Textes en l'air
Theater and poetry festival in Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye
About Textes en l'air
Created in 2004, Textes en l'air is a theater and poetry festival held every summer in Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, a medieval village classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, between Valence and Grenoble facing the Vercors cliffs. For five days and five nights, plays, readings, poetic wanderings, open-air concerts, and writing workshops follow one another in the village's courtyards and gardens. Supported by the association Textes en l'air, the festival makes the stones of heritage resonate with contemporary writing.
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Textes en l'air: twenty years of living words in the heart of a medieval village
In January 2004, an enthusiastic and diverse team was formed in Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye around an ambitious project: to create a festival that would bring together the exceptional heritage of a medieval village with contemporary dramatic writing. Thus was born Textes en l'air, which has offered every summer since then "a joyful immersion in language and its celebrations, in all its forms".
A unique heritage setting
The festival takes place in one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, classified since 2009, nestled in the Isère valley between Valence and Grenoble, facing the majestic cliffs of the Vercors. The 14th-century abbey church, the medieval alleys, the Grande Cour, the gardens, and the high walls of the village form a striking natural backdrop for the performances. The artistic project is based precisely on this idea: to provoke friction between the stones of yesterday and the writing of today, transforming these historically rich spaces into places of contemporary artistic creation and dissemination.
Five days and five nights of celebration around words
Each edition unfolds a rich and eclectic program centered around a thematic thread chosen by the resident author. Plays, staged readings, poetic wanderings through the village, open-air concerts, conferences, writing workshops, aperitif-gatherings with artists, and shows for young audiences follow one another from morning until night. The festival hosts national and international companies, renowned contemporary playwrights, and emerging artists, including the winners of Les Envolées, a biennial program supporting young theatrical creation led by the Grenoble-based collective Troisième Bureau, of which Textes en l'air is one of the nine founding partners.
A commitment to proximity and sharing
One of the festival's founding principles is to foster proximity between artists and festival-goers. No safety barriers or separate dressing rooms: everyone gathers around the same refreshment stand to celebrate and eat together between shows. Artists and technicians are hosted by the villagers, creating a strong human connection between artistic creation and the local community. This direct and warm relationship between the public and artists constitutes the festival's deep identity.
Author residencies throughout the year
Since 2007, the association has hosted authors in residence in the region every year. These residencies allow for reflection and creation to extend beyond the festival period, and the theme of each hosted author becomes the guiding thread for the summer program. The association also conducts artistic and cultural education activities throughout the year, particularly in schools, to make contemporary theater and dramatic writing accessible to all audiences.
Textes en l'air — edition 2026
The 22nd edition of the Textes en l'air festival will take place from July 22 to 26, 2026, in Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye. Five days of theater, poetry, readings, concerts, and author encounters in the exceptional setting of the medieval village, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France.
22nd edition — July 2026
The Textes en l'air festival returns for its 22nd edition from July 22 to 26, 2026, in the medieval village of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, recently voted France's Favorite Village 2025. This national distinction offers the festival unprecedented reach and promises a particularly festive edition in this historic site of Isère heritage.
A flourishing festival
With over twenty years of existence, Textes en l'air continues its mission to make the stones of heritage resonate with contemporary writing. Artistic director Valérie Charpinet will curate a program that, as every year, will bring together contemporary theater, poetry, music, and performing arts in the courtyards, gardens, and alleys of the village.
The full program, centered around the thematic thread chosen by the resident author, will be unveiled in the spring of 2026 on the festival's official website.
Residencies and creation
True to its commitment to supporting contemporary creation, the festival will host companies in residence throughout the year, notably the company Locus Solus, which is beginning a three-residency cycle around its project *Le Retour des Amazones* (The Return of the Amazons), a creation exploring the place of women in our vision of history and in today's society.
Ticket sales will open in the spring of 2026 online and at the usual points of sale (Digitick, Fnac, Carrefour, Hyper U), as well as on-site from the first day of the festival.
Prices Textes en l'air 2026
Practical information — Textes en l'air
Practical Information
Festival Venue
The festival takes place in the medieval village of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Performances take place in the Grande Cour, the abbey church, the museum, the gardens, the alleys, and various historical heritage sites.
Address: Grande Cour, 38160 Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye
Access
By car: From Grenoble (approx. 55 km), take the A49 towards Valence, exit at Saint-Marcellin, then follow the D1092 and D27 to Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye. From Valence (approx. 45 km), take the D532 then the D519. Free parking at the entrance of the village.
By train: Saint-Marcellin station (TER from Grenoble or Valence), then 15 km by car or shuttle. Grenoble station (TGV from Paris in 3h, TER from Lyon in 1h30).
By bus: Regional lines Cars Région Isère from Saint-Marcellin. Inquire about special shuttles during the festival.
Ticketing and Prices
Many shows and activities are free, with open access. For paid performances:
- Full price: from 12 to 17 EUR depending on the show
- Reduced price: association members, under 18s, students under 25, job seekers, performing arts professionals
- Group price: from 4 tickets for the same show
- Evening Pass: advantageous offer for the 3 shows starting at 9:45 PM
- Writing Night: single price of 30 EUR
Online ticketing on the Digitick and Fnac networks, and at physical points of sale (Carrefour, Hyper U). Tickets also available on-site from the first day of the festival.
Food and Drink
A festive refreshment stand is set up in the Grande Cour, a convivial place where the public and artists meet between shows. Light catering available on-site. Several restaurants and shops are accessible in the village and its surroundings.
Accommodation
The village and its surroundings offer gîtes, bed and breakfasts, and campsites. Inquire with the Saint-Marcellin Vercors Isère Tourist Office for availability during the festival.
Contact
Association Textes en l'air
4 Grande Cour – 38160 Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye
Tel: 09 77 69 35 11
Email: [email protected]
Website: textesenlair.fr
Support
The festival benefits from the support of the DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the Department of Isère, the Saint-Marcellin Vercors Isère community of communes, and the Municipality of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye.
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Textes en l'air at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Textes en l'air
Grande Cour et village médiéval de Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye
4 Grande Cour, 38160 Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye