Les Flâneries au Miroir
Venetian Carnival and masked strolls in Provençal Venice
2026
About Flâneries au Miroir
Flâneries au Miroir — edition 2026
Les Flâneries au Miroir celebrates its 20th anniversary on September 5th and 6th, 2026, in Martigues. Around 140 masked and costumed participants from across France and Europe will parade to music through the Ferrières, Jonquières, and l'Île districts. On Saturday at 6:30 PM, the Théâtre de Verdure will host the "I Giochi di Arlecchino" parade-show. The "Les Italiennes" village will be set up in the Jardin de Ferrières from September 2nd to 6th. Free admission.
Les Flâneries au Miroir 2026 — 20th Edition
The 20th edition takes place on Saturday, September 5th, and Sunday, September 6th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. It is organized by the association Les Masqués Vénitiens de France in partnership with the city of Martigues. Around 140 masked and costumed performers from France and Europe will wander through the three historic districts: Place Mirabeau and the Miroir aux Oiseaux on Saturday morning, Ferrières on Saturday afternoon, Jonquières on Sunday morning, and l'Île on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday at 6:30 PM, the Théâtre de Verdure hosts "I Giochi di Arlecchino" ("Harlequin's Games"), a stage parade-show featuring live musical accompaniment by tenor Sergio Conte Cerruti, soprano Sherrie Anne Grieve, and singer Camilla Lodini. The trio will perform again on Sunday afternoon during the parade in l'Île. The weekend concludes at 5:30 PM with a souvenir photo session at the Théâtre de Verdure.
Two exhibitions for the 20th anniversary
"20 years of Flâneries in Martigues" will be on display at the Louis-Aragon media library forum from August 28th to September 6th, featuring photographs from the previous 19 editions and costumes on mannequins. "Martigues, Provençal Venice" will be presented at the tourist office from September 3rd to November 27th, showcasing costumes, Venetian masks, fans, and hats; this exhibition will be extended on Wednesday, October 21st, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM with a costumed lecture on the history of the Venice Carnival. Both exhibitions are free to attend.
The "Les Italiennes" village
The Italian artisanal and gastronomic market, organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce for France in Marseille, will be held at the Jardin de Ferrières, rue Colonel-Fabien, from Wednesday, September 2nd, to Sunday, September 6th. Around twenty Italian exhibitors will sell pasta, cheese, charcuterie, sweets, fine wines, as well as fashion, leather goods, and decorative items. There will also be concerts, face painting for children, and food stalls throughout the five days, with the Venetian masked performers stopping by on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Highlights Flâneries au Miroir 2026
- 20th edition, September 5th and 6th, 2026
- Around 140 masked and costumed participants from France and Europe
- "I Giochi di Arlecchino" at the Théâtre de Verdure, Saturday at 6:30 PM, free and no reservation required
- Concert by the trio Sergio Conte Cerruti (tenor), Sherrie Anne Grieve (soprano), and Camilla Lodini, Sunday afternoon in l'Île
- "20 years of Flâneries in Martigues" exhibition at the Louis-Aragon media library, August 28th to September 6th
- "Les Italiennes" village at the Jardin de Ferrières from September 2nd to 6th: Luca "CIPO" on Friday evening, the group I Papaveri on Saturday evening
Programme Flâneries au Miroir 2026
Opening hours: Saturday from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Various locations in the city center; see details below.
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
- 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM — Session reserved for photographers and photography enthusiasts · Place Mirabeau and Miroir aux Oiseaux
- 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM — Flâneries in Ferrières: musical parade of costumed performers, passing through the Italian village and along the pond
- 6:30 PM — "I Giochi di Arlecchino" ("Harlequin's Games") · Théâtre de Verdure. A stage parade-show by the Masqués Vénitiens de France, with live musical accompaniment by tenor Sergio Conte Cerruti, soprano Sherrie Anne Grieve, and singer Camilla Lodini. Free, seating available, no reservation required
Sunday, September 6th, 2026
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Flâneries in Jonquières: musical parade of costumed performers
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM — Flâneries in l'Île: parade of Venetian costumed performers and concert by the trio: tenor Sergio Conte Cerruti, soprano Sherrie Anne Grieve, and singer Camilla Lodini
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM — New for 2026: a group of costumed performers at the "Les Italiennes" village, musical parade
- 5:30 PM — Souvenir photo as a farewell · Théâtre de Verdure
"Les Italiennes" Village — Wednesday, September 2nd to Sunday, September 6th
Italian artisanal and gastronomic market at the Jardin de Ferrières, rue Colonel-Fabien. Around twenty exhibitors. Free admission. Open Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- Wednesday, September 2nd — 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: musical entertainment by Laurent Versini, pianist and singer. 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM: medley of the greatest Italian hits from the 50s to today, on the Italian market stage. All day: live creation of Murano glass objects at the "Tre Archi" stand
- Thursday, September 3rd — All day: live creation of Murano glass objects at the "Tre Archi" stand
- Friday, September 4th — 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM: concert by Luca "CIPO", the official vocal and physical lookalike of Zucchero, a two-hour tribute to the Italian singer's hits, on the Italian market stage. Musical entertainment with Laurent Versini. All day: Murano glass at the "Tre Archi" stand
- Saturday, September 5th — 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: artistic face painting for children on the theme of the Venice Carnival. 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: parade of the Masqués Vénitiens de France. 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM: concert by the group I Papaveri, classics of Italian music from the 50s to today. All day: Murano glass at the "Tre Archi" stand
- Sunday, September 6th — 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: parade of the Masqués Vénitiens de France. All day: Murano glass at the "Tre Archi" stand
Exhibitions
- August 28th to September 6th — "20 years of Flâneries in Martigues" · Louis-Aragon media library forum. Photographs from the previous 19 editions and costumes on mannequins
- September 3rd to November 27th — "Martigues, Provençal Venice" · Tourist office, Quai des Anglais. Costumes, Venetian masks, fans, and hats. Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, free admission
- Wednesday, October 21st, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM — Costumed lecture on the history of the Venice Carnival · Tourist office. Free admission
Prices Flâneries au Miroir 2026
"I Giochi di Arlecchino" show at the Théâtre de Verdure: free, seating available, no reservation required.
