Les Météores
Free outdoor circus festival in Saint-Genis-Laval
About Les Météores
Les Météores: Circus Comes to the Streets of Saint-Genis-Laval
Since 2021, the Les Météores festival has illuminated the summer evenings of Saint-Genis-Laval, a town southwest of the Lyon metropolis. Initiated by a commission from the town to the management of Théâtre La Mouche, in the aftermath of the first lockdown, this festival was conceived as a space for reunion and sharing around live outdoor performance. The concept is as simple as it is generous: every Tuesday evening, from late June to late July, a neighborhood in the town hosts a circus or street arts company for a free, no-reservation performance.
Five Evenings, Five Locations, Five Companies
The strength of Les Météores lies in its traveling and decentralized format. Each week, the festival takes over a different location in Saint-Genis-Laval: a municipal park, a neighborhood square, a public garden, the forecourt of a fort, or an esplanade. This mobility allows the performance to be brought closer to the residents, in everyday spaces transformed for the occasion into ephemeral circus stages.
Contemporary Circus in All Its Forms
The programming showcases contemporary circus in all its diversity: acrobatics, juggling, trapeze, tightrope walking, clowning, aerial arts, street theater, and performances. The invited companies, whether established or emerging, offer shows accessible to all ages, combining technical prowess, poetry, and humor. The 5th edition, in 2025, notably featured La Bande à Tyrex, Les Baudrieres, and Clan Cabane.
A Free Festival Open to All
True to the commitment of La Mouche, Saint-Genis-Laval's theater and cinema, Les Météores is a completely free festival with no ticketing. No reservations, no tickets: everyone is free to come and settle on the grass or the temporary stands to enjoy the show. This philosophy of total openness makes Les Météores a truly popular event, bringing together hundreds of spectators from all walks of life each evening.
A Festival That Builds Community
Beyond the performances, Les Météores has developed an original participatory component: Radio Météores, a podcast created by young people from the area, offers artist interviews and behind-the-scenes reports. Local food trucks provide catering on-site, extending the evening in a neighborhood festival atmosphere. Accessibility is a priority, with support offered upon request for people with disabilities.
Since Élise Ternat took over the direction of La Mouche, the festival has continued to grow, confirming its place in the landscape of outdoor circus festivals in the Lyon region.
Les Météores — edition 2026
The 6th edition of the Les Météores festival takes place from June 23 to July 21, 2026 in Saint-Genis-Laval. Five free Tuesday evenings of circus, dance, and street arts will take over the town's parks and emblematic locations, from Parc de Beauregard to the Observatoire de Lyon, passing through Les Barolles. Shows at 7:30 PM, participatory workshops from 6:30 PM, free access and no reservation required.
6th Edition — Summer 2026
From June 23 to July 21, 2026, Les Météores returns for five free Tuesday evenings of circus and street arts in Saint-Genis-Laval. For this 6th edition, the festival, conceived by Théâtre La Mouche, presents a constellation of open-air shows open to all, in the town's parks, squares, and emblematic sites — from Parc de Beauregard to the Observatoire de Lyon, passing through Les Barolles.
Five Shows, Five Tuesdays, Five Neighborhoods
Every Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM, a different location in the town transforms into an open-air stage to host a contemporary circus or street arts company. The format remains true to the festival's spirit: itinerant, decentralized, free, and without reservation. The 2026 program highlights the diversity of circus arts: aerial acrobatics, percussion, Cyr wheel, dance, burlesque theater.
Before the Show, the « Les Météorites » Experience
From 6:30 PM, the public is invited to extend the festival beyond the performance. Under the banner « Les Météorites », artistic workshops, games, and participatory experiences — slackline, object making, dance, sky observation — are offered free of charge and without registration. Local food trucks provide on-site catering to extend the evening in a neighborhood party atmosphere.
A Committed and Accessible Festival
True to the spirit of Théâtre La Mouche, Les Météores remains an entirely free festival, with no ticketing or reservations. The 2026 edition strengthens its commitment to eco-responsibility (short supply chains, soft mobility) and accessibility, with support offered upon request for people with disabilities.
Programme Les Météores 2026
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 — 7:30 PM
- La Pause — Cie Kilombo · Percussion and acrobatics
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 — 7:30 PM · Parc de Beauregard
- Épiphytes — Cie des Chaussons rouges (Belgium) · Aerial circus — four dancer-acrobats suspended from a giant sculpture, balancing 5 meters high on steel cables. Duration: 45 minutes. All audiences.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 — 7:30 PM
- Vent d'Ouest · Aerial and burlesque show with a Western inspiration
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — 7:30 PM
- Nos Monstres · Circus-dance exploring body transformations
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 — 7:30 PM — Closing Night
- Solstice · Cyr wheel, cello, and cosmic karaoke — hypnotic ballet on the theme of space
Show locations: Parc de Beauregard, Observatoire de Lyon, Les Barolles neighborhood, and other emblematic sites in Saint-Genis-Laval. The precise allocation of each show to its location will be announced on the Théâtre La Mouche website as the program unfolds.
Before each show, from 6:30 PM — « Les Météorites »: free participatory workshops (slackline, object making, dance, sky observation) and local food trucks.
Highlights Les Météores 2026
- 5 free open-air shows, from June 23 to July 21, 2026
- Contemporary circus, dance, and street arts program with French and Belgian companies
- Itinerant format — a different neighborhood of Saint-Genis-Laval every Tuesday
- Participatory workshops « Les Météorites » from 6:30 PM (slackline, dance, sky observation)
- Highlight show: Épiphytes by Cie des Chaussons rouges (suspended aerial circus)
- Free access, no reservation or ticketing required · PRM accessibility upon request
Prices Les Météores 2026
Practical information — Les Météores
Practical Information
Access
By public transport: Bus C10 from Lyon (Bellecour or Perrache), stop Saint-Genis-Laval Centre. Théâtre La Mouche is a 5-minute walk away. Performance venues vary each week: check the program on the La Mouche website.
By car: From Lyon, head towards Saint-Genis-Laval via the D42. Free parking near the performance venues.
Prices
Festival is entirely free. No reservation or ticket required.
Food
Food trucks present at each evening's event.
Contact
Théâtre La Mouche
8 Rue des Écoles, 69230 Saint-Genis-Laval
Tel: 04 78 86 82 28
Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Les Météores
Théâtre La Mouche / Parcs et places de Saint-Genis-Laval
8 Rue des Écoles, 69230 Saint-Genis-Laval