Pont des Arts Festival
Street arts and performing arts festival in Pontarlier
About Pont des Arts
Pont des Arts Festival: Art in the street at the heart of Pontarlier
Since 2012, the Pont des Arts Festival has enlivened the streets of Pontarlier every June, driven by the association La Sarbacane. This festival of street theater and multidisciplinary arts has won over the public of Pontarlier and beyond, by offering a demanding yet accessible program in the city's public spaces.
Street Theater as its DNA
At the heart of the Pont des Arts Festival's identity, street theater is the backbone of the programming. Invited companies take over the squares, streets, parks, and shop windows of Pontarlier to offer varied shows: theater, contemporary circus, dance, visual arts, music, and participatory performances. Parades and processions are the festival's signature, leading the public on artistic journeys through the city.
Parades at the heart of the program
The festival has made parades its common thread. In 2025, for the 13th edition, three processions were scheduled, including a route through shop windows in partnership with Commerce Pontarlier Centre. These festive processions take the public to all corners of the city, creating moments of surprise and sharing around street corners. No less than 15 performances take over public spaces in a festive and friendly atmosphere.
A festival rooted in local life
The Pont des Arts Festival is deeply rooted in the cultural life of Pontarlier. By taking over the streets, shop windows, and the Pareuses district, it creates links between residents, shopkeepers, and artists. The festival collaborates with local stakeholders and contributes to the animation of the city center at the beginning of summer. Its free and accessible nature makes it a popular event, open to all audiences and all generations.
Growing influence
Over the editions, the Pont des Arts Festival has gained in scale and notoriety, attracting renowned national companies and an ever-increasing number of spectators. The festival is supported by the City of Pontarlier, the Department of Doubs, and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, testifying to its importance in the cultural landscape of Franche-Comté.
Pont des Arts — edition 2026
14th edition of the Pont des Arts Festival in Pontarlier, on the theme "Freedom and Love" placed under the sign of the round ball (2026 World Cup). Main street arts day on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Place d'Arçon, with a preview on Saturday, June 6 and two photographic exhibitions visible from June 9 to 14. Entirely free festival, no ticketing: dance, street theatre, circus, brass band and DJ-set transform Pontarlier into an open-air playground.
14th Pont des Arts Festival — 2026 edition "Freedom and Love"
The association La Sarbacane - Scène buissonnière, in collaboration with the City of Pontarlier, invites you on Saturday, June 13, 2026 to Place d'Arçon for the 14th edition of the Pont des Arts Festival. The edition is placed under the sign of the round ball on the occasion of the 2026 World Cup: "Imagination takes power: dance puts on its cleats and invites itself onto the asphalt, transforming the streets into a playground with ever more daring and surprising artists."
A festival that spans several dates
The 2026 edition actually offers two highlights of performances:
- Saturday, June 6, 2026 — two burlesque solos by the Compagnie du Petit Monsieur as a preview of the festival.
- Saturday, June 13, 2026 — the main day, Place d'Arçon, with street theatre, dance, participatory performances, brass band and DJ-set.
Two photographic exhibitions are also visible in Pontarlier from June 9 to 14, 2026, from 11 AM to 6 PM: "Les Visages de la Sarbacane" by Esther Narbaud and "Applaudissez!" by Sophie Cousin.
A free and popular event
Since 2024, the festival has switched to a ticket-free program: all shows are freely accessible in public spaces, and everyone is free to support the event as they wish. True to its ambition, Pont des Arts offers live performances focused on poetry, humour, dreams and the unusual, accessible to all audiences.
Street theatre as its DNA
At the heart of the festival's identity, the invited companies take over the squares, streets and shop windows of Pontarlier to offer theatre, contemporary circus, dance, brass band and participatory performances. The festival is supported by the City of Pontarlier, the Doubs Department and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region.
Programme Pont des Arts 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026 — preview
- 2:15 PM — En dérangement · Compagnie du Petit Monsieur · silent burlesque solo
- 5:30 PM — Deux secondes · Compagnie du Petit Monsieur · silent burlesque solo
Saturday, June 13, 2026 — main day, Place d'Arçon
- 11:00 AM — La Cuisinière · Compagnie Tout en vrac · street theatre
- 3:00 PM → 5:00 PM — Buuuuuuut !!! · Compagnie Rouge Fraise · participatory performance
- 4:00 PM — La Cuisinière (repeat) · Compagnie Tout en vrac · street theatre
- 4:45 PM — Exirium Brass Band · wandering brass band
- 5:30 PM — Goal · ViaDanse - CCN de Belfort · dance
- 6:30 PM — 3e Mi-temps dansée · ViaDanse - CCN de Belfort · participatory performance
- 7:30 PM — Exirium Brass Band (repeat) · brass band
- 8:30 PM — L'Imagination au pouvoir · Le Grand Colossal Théâtre · street theatre
- 10:00 PM — DJ Mareen Boogaloo · hip-hop, rocksteady, funk, salsa
June 9 to 14, 2026 — photographic exhibitions (11 AM to 6 PM)
- Les Visages de la Sarbacane · Esther Narbaud
- Applaudissez ! · Sophie Cousin
Highlights Pont des Arts 2026
- 14th edition on the theme "Freedom and Love" / round ball (2026 World Cup)
- Main day on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Place d'Arçon, from 11 AM to midnight
- Burlesque preview on Saturday, June 6 with the Compagnie du Petit Monsieur
- Two photographic exhibitions visible from June 9 to 14
- Guest companies: ViaDanse (CCN de Belfort), Le Grand Colossal Théâtre, Compagnie Tout en vrac, Compagnie Rouge Fraise, Compagnie du Petit Monsieur, Exirium Brass Band, DJ Mareen Boogaloo
- Entirely free festival, no ticketing (free support)
Prices Pont des Arts 2026
Practical information — Pont des Arts
Access
By car: Pontarlier is accessible via the RN57 from Besançon (approx. 1h) or from Switzerland (border 5 km away). Free parking in the city center.
By train: Pontarlier station, served by TER from Besançon.
Venues
The shows take place outdoors in the streets, squares, and public spaces of Pontarlier: city center, shop windows, Pareuses district.
Prices
Free festival. All shows are free to access.
Contact
- Association La Sarbacane
- Website: www.festivalpontdesarts.com
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Where does it take place — Pont des Arts
Place d'Arçon et rues du centre-ville de Pontarlier
Place d'Arçon, 25300 Pontarlier (centre-ville), 25300 Pontarlier