Les Invités de Villeurbanne
The not-so-ordinary street arts festival
About Les Invités
Created in 2002, Les Invités de Villeurbanne is a biennial street arts festival, entirely free, co-produced by the Ville de Villeurbanne and Les Ateliers Frappaz, National Centre for Street Arts and Public Space. For three days in June, the streets, squares, and parks of Villeurbanne become the stage for over a hundred artistic performances: street theatre, circus, dance, concerts, acrobatic performances, and monumental installations by artists from all over the world.
Les Invités de Villeurbanne: the festival like no other
Since 2002, Les Invités de Villeurbanne have transformed the city into a huge open-air theatre. Co-produced by the Ville de Villeurbanne and Les Ateliers Frappaz, National Centre for Street Arts and Public Space, this biennial festival has become one of the major cultural events in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and one of the most important street arts festivals in France.
Defining itself as «the festival like no other», Les Invités offer a bold, committed, and open programme addressing the issues of our society: feminist, queer, inclusive, intergenerational, festive, and aware of its time.
Over a hundred free shows over three days
For three days in June, over a hundred performances take over the entire Villeurbanne territory: streets, squares, parks, building courtyards, and unexpected locations. The programme blends street theatre, circus, dance, acrobatics, wanderings, processions, and concerts, with artists from all over the world — from Portugal, Cameroon, the Basque Country, Haiti, Ukraine, Spain, Belgium, Benin, Chile, Congo, Madagascar, and many other countries.
Internationally renowned artists
Les Invités welcome both internationally renowned companies and emerging artists, in a spirit of discovery and sharing. The musical programme aims to be eclectic, unexpected, and committed. Various formats — striking duos, street texts, unique debates, living counter — complement the shows to create a total and participatory festival.
A festival rooted in the city
Les Ateliers Frappaz, located at 14-16 rue Docteur-Frappaz in Villeurbanne, have been responsible for the artistic direction of the festival since its creation. As a National Centre for Street Arts and Public Space, they are a place for the creation, production, and dissemination of contemporary works for public space. The festival is entirely free, open to all audiences, and each edition brings together a large network of committed volunteers.
Les Invités — edition 2026
The 19th edition of Les Invités de Villeurbanne takes place from June 19 to 21, 2026 with over a hundred free street art, circus, dance, and music shows throughout the city. A committed, open, feminist, queer, inclusive, and festive edition, with a strong international dimension (Portugal, Cameroon, Basque Country, Haiti, Ukraine…) and monumental installations on avenue Henri-Barbusse.
2026 Edition — 19th edition, June 19 to 21
After the 2024 edition, Les Invités de Villeurbanne return from Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21, 2026 for their 19th edition. More than 100 entirely free shows take over streets, squares, parks, and unexpected venues throughout the city of Villeurbanne.
A committed and international edition
The 2026 edition aims to be « popular, committed, open, partisan, feminist, queer, inclusive, transgenerational, festive, and aware of its time ». The program brings together artists from Portugal (Jonas & Lander), Cameroon (Ange Kayifa), the Basque Country (Deabru Beltzak), Haiti (Guy Régis Junior with La Bible du déboulonnement), Ukraine (Dakh Daughters), and France.
Monumental installations and acrobatics
A highlight of the edition: the Titanos company transforms avenue Henri-Barbusse into an unexpected funfair with its monumental installation Cosmogonos, blending quirky attractions and retro aesthetics. The festival opens with the spectacular aerial acrobatics of Basinga and closes with a vertical creation by Transe Express combining music and acrobatics. Gratte Ciel also presents RoZéo, an aerial show.
Musical program
On the music side, we find singer GiedRé, electro-punk-rap group Les Vulves assassines, the Paris-Alger project with Christian Olivier (Têtes Raides) and Hakim Hamadouche, as well as Ukrainian punks Dakh Daughters with their performance Break the Rock.
Farewells and transmission
This edition also marks the farewells of several historic street art companies, including Théâtre Group' which presents its last performance En Roue libre. Les Ateliers Frappaz have also invited 35 students from ENSATT, GEIQ Théâtre Compagnonnage de Lyon, and FAI-AR de Marseille to create seven new artistic proposals within the project La Rue est à nous.
Access and practical information
Completely free festival, for all audiences. Some shows with limited capacity require on-site registration. Welcome points: Info Point at the Town Hall (Gratte-Ciel metro, tel. 04 72 65 80 90) and Parc des Droits-de-l'Homme. Detailed program on invites.villeurbanne.fr/agenda/festival/.
Programme Les Invités 2026
From Friday, June 19 to Sunday, June 21, 2026
Over 100 free shows spread over three days throughout the city of Villeurbanne. Detailed program (exact times and locations per show): invites.villeurbanne.fr/agenda/festival/.
Headliners and highlights
Installations & aerial circus
- Compagnie Titanos — Cosmogonos, monumental installation and quirky funfair on avenue Henri-Barbusse (all 3 days)
- Basinga — festival opening, spectacular aerial acrobatics
- Transe Express — festival closing, vertical creation music + acrobatics
- Gratte Ciel — RoZéo, aerial show
Music
- GiedRé — feminist and quirky song
- Les Vulves assassines — electro-punk-rap
- Paris-Alger with Christian Olivier (Têtes Raides) and Hakim Hamadouche
- Dakh Daughters (Ukraine) — Break the Rock, punk-cabaret
International creations
- Jonas & Lander (Portugal) — queer performance
- Ange Kayifa (Cameroon)
- Deabru Beltzak (Basque Country)
- Guy Régis Junior (Haiti) — La Bible du déboulonnement, participatory project
Street theater & farewells
- Théâtre Group' — En Roue libre, the company's last performance
Participatory projects & young creations
- La Rue est à nous — 7 proposals created with 35 students from ENSATT, GEIQ Théâtre Compagnonnage de Lyon, and FAI-AR de Marseille
- Students from the Conservatoire de Lyon — impromptu interventions in public transport
Highlights Les Invités 2026
- 19th edition of the festival, from June 19 to 21, 2026
- Over 100 free shows over 3 days
- Monumental installation Cosmogonos by Compagnie Titanos on avenue Henri-Barbusse
- Opening by Basinga, closing by Transe Express — spectacular vertical acrobatics
- Committed musical program: GiedRé, Les Vulves assassines, Paris-Alger, Dakh Daughters (Ukraine)
- Strong international dimension: Portugal, Cameroon, Basque Country, Haiti, Ukraine
- Farewell of Théâtre Group' with En Roue libre
- Project La Rue est à nous with 35 street art students
Prices Les Invités 2026
Practical information — Les Invités
Access
Location: The entire territory of Villeurbanne (69100). Performances spread across the city's streets, squares, and parks.
By public transport: Metro line A, stops République-Villeurbanne, Gratte-Ciel, or Flachet. Tram lines T1, T3, and T4. Numerous TCL bus lines.
By car: Villeurbanne borders Lyon. Public parking available at Gratte-Ciel and in the city center.
Prices
Festival is entirely free and open to all.
Contact
Les Ateliers Frappaz
14-16 rue Docteur-Frappaz, 69100 Villeurbanne
Tel: 04 72 68 09 87
Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Les Invités
Rues et espaces publics de Villeurbanne
14-16 rue Docteur-Frappaz, 69100 Villeurbanne