Avignon Festival 2026: A Historic Edition Celebrating Art, Renewal, and Global Dialogue
- loicbonnor
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
The Avignon Festival is celebrating a monumental milestone this year: the 80th edition of the "In" festival and the 60th anniversary of the "Off." From July 4 to 25, 2026, the City of Popes transforms once again into a massive open-air theater under the artistic direction of Tiago Rodrigues.
This anniversary edition is firmly focused on the future, blending deep historical roots with a bold, contemporary creative vision.
High Drama in the Cour d’Honneur
The majestic Cour d’Honneur (Court of Honor) at the Palais des Papes remains the beating heart of the festival, hosting some of this year's most ambitious and diverse productions.
The Monumental Opening: Director Julien Gosselin kicked off the festival with Maldoror. This grand 5-hour theatrical epic seamlessly merges the literary worlds of Lautréamont and Roberto Bolaño.
A Convergence of Icons: On July 15 and 16, the stage will host Oiseau (Bird), a unique performance directed by Julie Deliquet. It features legendary French actress Isabelle Huppert performing alongside South Korean star Lee Hye-young, centering around the poignant writings of Nobel laureate Han Kang.
Contemporary Circus Takes Over: From July 22 to 25, Collectif XY will close out the Cour d’Honneur with Le Pas du Monde, a breathtaking contemporary circus piece where acrobatic bodies intertwine to create living, shifting landscapes.
Spotlight on South Korea and a Wave of Fresh Talent
True to its tradition of celebrating global arts, the festival has chosen Korean as this year's guest language. Beyond the focus on Han Kang, audiences can explore South Korea's rich contemporary stagecraft through innovative works like KIN: Yeonhee Project I and pieces by Jaha Koo, which examine Western theater history through an Eastern lens.
What makes this 80th edition particularly remarkable is its commitment to new voices: 67% of the invited artists are performing at the festival for the very first time. Furthermore, for the first time in the event's history, the majority of the artistic projects are led by women and female-driven collectives.
The Festival Off Celebrates 60 Years!
You can't experience Avignon without its vibrant, independent counterpart. The Festival Off Avignon is marking its 60th anniversary. Running concurrently from July 4 to 25, hundreds of independent theater companies from all over the world are taking over local schools, squares, and intimate venues.
To mark six decades of creative freedom, the Off is putting a strong emphasis on eco-responsibility, notably introducing a 100% vegetarian culinary hub at the Village du Off. Additionally, July 14 will feature a special lineup of festivities and pop-up events to blow out the Off's 60 candles.
Budget-friendly places to stay
Practical Tips: Securing Your Tickets
With over 130,000 spectators expected for the main festival, tickets sell out incredibly fast. If a show you want is fully booked, check the official festival website daily at 10:00 AM for last-minute ticket releases, or visit the main box offices at the Cloître Saint-Louis or La FabricA.
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