Rencontres du Jeune Théâtre Européen
The European meeting place for young theatrical creation in Grenoble
About RJTE
Created in 1989 by Créarc in Grenoble, the European Young Theatre Encounters bring together each summer for about ten days around 150 young actors from some fifteen theatre companies from a dozen European and partner countries. This entirely free festival offers indoor and outdoor performances, international artistic expression workshops, daily debate-cafés, and a grand closing parade-show in the streets of Grenoble, celebrating the diversity of European languages and cultures.
The European Young Theatre Encounters: an intercultural dialogue through the stage
Since 1989, the European Young Theatre Encounters have been a major artistic and cultural event in Grenoble, supported by Créarc (Centre de Création, de Recherche et des Cultures). Born from the European momentum of the late 1980s, these Encounters have established themselves as a unique place for exchanges, expression, civic conviviality, and intercultural dialogue among the continent's youth.
An adventure born in 1989
The first edition was experimentally set up with about sixty young actors from theatre workshops in Poland, Algeria, Italy, France, and Germany. The success of this initial encounter led the organizers to make the event permanent. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, now bringing together 150 to 200 young artists each year, from theatre companies across Europe and partner countries.
A rich and eclectic program
For about ten days, between late June and early July, the Encounters unfold a rich program in several venues in Grenoble:
- Indoor performances: theatrical representations in the native languages of the invited companies, presented at Théâtre 145 (TMG), Théâtre Prémol, and Espace 600
- Street and outdoor performances: free performances in the squares and streets of Grenoble city center (Place d'Agier, Place Félix Poulat)
- International workshops: led by a collective of European educators, these workshops combine theatre, dance, commedia dell'arte, visual arts, masks, juggling, fire arts, circus, video, clowning, costumes, and makeup
- Daily debate-cafés: exchange spaces open to the public where young artists and spectators discuss the year's themes
The parade-show: a unifying highlight
Each edition concludes with a grand parade-show in the streets of Grenoble, an emblematic moment of the festival. All participants of the international workshops present the work carried out during the week around the year's theme, in a multilingual theatrical and festive procession. This parade offers young people the opportunity to express themselves in public space, to make the plurality of European languages heard, and to raise public awareness of the challenges facing contemporary youth.
A commitment to European youth
Beyond its artistic dimension, the European Young Theatre Encounters embody a deeply humanist and civic project. By enabling young people of different nationalities, languages, and cultures to create together, the festival forges lasting bonds and nurtures a European network of theatre companies that continues long after the Grenoble week.
RJTE — edition 2026
The 38th edition of the European Young Theatre Encounters takes place in Grenoble from June 26 to July 5, 2026, on the theme "Imposed Narratives, Chosen Narratives". The festival brings together approximately 150 young actors from 13 theatre companies from 12 countries (Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Lithuania, Morocco, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom). On the program: indoor performances at Théâtre 145 and Théâtre Prémol, street performances on Place d'Agier, international workshops, café-debates, and a grand closing parade-show on Place Félix Poulat.
38th European Young Theatre Encounters — "Imposed Narratives, Chosen Narratives"
Créarc is organizing the 38th edition of the European Young Theatre Encounters in Grenoble, from June 26 to July 5, 2026. This annual event for young European theatre creation continues its mission of intercultural dialogue and artistic exchange through live performance, under the theme "Imposed Narratives, Chosen Narratives".
A European gathering in Grenoble
This edition brings together approximately 150 young actors from 13 theatre companies from 12 countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lithuania, Morocco, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Coming from all over Europe and partner countries, these young artists present their creations in their native languages and participate in a unique collective adventure.
Invited companies
- Compagnie la Désarmante — Meylan (France)
- Crew Bag Dancers — La Tronche (France)
- Compagnie Artémuse — Fontanil-Cornillon (France)
- Collectif 1984 — Brussels (Belgium)
- Compagnie Tracart — Villanova (Spain)
- Amifran — Arad (Romania)
- Mandala Theatre Company — Oxford (United Kingdom)
- Mazoji Teatro Akademija — Vilnius (Lithuania)
- Theater Frankfurt — Frankfurt an der Oder (Germany)
- TUT — Lisbon (Portugal)
- Trapné Ticho — Brno (Czech Republic)
- Compagnie Studentina — Bulgaria
- + troupes from Morocco and Moldova
A free festival open to all
All shows, workshops, and events are entirely free and accessible within the limit of available seats. Reservations are recommended at 04 76 01 01 41 or by email at [email protected].
