avait l'air d'une bonne idée": Yohann Métay, Maria Dolores, and Stanislas Hilairet each tell a story written from the same photos of Cossé-le-Vivien, created for the festival, October 2 and 3
- Le Petit théâtre de pain, "Le Grand Bancal", a nine-artist cabaret on opening night, September 24
- Adèle Zouane (Cie Bajour), "Mon mec veut devenir rappeur", September 27 in Quelaines-Saint-Gault
- Tatin Sunday: a two-hour artistic stroll in the Robert Tatin Departmental Museum, seven sessions between 2 PM and 4 PM on October 4
- Free inauguration on September 26 at 2:30 PM with the fanfare de la Touffe, Pierres et fils, and the male majorettes of Queen a man
Programme Les Embuscades 2026
Friday, August 28, 2026 — Kick-off Party
Cossé-le-Vivien · open to all · by invitation only (volunteers, partners, and local elected officials)
- 6:30 PM — Fred Billy, "Visite historico-hystérique" · an offbeat lecture on the history of the town
Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, October 10, 2026 — Exhibitions
FCC Hall and Crédit Agricole lobby, Cossé-le-Vivien · free
- Monique Gournay — "Atelier 107": clay and stoneware, a world of female figures
- Bruno Scardina — palette knife oil paintings inspired by nature
- Opening hours — FCC Hall: during show evenings. Crédit Agricole: Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM and 3 PM to 6 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM
Thursday, September 24, 2026 — Opening Night, 8 PM
FCC Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · ages 8 and up · doors open at 7:15 PM · savory snacks served during intermission · full price €20, reduced price €9
- Fred Billy — "La fabuleuse histoire des Embuscades" · storytelling · 50 min · commissioned by the festival to recount its history since 1986
- Le Petit théâtre de pain — "Le Grand Bancal" · theater and music · 1h30 · a cabaret performed by nine actors and musicians, the company's first appearance at Les Embuscades and in Mayenne
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Inauguration, 2:30 PM
Square de Vivien l'Écossais then the public garden, Cossé-le-Vivien · open to all · free · shows start in the public garden at 3 PM
- La fanfare de la Touffe · 45 min · a street band formed for the occasion with local residents of Cossé-le-Vivien and the surrounding area who are not professional musicians, led by Fabrice Gilles based on a concept by Fabrice Charles
- Pierres et fils · 1h00 · a nine-piece street brass band
- Queen a man · 50 min · a troupe of male majorettes, a tribute to Freddie Mercury
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Village Night 1, 8 PM
Salle de l'Orion, La Selle-Craonnaise · ages 10 and up · full price €17, reduced price €9 · in partnership with the association Tous en Selle
- Nico Moro · chanson · 1h00 · solo with his acoustic guitar, the former composer and leader of Opa Tsupa
- Cie Les 3 Plumes — Marco Augusto Chenevier, "Quintetto" · unclassifiable · 1h00 · a dance quintet deprived of its dancers; 1st prize at the Sarajevo Winter Festival, finalist at Next Generation in Padua, winner of the Be Festival in Birmingham
Sunday, September 27, 2026 — Village Night 2, 4:30 PM
Salle des fêtes, Quelaines-Saint-Gault · ages 13 and up · full price €17, reduced price €9 · in partnership with the Quelaines-Saint-Gault municipality
- Adèle Zouane (Cie Bajour), "Mon mec veut devenir rappeur" · one-woman show · 1h30
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 — Village Night 3, 8 PM
Stadium parking lot, Astillé · ages 10 and up · full price €17, reduced price €9 · outdoor show, please dress according to the weather · in partnership with the Astillé municipality
- Théâtre Group', "La Jurassienne de réparation" · street theater · 2h00 · four mechanics repair a real car in front of the audience
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 — Village Night 4, 8 PM
Salle de l'Oudon, Athée · ages 10 and up · full price €17, reduced price €9 · in partnership with the Athée festival committee
- Fred Billy, "Visite historico-hystérique" · lecture · 50 min · this time dedicated to the history of Athée
- Claude François (the Belgian comedian, not the singer), "Y'a de la joie, bordel!" · one-woman show · 1h15
Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, 2026 — 1st and 2nd Comedy Nights, 8:15 PM
FCC Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · open to all · doors open at 8 PM · limited seating · full price €26, reduced price €16 · partner evenings, in partnership with the Amicale laïque · same program both nights
