L'estiVAL — Festival of Live Performance

Three days of live performance in the heart of Le Cheylard

L'estiVAL is a live performance festival that takes over the streets and squares of Le Cheylard, a small town in the upper Ardèche valleys, every summer. Organized by the Val'Eyrieux community of communes, the festival transforms the town center into a vast open-air performance space for three days, with seven stages hosting a rich and varied program.

A multidisciplinary and family-friendly program

The strength of L'estiVAL lies in the diversity of its programming: contemporary circus, street theater, dance, clown, music, puppets, object theater, and magic come together in a festive and participatory spirit. The festival is designed for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest, and offers shows that inspire dreams, laughter, and wonder. Each edition brings together about fifteen companies and presents around twenty performances over the three days.

A festival rooted in its territory

L'estiVAL is part of a cultural development initiative in a rural area. The Val'Eyrieux community of communes champions this project as a highlight of its cultural policy, with the ambition of bringing performing arts closer to the inhabitants of this mid-mountain region. The festival also includes an artistic and cultural education component, with a theme explored throughout the school year with local educational institutions.

Over 7,000 spectators per edition

Since its creation, L'estiVAL has continuously grown in attendance and programming quality. The 2024 edition attracted over 6,000 spectators for 22 performances of 16 different shows. The festival now regularly draws over 7,000 spectators over the three days, confirming its status as a major cultural event in Ardèche. Tickets are available online via Billetweb as well as at the Le Cheylard tourist office.