Programme RJTE 2026
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Opening
- 3:30 PM — Official opening of the 38th Encounters · Grenoble City Hall
- 6:00 PM — Nour · Compagnie la Désarmante, Meylan (France) · Place d'Agier
- 7:00 PM — Réécrire demain · Participating troupes · Place d'Agier
- 9:00 PM — Battle connexion · Crew Bag Dancers, La Tronche (France) · Place d'Agier
Sunday, June 28, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Llegat · Compagnie Tracart, Villanova (Spain) · Théâtre Prémol
- 8:30 PM — 200 BPM · Collectif 1984, Brussels (Belgium) · Théâtre 145
Monday, June 29, 2026
- 4:30 PM — L'étrange histoire des voleurs de temps · Amifran, Arad (Romania) · Théâtre Prémol
- 8:30 PM — Trojan Women · Mandala Theatre Company, Oxford (United Kingdom) · Théâtre 145
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Show in programming · Théâtre Prémol
- 8:30 PM — The man outside · Mazoji Teatro Akademija, Vilnius (Lithuania) · Théâtre 145
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Filles de la lune · Compagnie Artémuse, Fontanil-Cornillon (France) · Théâtre Prémol
- 8:30 PM — Das Fass · Theater Frankfurt, Frankfurt an der Oder (Germany) · Théâtre 145
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Show in programming · Espace 600
- 8:30 PM — Peste Blanche · TUT, Lisbon (Portugal) · Théâtre 145
Friday, July 3, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Richard III n'aura pas lieu · Trapné Ticho, Brno (Czech Republic) · Théâtre 145
Saturday, July 4, 2026 — Closing
- 9:15 PM — Grand Closing Parade-Show · Place Félix Poulat — multilingual theatrical and festive procession on the theme "Youth, digital technology and relationship to reality"
- 10:00 PM — Final closing show · Place d'Agier
Highlights RJTE 2026
- 38th edition of the festival since its creation in 1989
- 2026 Theme: "Imposed Narratives, Chosen Narratives"
- 150 young actors from 13 companies from 12 European and partner countries
- 11 shows programmed at Théâtre 145, Théâtre Prémol, Espace 600 and outdoors
- International workshops combining theatre, dance, circus, commedia dell'arte and visual arts
- Grand Closing Parade-Show on July 4 at Place Félix Poulat
- All shows are free within the limit of available seats
Prices RJTE 2026
Practical information — RJTE
Practical Information for the Rencontres du Jeune Théâtre Européen
Dates and Frequency
The Rencontres du Jeune Théâtre Européen are held annually, generally over ten days between late June and early July. The festival has been taking place since 1989 and will be in its 38th edition in 2026.
Prices
All performances and events of the Rencontres du Jeune Théâtre Européen are free and open to all. The international workshops, debate-cafés, indoor and outdoor performances, and the closing parade-show are accessible without reservation or ticketing.
Performance Venues
Performances and activities take place in several venues in Grenoble:
- Théâtre 145 (TMG) — 145 cours Berriat, 38000 Grenoble
- Théâtre Prémol — 7 rue Henry Duhamel, 38100 Grenoble
- Espace 600 — 97 galerie de l'Arlequin, 38100 Grenoble
- Petit Théâtre du Créarc — 4 rue Pierre Duclot, 38000 Grenoble
- Squares and streets of Grenoble city center (Place Félix Poulat, Place d'Agier, etc.)
Organizer
Créarc — Centre de Création, de Recherche et des Cultures
4 rue Pierre Duclot, 38000 Grenoble
Tel: 04 76 01 01 41
Email: [email protected]
Website: crearc.fr
Access
By tram: Line B, stop 'Sainte-Claire les Halles' for the Petit Théâtre du Créarc. Other venues are accessible by lines A, B, C, and E of the TAG network.
By train: Grenoble Station, served by TGV from Paris (3h), Lyon (1h30), and major French cities. From the station, the city center is a 10-minute walk or accessible by tram.
By car: Grenoble is accessible via highways A48 (from Lyon), A41 (from Chambéry and Geneva), and A51 (from the south). P+R park-and-ride lots at the entrances to the urban area.
Accessibility
The performance venues are accessible to people with reduced mobility. For any specific requests, please contact Créarc by phone or email before the festival.
Accommodation
Grenoble offers a wide choice of accommodation: hotels, youth hostels, holiday rentals. The Grenoble-Alpes Métropole Tourist Office can assist visitors with their search: www.grenoble-tourisme.com.
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Where does it take place — RJTE
Petit Théâtre du Créarc et lieux partenaires
4 rue Pierre Duclot, 38000 Grenoble