- Yohann Métay, Maria Dolores and Stanislas Hilairet, "Ça avait l'air d'une bonne idée" · theatrical, humorous, and photographic performance · 1h00 · created for the festival: the three artists received about thirty photos of Cossé-le-Vivien and the region and each tell their own story based on the same images
- Cie Jacqueline Cambouis, "Les Gaufrettes" · rock band · 1h10 · six nursing home residents form a rock band, covering everything from Pink Floyd to Johnny Hallyday, Josephine Baker, and Pharrell Williams
Sunday, October 4, 2026 — Tatin Sunday
Robert Tatin Departmental Museum, Cossé-le-Vivien · open to all · full price €17, reduced price €9 · sessions at 2 PM, 2:20 PM, 2:40 PM, 3 PM, 3:20 PM, 3:40 PM and 4 PM · in partnership with the Robert Tatin Departmental Museum
- Artistic stroll · 2h00 · created for the festival: a guided tour through the museum, featuring eight artistic interludes of about ten minutes each, with Champion Albiero, Adèle Frantz, Amélie les Crayons (vocals), Cookin' On Jazz, Maxime Dancre (percussion), Yohann Métay (comedy), and Stanislas Hilairet as the guide
Monday, October 5 and Tuesday, October 6, 2026 — School Sessions
Reserved for schools in the Cossé-le-Vivien region
- Étienne Saglio, "Goupil et Kosmao" · theatrical magic · FCC Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · session at 3 PM on Monday · for elementary students
- Mosai & Vincent, "Le disco des oiseaux" · electro-pop concert · Saint-Exupéry Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · ages 0 to 5 · for preschool students
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 — Unusual Wednesday, 8 PM
FCC Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · ages 12 and up · doors open at 7:15 PM · intermission with crepes, cider, and savory snacks · full price €20, reduced price €9 · in partnership with the Amicale laïque
- G&G Compagnie, "Les tentatives d'épuisement" · theater and press review · 1h00 · Gaspard Chauvelot treats current events as if they were written by screenwriters and performed by actors
- Diallèle / Jacques Tati, "Jour de fête" · film-concert · 1h15 · three musicians accompany the film live with an original score
Thursday, October 8, 2026 — Very Young Audience
Saint-Exupéry Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · ages 0 to 3 · free with reservation · in partnership with the Cossé area early childhood service
- 9:30 AM — Mosai & Vincent, "Le disco des oiseaux" · electro-pop concert
- 10:45 AM — Mosai & Vincent, "Le disco des oiseaux" · electro-pop concert
Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10, 2026 — 3rd and 4th Comedy Nights, 8 PM
FCC Hall, Cossé-le-Vivien · doors open at 7:15 PM · intermission with crepes, cider, and savory snacks · full price €26, reduced price €16 · same program both nights
- Les Cop(i)nes — Maylis Raynal, Manon Irigoyen and Laura Etchegoyhen · a cappella vocal trio · 45 min · bawdy songs from the male repertoire, with lyrics subverted. The festival warns that the lyrics may offend some ears
- Guillaume Meurice and Éric Lagadec, "Vers l'Infini mais pas au-delà" · humor and science · 1h30 · the comedian and the astrophysicist try to determine which is greater: the infinity of the Universe or the infinity of human stupidity
Prices Les Embuscades 2026
Village nights, September 26, 27, 29, and 30: €17 · reduced price €9
Comedy Nights, October 2, 3, 9, and 10: €26 · reduced price €16
Tatin Sunday, October 4: €17 · reduced price €9
Unusual Wednesday, October 7: €20 · reduced price €9
Pass Quatre (opening night + 1st or 2nd Comedy Night + Unusual Wednesday + 3rd or 4th Comedy Night): €80
Reduced price: under 18s, students, and job seekers. Proof of status required at the entrance.
Free: the inauguration on September 26 and the two exhibitions. "Le disco des oiseaux" on October 8 is free with reservation.
Ticket office opens Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, then online at www.lesembuscades.fr or at 58 place Tussenhausen in Cossé-le-Vivien (Monday 10 AM-12 PM, Wednesday 10 AM-12 PM and 3 PM-6 PM, Saturdays in September 10 AM-12 PM). Mail-in reservations are discontinued starting this edition.
Payment: credit card, cash, checks, Pass Culture, Chèque Culture, paper Chèque ANCV, Chèques découvertes.
Ticket office information: [email protected] · 07 66 54 68 60
Practical information — Les Embuscades
Getting there
By car: Cossé-le-Vivien is located about 30 km south of Laval, accessible via the D4 from Laval or the D771 from Craon. From the A81 motorway (Rennes-Le Mans), take the Laval exit and follow signs for Cossé-le-Vivien via the D4. Parking spaces are available near the performance venues.
