Les Fondus du Macadam
The street arts festival that has been thrilling Thonon for nearly thirty years
2026
About Fondus du Macadam
Fondus du Macadam — edition 2026
Les Fondus du Macadam celebrates its 30th anniversary from Wednesday, July 29th to Saturday, August 1st, 2026. For four days, the city center of Thonon-les-Bains transforms into an open-air stage featuring over sixty completely free performances: circus, theater, acro-dance, hip-hop, and street parades will take over the squares and parks. Meanwhile, Le Square (Paul Jacquier) will host two concerts every evening, ranging from the batucada group Skuma Wiki to the quartet Bancal Chéri.
Thirty years, the prime of life
Founded in 1996 by the Thonon Événements association, the festival blows out its thirty candles from July 29th to August 1st, 2026. For this anniversary edition, the team has announced over sixty free, all-ages performances, spanning theater, acro-dance, circus, dance, and music. The program is designed to be original, inclusive, and fun, while also offering food for thought on human nature and diversity, with a few surprises tucked away throughout the four days.
The association is also celebrating its own thirtieth anniversary: as the successor to the Thonon-les-Bains festival committee founded in the 1940s, it made a decisive shift toward street arts in 1996 with the first edition of Les Fondus. Its operations rely on three permanent staff members, six board members, and around a hundred volunteers, affectionately known as "Les Braves."
Ten performance venues in the city center
The festival spreads across a dozen sites in the city center: Le Square (Paul Jacquier), Place du 8 mai, Cour des Provisions, the Basilica forecourt, the Belvédère, Square Aristide Briand, Place des Arts, Allée des Terreaux, the École des Arts, and Place de Crête, plus the Villa Eugénie in the thermal park. Totems and signs placed throughout the streets guide the public to the venues and display daily information, including weather-related schedule changes.
Among the new creations for this thirtieth edition, "Phil le Conducteur" by the Compagnie Take Care holds a special place: this inclusive street performance, inspired by the life of Martial Richoz, was written and rehearsed with the participation of residents from the Les Marmottés care home in Thonon-les-Bains, from the initial writing phase to the first performances. Meanwhile, Compagnie La Contrebande presents "Clan Cabane," a new acrobatic trampoline show, and Collectif V.1 performs "Nos Rituels," co-produced by Thonon Événements.
Le Square, the festival's musical heart
Le Square (Paul Jacquier) is the festival's headquarters: a meeting point, information hub, and musical stage. Every evening, Thonon Événements offers two free concerts there. The 2026 program brings together local Chablais bands and artists from further afield: the Thonon-based batucada Skuma Wiki and the electro-brass band LMZG on Wednesday, Swiss alternative rock band Sonic Train and Irish indie artist Amy Ellen on Thursday, the bossa nova of Itana and the reggae of Dub Silence on Friday, and the Tom Waits tribute by Palooka and the rock songs of Bancal Chéri on Saturday.
In the same square, the volunteer-run "Guinguette" opens at 5:30 PM, serving food until 11:00 PM and drinks until midnight.
The Village des P'tits Fondus
Located in the courtyard of the École des Arts from Thursday, July 30th to Saturday, August 1st, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the Village des P'tits Fondus is a parent-child space created with the Compagnie Les Enfants Sauvages. For the anniversary, it features a scavenger hunt to find thirty giant candles hidden in the courtyard and an audio guestbook to collect festival-goers' memories, alongside storytelling, games, murals, and a collaborative puzzle. You will also find shows like "Voyage en Absurdie" and "Play Room," as well as acrobatic workshops by Clara Charrière and the "Bistrot des P'tits Fondus," run by the association RETIS.
Radio Fondus and the festival gazette
Four local youth centers (MJCs) — Annemasse, Chablais, Viuz-en-Sallaz, and Chamonix — are taking over the festival with a radio caravan set up in Square Paul Jacquier. Guided by professionals and illustrator Alain Gaston Rémy, young participants conduct artist interviews, vox pops, and reports, which are broadcast on Radio Magny (91.5 FM and radiomagny.com), and produce an illustrated gazette available at the press point.
Highlights Fondus du Macadam 2026
- 30th Anniversary Edition: Scavenger hunt for thirty giant candles and an audio guestbook at the Village des P'tits Fondus, École des Arts courtyard, from July 30th to August 1st, 2026.
- "Phil le Conducteur," an inclusive creation by Compagnie Take Care, written with residents of the Les Marmottés care home in Thonon-les-Bains, from July 30th to August 1st at 11:00 AM on the Basilica forecourt.
- "Clan Cabane," a new acrobatic trampoline show by Compagnie La Contrebande, every evening at 8:00 PM at Place de Crête from July 29th to August 1st.
- Two free concerts every evening at Le Square (Paul Jacquier), from the Skuma Wiki batucada on July 29th to the Bancal Chéri quartet on August 1st.
- Radio Fondus: Live broadcasts from the radio caravan in Square Paul Jacquier, hosted by youth from four local centers and aired on Radio Magny 91.5 FM.
