MIMOS Festival
International Festival of Mime and Gesture Arts in Périgueux
About MIMOS
A unique festival in Europe
Created in September 1983 by Ginette and Paul Tellier, managers of the municipal cultural center, the MIMOS Festival was born at the Palais des Fêtes in Périgueux with four shows that immediately captivated the audience. In 1987, Peter Bu became artistic director, and the festival was renamed MIMOS, quickly becoming one of the most important mime and gesture arts festivals in Europe and the only one in France dedicated to this aesthetic.
Gesture arts in all their diversity
The festival celebrates the diversity of movement arts rooted in the body: mime, gestural theater, dance, circus, object theater, puppetry, and performance. Every summer, for five days, the squares, alleys, parks, and performance venues of Périgueux transform into open-air stages where international artists and emerging companies mingle.
Training and transmission
Beyond the shows, MIMOS offers training, master classes, and workshops for professionals or future professionals. Since 2019, the festival has hosted the Summer Academy of Gesture Arts, reinforcing its mission of transmission and research in the field of body arts.
L'Odyssée, a conventioned stage
The festival is now supported by L'Odyssée, a conventioned stage in Périgueux, which handles the artistic direction and production of the event throughout the year, in close collaboration with the City of Périgueux and institutional partners.
MIMOS — edition 2026
The 43rd edition of the MIMOS Festival will take place from Tuesday, June 30 to Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Périgueux. Exceptionally, the edition is moved forward by one week due to the Périgueux-Bergerac stage of the Tour de France. For five days, the international festival of mime and gesture arts will take over the city's streets, parks, and performance venues with a generous program combining audacious creations, family shows, evening concerts, workshops, and meetings. This edition particularly highlights Catalan creation with no less than five shows from Catalonia.
43rd Edition of MIMOS Festival — June 30 to July 4, 2026
The MIMOS Festival returns for its 43rd edition from Tuesday, June 30 to Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Périgueux. Due to the Périgueux-Bergerac stage of the Tour de France 2026, this edition is exceptionally held one week earlier than usual.
Organized by L'Odyssée, a subsidized theater in Périgueux, the festival presents an international program dedicated to mime and gesture arts: mime, physical theater, dance, circus, object theater, puppetry, and performance. The program is structured around an IN section (indoor and outdoor shows, often paid) and a rich OFF program of approximately 100 free performances in parks and public spaces.
The IN Program 2026
- Opening Night — Tuesday, June 30: "La Surprise" followed by a concert by Étienne Jaumet, preceded by the monumental participatory cardboard construction by Olivier Grossetête (Les Bâtisses Sœurs).
- CROWD — Compagnie DACM / Gisèle Vienne, Wednesday, July 3 at 8:00 PM at Théâtre Pair/Impair: a hypnotic celebration set to Detroit techno.
- Bestiaire / Vestiaire — Maison De La (June 30-July 1)
- An-Ki — Cia Ortiga (July 1-4)
- Univers — Engruna Teatre (July 1-2)
- Stoïk — Les GüMs (July 1-4)
- Sfumato — Llum de Fideu (July 1-3)
- Portrait — Rebecca Journo / La Pieuvre (July 1-2)
- Toi qui défais le cercle — Ensemble Un (July 1-3)
- Timber — Compagnie Still Life (July 1)
- Toujours, jamais ! — Olivier de Sagazan (July 2)
The OFF Program (free access)
About fifteen free shows in parks and public spaces, including: LaCher Prise (Cie Bakhus), Umama (Agné Muralyté), Tire-toi de mon herbe Bambi ! (Cie La Cour Singulière), No verbal (Aurora Caja), À l'envers (Cie Animotion), Au bord du corps (Cie du Long raccourci), Tempest (Cie La Guetteuse), Reflet (Cie Xuan Le), Fiammiferi (La Cie des Six Faux Nez), Résonances (Compagnie À Corps D') and The falling man (Wonderground).
The complete program, detailed schedules, and locations are available on the official website www.mimos.fr and from L'Odyssée.
Programme MIMOS 2026
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 — Opening Night
- Daytime — Monumental participatory cardboard construction · Olivier Grossetête (Les Bâtisses Sœurs)
- Evening — "La Surprise" + concert by Étienne Jaumet
- Bestiaire / Vestiaire · Maison De La (June 30 → July 1)
Wednesday, July 1 → Saturday, July 4, 2026 — IN Program
- An-Ki · Cia Ortiga (July 1 → 4)
- Univers · Engruna Teatre (July 1 → 2)
- Stoïk · Les GüMs (July 1 → 4)
- Sfumato · Llum de Fideu (July 1 → 3)
- Portrait · Rebecca Journo / La Pieuvre (July 1 → 2)
- Toi qui défais le cercle · Ensemble Un (July 1 → 3)
- Timber · Compagnie Still Life (July 1)
- Toujours, jamais ! · Olivier de Sagazan (July 2)
- CROWD · Compagnie DACM / Gisèle Vienne — Wednesday, July 3 at 8:00 PM, Théâtre Pair/Impair (full 20 € · reduced 16 €)
OFF Program (free access, July 1 → 4)
- LaCher Prise · Cie Bakhus
- Umama · Agné Muralyté
- Tire-toi de mon herbe Bambi ! · Cie La Cour Singulière
- No verbal · Aurora Caja
- À l'envers · Cie Animotion
- Au bord du corps · Cie du Long raccourci
- Tempest · Cie La Guetteuse
- Reflet · Cie Xuan Le
- Fiammiferi · La Cie des Six Faux Nez
- Résonances · Compagnie À Corps D'
- The falling man · Wonderground
Complete program, detailed schedules, and locations on www.mimos.fr.
Highlights MIMOS 2026
- 43rd edition exceptionally moved forward by one week (June 30 → July 4) due to the Tour de France
- Five Catalan shows in the spotlight (Cia Ortiga, Engruna Teatre, Llum de Fideu…)
- CROWD by Gisèle Vienne, a hypnotic celebration set to Detroit techno
- Monumental participatory cardboard construction by Olivier Grossetête
- About fifteen OFF shows with free access in parks and public spaces
Prices MIMOS 2026
Practical information — MIMOS
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place in the city center of Périgueux (24000), in the streets, squares, gardens, and performance venues.
- By car: A89 motorway exit Périgueux, follow the city center. Parking available in the city center.
- By train: Périgueux SNCF station, a 10-minute walk from the historic center.
Prices
Many street performances are offered free of charge. Some indoor performances are ticketed. Consult the program on the official website for detailed prices.
Contact
- Phone: 05 53 53 18 71
- Website: www.mimos.fr
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Where does it take place — MIMOS
Centre-ville de Périgueux
Place Francheville, 24000 Périgueux