Les Turbulentes
The free and family street arts festival of Vieux-Condé
About Les Turbulentes
Les Turbulentes: Street Arts Celebration in Vieux-Condé
The festival Les Turbulentes was born on May 1, 1999, in Vieux-Condé, in the Valenciennes region. In over twenty-five years of existence, it has established itself as one of the major street arts events in France, attracting around 35,000 festival-goers each year to this town in the Nord mining basin.
Le Boulon: A Unique Creation Space
The festival is organized by Le Boulon, designated a National Center for Street Arts and Public Space since 2013. Located in a former industrial wasteland of 4,500 m², Le Boulon is a space for creation, artistic residencies, and dissemination. It supports companies throughout the year, and Les Turbulentes is the annual highlight of its programming.
A Multidisciplinary Festival
Each edition hosts about thirty artistic companies offering a wide variety of disciplines: street theater, contemporary circus, dance, music, puppetry, participatory installations, and ambulatory performances. The shows take place in the streets of Vieux-Condé, within Le Boulon, and in unusual locations in the area, transforming the town into a vast open-air stage.
Free, Family-Friendly, and Inclusive
Les Turbulentes is distinguished by its completely free nature and its family-friendly dimension. The festival is accessible to all audiences, with programming dedicated to young audiences and accessibility measures for people with disabilities. The atmosphere is convivial and festive, true to the popular spirit of street arts.
The Mining Basin as a Stage
Vieux-Condé is a town in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Les Turbulentes draws a particular energy from this working-class and popular history. The performances take over the streets, squares, and industrial wastelands, transforming a territory marked by deindustrialization into a space for creation and celebration.
Les Turbulentes — edition 2026
The 28th edition of Les Turbulentes took place from Friday, May 1st to Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 at Le Boulon and in the streets of Vieux-Condé. Three days of entirely free shows offered by about thirty French and international companies: street theater, contemporary circus, dance, music, puppetry, installations, and wandering performances. Approximately 35,000 spectators were expected over the weekend.
Les Turbulentes 2026 — 28th edition
The street arts festival Les Turbulentes celebrated its 28th edition from May 1st to 3rd, 2026, at Le Boulon and throughout the city of Vieux-Condé. Organized by Le Boulon, National Center for Street Arts and Public Space, this edition offered 36 shows, including 6 creations supported by Le Boulon and 4 shows presented by companies from Hauts-de-France.
About thirty companies, over 80 performances
Street theater, fairground theater, young audience theater, contemporary circus, dance, music, puppetry, participatory installations, and unusual routes unfolded in the streets, squares, parks, and industrial wasteland of Vieux-Condé. As every year, the festival transformed the city into a huge open-air stage.
A free, family-friendly, and committed festival
True to its DNA, the 2026 edition was entirely free, accessible to all audiences, and particularly attentive to families, young audiences, and people with disabilities. A "TurbuKids" brochure dedicated to young audiences and an "easy-to-read and understand" version were published in addition to the general program.
Eco-responsible approach
As in several previous editions, Le Boulon emphasized soft transport: reinforced Transvilles shuttles on May 2nd and 3rd, secure bicycle parking, bike rides from neighboring towns, and promotion of carpooling — the organizers remind that nearly 60% of a festival's carbon footprint comes from audience travel.
