Avignon Festival Off 2026: Highlights and Premieres
The Avignon Festival Off 2026, recognized as the largest theatre festival globally, has commenced with more than 1,700 performances. This year's lineup includes returning successful shows, some of which are already sold out. Notable premieres are: 'Le Projet Barthes' featuring Vincent Dissez at Théâtre du Train Bleu (11:05, closed July 10 and 17), 'Un pur chef-d’œuvre' directed by Alain Sachs at Théâtre des 3S (16:50, closed Wednesdays), and 'Doléances, la fable de l’écoute' by Stanislas Roquette at Théâtre du Train Bleu (14:20, closed July 10 and 17). Popular returning acts include 'Y'a de la joie!' at Lucioles (10:00), 'Pourquoi je n'ai jamais été heureux en amour!' at Théâtre du Roi René (15:05), and 'UBU Président' at Théâtre de l'Arrache-Cœur (13:00). Article by Hélène Kuttner.
Key facts
- Avignon Festival Off 2026 has opened with over 1,700 performances.
- New for 2026, many successful productions from the season return to the festival.
- Some shows are already sold out.
- 'Le Projet Barthes' stars Vincent Dissez as Roland Barthes, directed by Sylvain Maurice.
- 'Un pur chef-d’œuvre' by Alain Sachs explores AI-generated theatre.
- 'Doléances, la fable de l’écoute' adapts grievances from the 2019 Gilets Jaunes movement.
- 'L’Amour après' portrays Marceline Loridan-Ivens, performed by Mireille Roussel.
- The article lists multiple returning favorite shows with their venues and times.
Entities
Artists
- Vincent Dissez
- Roland Barthes
- Sylvain Maurice
- Alain Sachs
- Isabelle Tanakil
- Léa Py
- Emilien Fabrizio
- Jacques Fontanel
- Stéphane Titeca
- Stanislas Roquette
- Marceline Loridan-Ivens
- Simone Veil
- Joris Ivens
- Mireille Roussel
- Laure Werckmann
- Michaël Hirsch
- Patrick Massiah
- Guillaume Alix
- Molière
- Goldoni
- Thomas Joussier
- Jon Marans
- Tom Novembre
- Jean-Marie Besset
- Frédéric II
- Frédéric-Guillaume de Prusse
- Philippe Girard
- Frédérique Lazarini
- Alfred Jarry
- Mohammed Kacimi
- Isabelle Starkier
- Jana Klein
- Stéphane Schoukroun
- Marguerite Yourcenar
- Renaud Meyer
- Jean-Paul Bordes
- Mehdi Djaadi
- Hélène Kuttner
Institutions
- Avignon Festival Off
- Théâtre du Train Bleu
- Théâtre des 3S
- ARTEPO
- Archives Nationales
- Présence Pasteur
- Lucioles
- Théâtre du Roi René
- La Factory Roseau Teinturiers
- Théâtre du Chien qui fume
- Condition des Soies
- Théâtre de l'Arrache-Cœur
- Théâtre du Girasole
- La Scala
- Artistikrezo
Locations
- Avignon
- France
- Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Chine
- Vietnam
- Saint-Germain des Prés
- Paris
- Philadelphie