"Les Italiennes" village at the Jardin de Ferrières: free admission.
Exhibitions at the Louis-Aragon media library and the tourist office: free admission.
Practical information — Flâneries au Miroir
Practical Information
Getting There
The festivities take place throughout the town center of Martigues, specifically in the Ferrières, Jonquières, and L'Île districts. Locations vary depending on the time slot, so please check the program.
- By boat: A free water shuttle connects the three districts; the boarding dock is located 200 m behind the town hall.
- By bus: Use the Ulysse intercommunal network or the Cartreize departmental network, with stops in front of the police station and the town hall.
- By train: TER stations at Croix-Sainte and Lavéra on the Marseille - Miramas line, with connecting local bus services.
- By car: Take the A55 motorway from Marseille. Electric vehicle charging stations are available at the Louis-Aragon media library car park (quai des Anglais) and the car park opposite the Le Quai des Pirates restaurant (quai J.-B. Kléber).
- By bike: Bicycle parking is available in front of the tourist office.
Opening Hours
2026 Edition: Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm, Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Admission
Free, including the Saturday evening parade and show at the Théâtre de Verdure, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contact
Martigues Tourist Office: 04 42 42 31 10, www.martigues-tourisme.com
Association Les Masqués Vénitiens de France: [email protected], www.mvdf.fr
Pets are welcome. This is an outdoor event; it is not recommended in case of bad weather.
When Martigues becomes Venice for a weekend
Every first weekend of September, Martigues transforms into a small Provençal Venice for the Flâneries au Miroir. Over 140 masked and costumed characters, from France and Europe, take over the alleys, quays, and squares of the canal city to offer a living spectacle of rare beauty. Inspired by the Venice Carnival, this unique event in Provence celebrates the historical kinship between the two lakeside cities for nearly twenty years.
Strolls through the three historic districts
The Flâneries unfold over two days across the three historic districts of Martigues. On Saturday morning, the costumed participants take over the Île district for a photographic stroll reserved for photography enthusiasts, a privileged moment where the masked figures pose against the picturesque canal backdrops. In the afternoon, the stroll continues in the Ferrières district, where an Italian market (Les Italiennes) offers Transalpine crafts and gastronomy in the Ferrières Gardens. In the late afternoon, a stage show at the Théâtre de Verdure brings together opera singers and costumed characters in a musical show evoking Italy.
On Sunday, the strolls move to the Jonquières district in the morning, then return to the Île district in the afternoon for a final musical stroll. Throughout the weekend, the atmosphere is filled with Italian music, laughter, and wonder.
An event rooted in tradition and open to Europe
Les Flâneries au Miroir are driven by Venetian masked associations from all over France and Europe, who share a passion for the Venice Carnival and the art of costume. The costumes, often handmade with precious fabrics, embroidery, and painted papier-mâché masks, are true walking works of art. The event is complemented by a photographic exhibition at the Médiathèque Louis Aragon, visible from the week preceding the festival.
Les Italiennes: craft and gastronomic market
In parallel with the Flâneries, the Les Italiennes market sets up in the Jardins de Ferrières during the week preceding the festival. This craft and gastronomic market showcases Italian products and know-how: cured meats, cheeses, fresh pasta, wines, ceramics, and art objects. It complements the Italian atmosphere that takes over Martigues during this period.
Where does it take place — Flâneries au Miroir
Flâneries au Miroir in brief
Other festivals near Martigues
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