Programme Les Turbulentes 2026
Friday, May 1st, 2026 — opening
- 16:31 — Official Launch by Calixte de Nigremont accompanied by the Zebatuca brass band (Cour du Boulon)
- 17:00 and 20:30 — Naz 2.0 — Fractal Arsenal (Le Boulon performance hall)
- 22:15 — Qui a tué mon père — Cie Kumulus (Le Boulon Parking B)
- Glitch (Le Boulon) · Amours (conception Mathilde Roy, Agrati Parking) · Soro! (choreography Sandrine Chaoulli, Le Boulon Parking A) · Hot Dog (Le Boulon Cavalier)
- Gagarine is not dead (Agrati Parking) · A-t-on toujours raison ? — Which witch are you? (Cour du Boulon) · Fabrice Guy l'opéra rock (Le Boulon back courtyard)
- Ma joie comme tranchée (Voie verte des gueules noires) · En attendant la vague (Zamibo) · Bahialando (Cour du Boulon)
Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
- 14:00 — Plastic Boum Boum — Cie du Trufu (Saint-Martin Church Square)
- 15:15 — Kikiristani's Fantasy — Imperial Kikiristan (Jean Dussenne Park)
- 17:15 — Le Sacre — Cie La Ville en Feu (Place de la République)
- 19:30 — Kikiristani's Fantasy — Imperial Kikiristan (Cour du Boulon)
- Glitch (city center) · Lévitation — Éléments #1 by Jean-Camille Goimard (Jean Jaurès Field) · Tant qu'on se taira by Cécile Le Meignen (Place Vermeersch)
- People by Claudio Stellato (Marcel Caby School — Lawn) · Le Vertige de l'envers by Pauline Barboux (Marcel Caby School — Basketball court) · Clan Cabane by Antoine Cousty (Marcel Caby School — Lawn)
- Da Gouskate ! by Pauline Sonnic (Agrati Parking) · Sauver Richard by Angélique Orvain (Le Boulon back courtyard) · Bouche bée (Maison des Arts)
- Goodbye Georges by Maxime Christian (Parking rue du 8 mai 1945) · La vérité se fait la malle by Marie-Do Fréval (Parking rue du 8 mai 1945) · 1978 by Garniouze (Le Boulon Garden)
- Soulever des montagnes by Gwladys Gendron (Espace B'Ôlieu) · Hip-Hop-Harpe by Stanka Pavlova (Jard Neighborhood House Garden) · Le Circophone by Joseph Defromont (Château de Vieux-Condé)
- Bahialando (Jean Dussenne Park) · Macadam Caravan (Rue Victor Hugo) · Les Troisièmes Années en piste 2026 — CRAC de Lomme (Faniard Parking) · Fabrice Guy l'opéra rock by Nicolas Moreau (Town Hall back courtyard) · Ma joie comme tranchée (Place Émir Devaux)
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 — closing
- 13:00, 15:45 and 19:45 — Kikiristani's Fantasy — Imperial Kikiristan (Jean Dussenne Park, the 19:45 slot closes the festival)
- 16:30 — Le Sacre — Cie La Ville en Feu (Place de la République)
- 17:30 — Plastic Boum Boum — Cie du Trufu (Saint-Martin Church Square)
- Ma joie comme tranchée (Jean Jaurès Field) · Ce qui nous tient by Rita Tchenko (Cavalier du Boulon) · Macadam Caravan (Avenue des Anglais tram station)
- Reruns and wandering performances of the weekend's shows in the city center streets
Full program and brochures (general, TurbuKids, Easy to read and understand) downloadable on lesturbulentes.com. Festival open daily from 12:00 to 20:00 on free access sites.
Highlights Les Turbulentes 2026
- 28th edition of the national street arts festival, from May 1st to 3rd, 2026 in Vieux-Condé
- 36 shows including 6 creations supported by Le Boulon
- About thirty regional, national, and international companies
- Completely free, family-friendly, and accessible festival
- Approximately 35,000 spectators expected over the weekend
- Opening on May 1st at 16:31 with Calixte de Nigremont and the Zebatuca brass band, closing on May 3rd at 19:45 with Imperial Kikiristan at Jean Dussenne Park
Prices Les Turbulentes 2026
Practical information — Les Turbulentes
Festival Access
By Car
Vieux-Condé is accessible from Valenciennes via the D935 (approx. 20 min) and from Lille via the A23 then the D935 (approx. 1 hour). Free parking available in town.
By Train
Nearest stations: Condé-sur-l'Escaut or Valenciennes (TER from Lille, approx. 1 hour). Shuttles may be available from the stations.
Prices
Festival entirely free. All shows and activities are free to attend.
Food & Drink
Food and drink stalls are set up on the Le Boulon site and in the streets. Local specialties and varied cuisine.
Young Audience Program
Many shows are specially designed for children and families. A dedicated space for young audiences is available.
Contact
Le Boulon – National Center for Street Arts
69 rue Gambetta, 59690 Vieux-Condé
Email: [email protected]
Official website: lesturbulentes.com
Accommodation
Vieux-Condé has limited accommodation options. Valenciennes (20 min) and Condé-sur-l'Escaut offer a wider choice of hotels and B&Bs.
Practical Tips
- The festival takes place mostly outdoors, so pack clothing suitable for the weather.
- Many shows are ambulatory, wear comfortable shoes.
- Consult the program distributed at the entrance to not miss anything.
- Young audience shows are marked in the program.
Accessibility
The festival pays special attention to accessibility. Adapted routes are offered, and staff are trained to welcome people with disabilities.
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Where does it take place — Les Turbulentes
Le Boulon et rues de Vieux-Condé
Z.A. Le Brasseur, avenue de la gare, 59690 Vieux-Condé