By train: The nearest station is Laval, served by TGV from Paris-Montparnasse (approx. 1h30) and by regional TER trains from Rennes and Le Mans. From Laval station, it takes about 30 minutes by car to reach Cossé-le-Vivien.
Venues
As the festival is itinerant, performances take place in various locations throughout the Pays de Cossé:
- Salle du FCC (11 rue de la Libération, 53230 Cossé-le-Vivien): the main venue hosting major evening shows, performances, and exhibitions
- Village halls in surrounding towns for local evening events
- Public squares, parks, and school playgrounds for street performances and outdoor entertainment
Tickets
- Standard rate: from €17 to €26 depending on the evening, specified for each show in the programme
- Concession rate: for under-18s, students, and job seekers. Proof of status is required at the entrance
- Pass Quatre: €80 for the opening night, one Comedy Night from the first two, the Mercredi de l'Insolite, and one Comedy Night from the last two
- Street performances and exhibitions are free; the early childhood show is free upon reservation
Box Office
Reservations can only be made:
- Online via the official website www.lesembuscades.fr
- On-site at: Festival de l'humour, 58 place Tussenhausen, 53230 Cossé-le-Vivien — Monday 10am-12pm, Wednesday 10am-12pm and 3pm-6pm, Saturdays in September 10am-12pm
Accepted payment methods: credit card, cash, cheques, Pass Culture, Chèque Culture, paper Chèque ANCV, and Chèques découvertes.
Food and Services
Major evening shows at the Salle du FCC include an intermission with savoury snacks, crêpes, and cider. Shops and restaurants in Cossé-le-Vivien are located nearby.
Contact
Association Festival de l'Humour
B.P. 52 – 53230 Cossé-le-Vivien
Phone: 07 66 54 68 60
Email: [email protected]
Box Office: [email protected]
Website: www.lesembuscades.fr
Facebook: facebook.com/lesembuscades
Les Embuscades: 40 years of humor in the countryside
Since 1986, the Les Embuscades festival has been making the Pays de Cossé vibrate to the rhythm of laughter and artistic creation. Born in Cossé-le-Vivien in Mayenne, this countryside humor festival is driven by the Festival de l'Humour association and a passionate team of over 80 volunteers who make each edition a unique moment of conviviality and sharing.
An audacious and popular program
Les Embuscades has built its reputation on a program that is both audacious, popular, and demanding, capable of bringing together all generations around laughter. The festival offers a wide range of performing arts disciplines:
- One-man shows and stand-up: renowned comedians and emerging talents take the stage
- Burlesque theater: companies specializing in the art of burlesque and the offbeat
- Circus and magic: acts that amaze young and old alike
- Clowning: the art of clowning in all its forms, from the red nose to contemporary clowning
- Music and visual arts: original artistic proposals that complement the program
Among the recurring highlights are the Nuits de l'humour (Humor Nights), true laughter marathons bringing together musicians and comedians in a festive atmosphere, as well as the surprise evenings orchestrated by the Compagnie Joseph K, real Embuscadian adventures where spectators never know where they will be taken.
A traveling festival rooted in its territory
The uniqueness of Les Embuscades lies in its traveling nature. Each year, the festival unfolds from village to village, as close as possible to the inhabitants, in community halls, public squares, and even schoolyards. The village evenings allow us to meet the public in the surrounding towns, making the Pays de Cossé a true open-air stage.
The festival's emblematic venue remains the Salle du FCC in Cossé-le-Vivien, which hosts the major evenings, flagship shows, and iconoclastic exhibitions that accompany each edition.
A popular education project
Beyond entertainment, Les Embuscades carries a true popular education project. The association's ambition is to bring the territory to life through cultural offerings in rural areas, seeking the involvement of residents in cultural development. The festival actively supports young talents and promotes the discovery of new artistic forms.
The association also organizes the À Travers Chants festival in the spring, dedicated to song, and the children's book fair L'Embusca'Livres, thus extending its cultural activities throughout the year.
40 years of laughter and sharing
In 2025, Les Embuscades celebrated its 40th edition with an exceptional program built around the favorites of the last ten years. The event attracted nearly 10,000 spectators, confirming the vitality and longevity of this unique festival. As its organizers proudly emphasize, Les Embuscades is "the only festival in Mayenne run by an association that has existed for over 40 years".
Where does it take place — Les Embuscades
Les Embuscades in brief
History of Les Embuscades
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Cossé-le-Vivien
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