Viva Cité

A historic street arts festival in Europe

Viva Cité was born in 1990 on the initiative of Atelier 231, a national center for street and public space arts, located in Sotteville-lès-Rouen on the outskirts of the Rouen metropolis. From its inception, the festival has established itself as an unmissable event for performing arts companies and the public, making Sotteville an ephemeral capital of street arts every end of June. More than thirty-five editions later, Viva Cité remains one of the largest street arts festivals in France and Europe.

A city transformed into an open-air stage

For three days, Sotteville-lès-Rouen transforms into a vast artistic playground. The city's streets, squares, parks, courtyards, and most unusual locations become stages for over 60 companies from Normandy, all of France, and around the world. The festival offers more than 200 performances spread throughout the city, creating a discovery trail where shows appear at every street corner. Theater, circus, dance, puppetry, performances, sound and visual installations: all street arts are expressed in an exceptionally rich program.

A free festival accessible to all

One of Viva Cité's major strengths is its complete freeness. All shows and activities are freely accessible, allowing a large and diverse audience to discover contemporary creation in public spaces. The festival also features a large children's area, food trucks offering international cuisine, and a festive atmosphere that turns each edition into a true popular celebration. Tens of thousands of spectators roam the streets of Sotteville during the weekend.

Atelier 231, driving force behind public space creation

Behind Viva Cité is Atelier 231, one of the few national centers for street arts in France. Throughout the year, this organization supports companies in creating shows for public spaces, providing residencies, construction workshops, and artistic support. Viva Cité is the culmination of this activity, offering the resident companies the opportunity to present their new creations to an enthusiastic and curious audience.