Festival d’Automne

More than fifty years of artistic daring

Created at the initiative of Michel Guy, the Festival d’Automne has become one of the major events for contemporary creation in France. For more than half a century, it has brought together disciplines, cultures and generations of artists through a programme that is both demanding and accessible. Every year, the festival takes over many iconic venues in Paris Region, from the Théâtre de la Ville to the Centre Pompidou, as well as the Odéon, the MC93 in Bobigny and the Grande Halle de La Villette.

True to its original spirit, the Festival d’Automne supports major figures from the international scene while also revealing new talents. Theatre, dance, music, visual arts, cinema and performances come together in a constant drive for artistic innovation. This multidisciplinary approach makes it a unique event, where visitors can discover bold forms and creations often presented as world or French premieres.

An international and vibrant 2026 edition

For its 2026 edition, the Festival d’Automne brings together artists from forty countries and presents 75 projects across 58 partner venues in Paris and the Paris Region. Three major “Portraits” shape the programme: Moroccan choreographer Bouchra Ouizguen, Canadian composer Cassandra Miller and Australian company Back to Back Theatre.

Visual arts enthusiasts will be able to discover the exhibition by Lubaina Himid at the Chapelle Saint-Louis de la Salpêtrière, a leading figure of the Black British Arts Movement. Multidisciplinary artist Christine Sun Kim will take over public space and the Bourse de Commerce with an exhibition and performances combining sign language, music and visual arts.
On the performing arts side, dancer and choreographer nora chipaumire opens the festival at the Ménagerie de Verre, while Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen and Indonesian performer Siko Setyanto present Ocean Cage at the Théâtre de la Cité internationale. Choreographer Ewa Dziarnowska performs at Lafayette Anticipations, while Marion Siéfert and Matthieu Bareyre take over the T2G Théâtre de Gennevilliers with their creation Bunker. The festival also extends beyond Paris, to Montreuil, Corbeil-Essonnes, Ivry and Cergy-Pontoise.

The 2026 edition also gives pride of place to music, with a monumental work by Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas, performed by Klangforum Wien and fifty pianists. The duo Lolo & Sosaku presents, for its first participation in the festival, a project combining concert and performative installation.

Between discoveries, experiments and leading names from the contemporary scene, the 2026 Festival d’Automne confirms more than ever its status as an essential cultural event for exploring the diversity of international creation in the heart of Paris and the Paris Region.
Discover even more festivals in Paris Region.