Avignon Festival OFF 2026: Three Must-See Shows
The Avignon Festival OFF 2026 features three standout performances. Superamas presents 'Danemark, un spectacle ethnographique sur le bonheur', a humorous conference-style show exploring why Denmark tops global happiness rankings, with 92% of Danes reporting fulfillment versus 60% of French. Michael De Cock, former KVS Brussels director and new director of Théâtre de Liège, performs 'Paris et Miki', a fantastical journey through art and history with music by Bonny Tyler, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Mozart. 'Ne t’arrête pas de courir' adapts Mathieu Palain's book about athlete Toumany Coulibaly, who became a champion sprinter while leading a double life as a burglar. Directed by Tristan Petitgirard with staging by Stéphanie Jarre, the play stars Ike Zacsongo-Joseph and Kamel Isker.
Key facts
- Superamas collective presents a show on happiness in Denmark.
- 92% of Danes report being fulfilled vs. 60% of French.
- Michael De Cock is former director of KVS Brussels and new director of Théâtre de Liège.
- De Cock's show 'Paris et Miki' includes music by Bonny Tyler, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Smith, Mozart, and Bach.
- Toumany Coulibaly won French 400m champion in 2015.
- Coulibaly was sentenced to three years in prison for burglary.
- Mathieu Palain's book about Coulibaly was published in 2021 by L'Iconoclaste and won several literary prizes.
- The play 'Ne t’arrête pas de courir' is adapted by Johanna Boyé and Thibaud Houdinière.
Entities
Artists
- Superamas
- Michael De Cock
- Bonny Tyler
- Echo and the Bunnymen
- The Smith
- Mozart
- Jean-Sebastien Bach
- Toumany Coulibaly
- Patricia Girard
- Mathieu Palain
- Johanna Boyé
- Thibaud Houdinière
- Ike Zacsongo-Joseph
- Kamel Isker
- Loup-Denis Elion
- Marie Mahé
- Chloé Froget
- Sara Singer
- Tristan Petitgirard
- Stéphanie Jarre
- Hélène Kuttner
Institutions
- Avignon Festival OFF
- KVS Brussels
- Théâtre de Liège
- Théâtre Royal Flamand
- Manufacture
- Théâtre Actuel
- Prison de Fresnes
- L'Iconoclaste
Locations
- Avignon
- France
- Denmark
- Switzerland
- Brussels
- Liège
- Rio de Janeiro
- Brazil