Les Nuits des Bassins
Digital art and mapping along the water in Arras
2026
About Nuits des Bassins
Nuits des Bassins — edition 2026
The 11th edition of Les Nuits des Bassins takes place on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th, 2026, from 8:30 PM to midnight, at the Bassins et Jardins du Val de Scarpe in Arras. Admission is free, no booking required. Les Ateliers de la Halle are showcasing over 15 digital art pieces—including projections, mapping, and interactive installations—created by international artists and art schools. Several works pay tribute to the former miner's lamp factory, which this edition highlights one last time before its demolition.
2026 Edition: The 11th Annual
Les Nuits des Bassins returns to Arras on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th, 2026, from 8:30 PM to midnight, at the Bassins et Jardins du Val de Scarpe. Two evenings of free, open-access events for all ages, with no reservation required.
Industrial Heritage
This year's edition focuses on the industrial and historical heritage of the Val de Scarpe. Several installations highlight the former miner's lamp factory. This is one of the final opportunities to see the building before it is demolished to make way for the future Arras cinema complex, which the city plans to open at Val de Scarpe by 2028.
What to Expect
Les Ateliers de la Halle have announced over 15 works from international artists and art schools. The trail blends digital art, mapping, video, and sound, featuring interactive installations and AI-integrated creations. As of mid-August 2026, the full list of works and artists has not yet been released; the Les Ateliers de la Halle website is still displaying the 2025 program.
Highlights Nuits des Bassins 2026
- 11th edition, Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th, 2026, from 8:30 PM to midnight
- Bassins et Jardins du Val de Scarpe, rue de la Piscine in Arras, next to Cité Nature
- Free admission, no booking required, open to all
- Over 15 digital art works announced, featuring international artists and art schools
- One of the last chances to see the former miner's lamp factory before its demolition
- List of works and artists not yet published as of mid-August 2026
Programme Nuits des Bassins 2026
Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th, 2026
- 8:30 PM → Midnight — Open-access night trail through the Bassins et Jardins du Val de Scarpe, rue de la Piscine: digital art, mapping, video and sound, interactive installations, and AI-integrated creations. Free admission, no booking required, open to all, and accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Same schedule both nights.
- Over 15 works announced, featuring international artists and art schools.
- Several creations pay tribute to the former miner's lamp factory before its scheduled demolition.
Specific details—such as work titles, artist names, and locations—have not been released as of mid-August 2026. Les Ateliers de la Halle will publish these on their website and social media channels closer to the event; the site currently reflects the 2025 program.
Prices Nuits des Bassins 2026
Practical information — Nuits des Bassins
Practical Information
Location
Bassins et Jardins du Val de Scarpe, rue de la Piscine, next to Cité Nature (25 boulevard Schuman), 62000 Arras.
Dates and Times
The 2026 edition will take place on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th, from 8:30 PM to midnight each evening.
Admission
Free entry, no booking required. Open to all.
Getting There
By car: Arras is accessible via the A1 and A26 motorways. Parking is available near the gardens.
By train: Arras train station is located in the city centre, about a 15-minute walk from the Jardins du Val de Scarpe.
Useful Tips
- The route is outdoors and takes place at night: please bring warm clothing and comfortable footwear.
- The site is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
- Please avoid using flashlights, as they interfere with the projections and other visitors' experience.
Contact
Les Ateliers de la Halle, 2 rue de la Douizième, 62000 Arras — 06 78 79 30 76 — [email protected]
Les Nuits des Bassins: Digital Art Along the Water
Since 2015, the Ateliers de la Halle, an association of independent artists based in Arras, has been organizing Les Nuits des Bassins, a unique nocturnal art event in the Hauts-de-France region. Every September, the Jardins du Val de Scarpe are transformed into a poetic and immersive pathway where digital art dialogues with water and nature.
An Immersive Artistic Journey
The concept is simple and fascinating: the ponds, trees, footbridges, and garden facades become the canvases for ephemeral artistic creations. Visitors wander along a marked path, discovering a new artwork at each stage:
- Video Mapping: Monumental projections transform surfaces into animated paintings, playing with water, light, and movement.
- Digital Installations: Interactive works respond to the presence of visitors, creating personalized and participatory experiences.
- Visual and Sound Performances: Artists present creations blending image, sound, and light in hypnotic compositions.
- Video Art: Projections on the water and surrounding structures create enchanting reflections and visual illusions.
Regional and International Artists
Each edition features regional and international artists, united by a theme that gives coherence to the entire experience. Les Nuits des Bassins is a meeting place for established artists and emerging talents, fostering creation and experimentation in the digital arts.
A New Theme Each Year
The 2025 edition explored the theme of 100 years of Art Deco, with creations playing on the colors, movements, and light characteristic of this artistic movement. Each year, the chosen theme offers a new perspective on the possibilities of digital art.
A Unique Nocturnal Experience
The atmosphere of Les Nuits des Bassins is truly magical. In the darkness of the gardens, the artworks take on their full dimension, enhanced by the reflections of the water and the natural environment. The path is experienced in silence or accompanied by sound creations, inviting visitors to poetic and meditative contemplation.
Where does it take place — Nuits des Bassins
Nuits des Bassins in brief
History of Nuits des Bassins
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Arras
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