- Qi Dance at the museum at Villa Eugénie, in the thermal park, on July 30th and August 1st at 3:00 PM, in front of Marguerite Peltzer's sculptures.
Programme Fondus du Macadam 2026
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026
- 6:15 PM — Beethoven Métalo Vivace · Compagnie Monsieur le Directeur (circus) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
- 7:15 PM — Festival Opening Ceremony · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
- 7:45 PM — Skuma Wiki (Afro-Brazilian batucada) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
- 8:00 PM — Nos Rituels · Collectif V.1 (theater and acro-dance) · Cour des Provisions
- 8:00 PM — Clan Cabane · Compagnie La Contrebande (circus) · Place de Crête
- 9:00 PM — Burning Scarlett · Compagnie Tout En Vrac (theater) · Place des Arts
- 9:00 PM — LMZG (electro-brass) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
Thursday, July 30th, 2026
- 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM — Vitrines en cours · Compagnie Volubilis (dance and street performance) · departs from Square Aristide Briand
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Village des P'tits Fondus · École des Arts
- 10:00 AM — Acrobatic workshop · Clara Charrière · École des Arts
- 11:00 AM — Beethoven Métalo Vivace · Compagnie Monsieur le Directeur · Belvédère
- 11:00 AM — Phil le Conducteur · Compagnie Take Care (street performance) · Basilica forecourt
- 11:30 AM — Voyage en Absurdie · Trifouillis Compagnie (circus) · École des Arts
- 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM — Play Room · Compagnie Tobio (participatory exhibition) · École des Arts
- 3:00 PM — Qi Dance at the museum · Emmanuelle Riffard · Villa Eugénie
- 3:30 PM — Je suis une île ou solastalgie d'une étoile de mer · Compagnie Les Gens d'ici (theater) · Allée des Terreaux
- 5:30 PM — Snatch ! · Compagnie Daruma (dance and live music) · Place de Crête
- 6:30 PM — N Degrés de Liberté · In Itinere Collectif (theater) · Place du 8 mai
- 8:00 PM — Nos Rituels · Collectif V.1 · Cour des Provisions
- 8:00 PM — Clan Cabane · Compagnie La Contrebande · Place de Crête
- 8:00 PM — Sonic Train (alternative rock) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
- 9:00 PM — Burning Scarlett · Compagnie Tout En Vrac · Place des Arts
- 9:30 PM — Amy Ellen (indie / alternative) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
Friday, July 31st, 2026
- 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM — Vitrines en cours · Compagnie Volubilis · departs from Square Aristide Briand
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Village des P'tits Fondus · École des Arts
- 10:00 AM — Acrobatic workshop · Clara Charrière · École des Arts
- 11:00 AM — Beethoven Métalo Vivace · Compagnie Monsieur le Directeur · Belvédère
- 11:00 AM — Phil le Conducteur · Compagnie Take Care · Basilica forecourt
- 11:30 AM and 7:00 PM — La Panne · Compagnie Les P'tits Bras (circus, swinging pole) · Place des Arts
- 11:30 AM — Voyage en Absurdie · Trifouillis Compagnie · École des Arts
- 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM — Play Room · Compagnie Tobio · École des Arts
- 3:30 PM — Je suis une île ou solastalgie d'une étoile de mer · Compagnie Les Gens d'ici · Allée des Terreaux
- 5:30 PM — Snatch ! · Compagnie Daruma · Place de Crête
- 6:30 PM — N Degrés de Liberté · In Itinere Collectif · Place du 8 mai
- 7:30 PM — Hamlet en 30 mn · Compagnie Bruitquicourt (theater) · Basilica forecourt
- 8:00 PM — Nos Rituels · Collectif V.1 · Cour des Provisions
- 8:00 PM — Clan Cabane · Compagnie La Contrebande · Place de Crête
- 8:00 PM — Itana (bossa nova) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
- 9:30 PM — Dub Silence (reggae) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
Saturday, August 1st, 2026
- 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM — Vitrines en cours · Compagnie Volubilis · departs from Square Aristide Briand
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Village des P'tits Fondus · École des Arts
- 10:00 AM — Acrobatic workshop · Clara Charrière · École des Arts
- 11:00 AM — Beethoven Métalo Vivace · Compagnie Monsieur le Directeur · Belvédère
- 11:00 AM — Phil le Conducteur · Compagnie Take Care · Basilica forecourt
- 11:30 AM — Voyage en Absurdie · Trifouillis Compagnie · École des Arts
- 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM — Play Room · Compagnie Tobio · École des Arts
- 3:00 PM — Qi Dance at the museum · Emmanuelle Riffard · Villa Eugénie
- 3:30 PM — Je suis une île ou solastalgie d'une étoile de mer · Compagnie Les Gens d'ici · Allée des Terreaux
- 5:30 PM — Snatch ! · Compagnie Daruma · Place de Crête
- 6:30 PM — N Degrés de Liberté · In Itinere Collectif · Place du 8 mai
- 7:00 PM — La Panne · Compagnie Les P'tits Bras · Place des Arts
- 7:30 PM — Hamlet en 30 mn · Compagnie Bruitquicourt · Basilica forecourt
- 8:00 PM — Nos Rituels · Collectif V.1 · Cour des Provisions
- 8:00 PM — Clan Cabane · Compagnie La Contrebande · Place de Crête
- 8:00 PM — Palooka (blues rock, Tom Waits tribute) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
- 9:30 PM — Bancal Chéri (rock songs) · Le Square (Paul Jacquier)
Prices Fondus du Macadam 2026
Practical information — Fondus du Macadam
Practical Information
Access
Les Fondus du Macadam takes over the town center of Thonon-les-Bains, 74200, Haute-Savoie.
