Viva Cité
One of Europe's largest street arts festivals in Sotteville-lès-Rouen
About 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.
Viva Cité — edition 2026
The 37th edition of Viva Cité will take place from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, 2026 in Sotteville-lès-Rouen. For three days and two nights, the street arts festival takes over the entire city with nearly 60 companies and over 200 entirely free performances, without reservation. On the program: street theater, circus, dance, music, and monumental shows, including the creation “ADN, Odyssée verticale” by Transe Express, an electro opera performed on a structure over 40 meters high on the Hôtel de Ville esplanade.
Viva Cité 2026 — 37th Edition
The 37th edition of Viva Cité takes place from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, 2026 in Sotteville-lès-Rouen. Co-produced by the City of Sotteville-lès-Rouen and the Atelier 231 — National Center for Street Arts and Public Space (which has provided artistic direction since 2002), the festival transforms the city into a vast open-air stage for three days and two nights. Nearly 60 companies present over 200 free performances with open access, attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year.
“IN” and “OFF” Programming
The festival is structured around two complementary programs:
- The “IN”, the beating heart of the festival, is the official program composed of about twenty companies selected by the Atelier 231 team.
- The “OFF” brings together about forty companies selected, in 2026, from nearly 600 applications received.
Monumental Scenography
As every year, the scenography adorns the city. For 2026, a monumental nine-meter-high figure, designed by the Collectif des Plastiqueurs, dominates the central alley of the Bois de la Garenne, with hundreds of triangular textile panels created during participatory workshops held at Atelier 231 with about twenty residents.
A Free, Popular, and Accessible Festival
All performances are free and open access, without ticketing or reservation. The festival also offers family areas, catering, and a festive atmosphere, making it a major popular event for street arts in Europe.
Programme Viva Cité 2026
Official “IN” Program 2026
The “IN” brings together about twenty companies selected by Atelier 231, including the monumental creation by Transe Express:
- Transe Express — ADN, Odyssée verticale: electro opera performed on a vertical structure over 40 meters high, on the Hôtel de Ville esplanade
- Compagnie Accrorap (Kader Attou) — Prélude Out
- 2L au Quintal — Comme un escargot en apnée
- Les Barjes
- Bonjour Désordre
- Compagnie Brumes
- Carnage Productions
- Compagnie dbk
- Fléchir le vide en avant
- Les Fugaces
- In Itinere Collectif
- Joe Sature et ses joyeux osselets
- KRA
- Marzouk Machine
- La Meute
- Le Petit Théâtre de Pain
- La Presque Compagnie
- Roman Škadra
- Superfluu
- Le Thyase
- Txema Muñoz
The “OFF”
About forty additional companies, selected from nearly 600 applications, complete the official program in the city's streets and spaces.
The day-by-day details (precise times and locations of each performance) are published on the official program put online by Atelier 231 in the weeks leading up to the festival, and the paper program is distributed on opening day.
Highlights Viva Cité 2026
- 37th edition from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Nearly 60 companies and over 200 entirely free performances
- One of the largest street arts festivals in France and Europe
- Monumental creation “ADN, Odyssée verticale” by Transe Express (structure over 40 m on the Hôtel de Ville esplanade)
- “IN” program with about twenty companies selected by Atelier 231
- “OFF” with about forty companies selected from nearly 600 applications
- Monumental scenography by Collectif des Plastiqueurs at Bois de la Garenne
- Free access without reservation · free public transport on Saturday and Sunday
Prices Viva Cité 2026
Practical information — Viva Cité
Access
Location
Sotteville-lès-Rouen (76300), Seine-Maritime, Normandy. Performances take place throughout the city.
How to get there
- By metro: Rouen Metro, Sotteville or Technopôle stations.
- By train: Sotteville-lès-Rouen SNCF station, or Rouen Rive Droite station then metro.
- By car: Free parking available. Access via A13 or A28.
Prices
Festival is entirely free. All shows are free access subject to availability.
Contact
- Website: atelier231.fr
- Facebook: @Atelier231sottevillelesrouen
- Instagram: @atelier231_
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Viva Cité
Ville de Sotteville-lès-Rouen
171 rue Vincent Auriol, 76300 Sotteville-lès-Rouen