- By car: A40 motorway, exit Annemasse, then take the RD 903 toward Thonon-les-Bains. Six parking lots are available around the festival perimeter.
- By train: Thonon-les-Bains SNCF station (TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes line).
- By bus: Star't network of Thonon Agglomération, Monday to Saturday from 6:30 AM to 7:45 PM — single ticket €1.20, book of 10 tickets €9.60, 1-day pass €2.40 — 04 50 26 35 35.
- By funicular: Connection between the port and the town center daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM — single ticket €1.20, 1-day pass €2.40, free for children under 6.
Venues
A dozen sites host the performances: Le Square (Paul Jacquier), Place du 8 mai, Cour des Provisions, the Basilica forecourt, the Belvédère, Square Aristide Briand, Place des Arts, Allée des Terreaux, the École des Arts, Place de Crête, and Villa Eugénie in the thermal park. Totems and signs installed in the town center guide the public and display any changes to schedules or locations.
Prices
All performances are free, including concerts. Only artistic practice workshops require a fee: €12 per adult-child pair, by reservation at 04 50 26 21 07, payment on-site.
Information Point
The festival information point is located at Square Paul Jacquier throughout the duration of the event. Thonon-les-Bains Tourist Office: Château de Sonnaz, 2 rue Michaud, 04 50 71 55 55, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM; tourist information point at the Rives port, daily from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
On-site
The "Guinguette," run by volunteers at Le Square (Paul Jacquier), opens at 5:30 PM; food service closes at 11:00 PM and the bar at midnight. It operates exclusively with the festival currency: tokens of €0.50, €2, and €5 available for purchase at the cashier via credit card or cash. Tokens are reusable at other association events and are non-refundable. The "Bistrot des P'tits Fondus" offers non-alcoholic drinks and crepes at the École des Arts.
Contact
- Organizer: Thonon Événements, 5 impasse du Bastion, 74200 Thonon-les-Bains
- Phone: 04 50 26 21 07
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: thononevenements.com
Thirty years of open-air artistic adventures
Since its inception in 1996, Les Fondus du Macadam has been carving out surprising artistic paths in the heart of Thonon-les-Bains every summer. Driven by the Thonon Événements association, the festival was born from a desire to bring live arts into the streets, closer to the residents, and to turn urban space into a territory for creation and connection. The association, heir to the Thonon-les-Bains festival committee founded in the 1940s, took this decisive turn toward street arts with the very first edition of Les Fondus.
Over three decades, the event has become a must-see street arts gathering in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, attracting thousands of spectators who come to discover bold artistic forms in an exceptional natural setting between Lake Geneva and the Chablais mountains.
Around sixty performances in four days
The festival offers a remarkably dense program: more than sixty performances over four days, covering a wide spectrum of live arts. Street theater, contemporary circus, dance, acrodance, roving performances, and shows for young audiences take place across a dozen sites in the town center, while Le Square (Paul Jacquier) hosts two concerts every evening.
The lineup features a mix of established French and European companies alongside emerging artists, offering spectators the chance to discover both large-scale productions and intimate, participatory works. Thonon Événements also co-produces several of the featured shows and hosts companies in residence throughout the year.
The city as a stage
One of the unique features of Les Fondus du Macadam is its use of the entire city: performances unfold in pedestrian streets, on public squares—Place des Arts, Place du 8 mai, Place de Crête, Cour des Provisions, the Basilica forecourt, Square Aristide Briand, the Belvédère, Allée des Terreaux—and even in the courtyard of the École des Arts and the thermal park. This appropriation of urban space creates a unique atmosphere where the boundary between artists and spectators blurs, and where wandering becomes an integral part of the festival experience.
The geographical setting of Thonon-les-Bains, between the shores of Lake Geneva and the foothills of the Alps, gives the festival a natural backdrop that enhances the artistic offerings and contributes to the event's singular atmosphere.
A cultural and social project rooted in the region
Beyond its artistic dimension, Les Fondus du Macadam is a genuine cultural and social project. The association relies on three permanent staff members, a board, and about a hundred volunteers nicknamed "Les Braves," and is supported by a network of local partners. All festival performances are free, ensuring accessibility for as many people as possible. Outreach projects are conducted with schools, local youth centers, and regional organizations, and the event contributes significantly to the summer vibrancy and cultural influence of Thonon-les-Bains and the Chablais area.
Where does it take place — Fondus du Macadam
Fondus du Macadam in brief
Other festivals near Thonon-les-Bains
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)