Editorial place profile
Festival d'Avignon
At a glance
Festival d’Avignon presents contemporary performing arts across Avignon, alongside readings, exhibitions, films and debates. Its summer festival and year-round La FabricA activity offer different ways to explore live performance.
Practical details
- City
- Avignon
- Artistic focus
- Contemporary performing arts, with related cultural events
- Summer edition
- 2026 completed; next summer dates require an announcement
- Separate winter programme
- Festi’hiver at La FabricA, 29–31 January 2027
Build a visit around a production
Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, the festival brings contemporary performing arts into Avignon’s historic spaces, including the Palais des Papes. Readings, exhibitions, film screenings and debates broaden a visit beyond one evening performance. Choose a work and its venue first, then leave time for the related programme.
The festival also supports residencies, outreach and touring during the year. La FabricA is part of that wider activity; a January performance is a distinct experience from attending the summer festival.
Sources: Festival d’Avignon: performing arts, venues and history, Festival d’Avignon: summer archive and separate winter events
Separate summer from Festi’hiver
The organiser’s current site presents the completed 80th edition in its 2026 material. It separately announces Festi’hiver on 29, 30 and 31 January 2027 at La FabricA, including Peeping Tom’s Chroniques. Those winter dates do not establish the next summer festival period.
Sources: Festival d’Avignon: summer archive and separate winter events
Check the production’s language and ticket
The festival’s FAQ directs visitors to each show’s page for the performance language and surtitles. This matters more than assuming that every event will be accessible in the same language. Ask about the actual venue’s access arrangements when selecting a seat.
The published 2026 Carte Festival and Carte 3 clés were individual discount cards with eligibility conditions; neither applied to Off Avignon. Those are past-edition rules, so use the next edition’s own prices, concessions and booking terms. A programme listing or discount card is not a reserved seat.
Sources: Festival d’Avignon: language and surtitles, Festival d’Avignon: 2026 booking and discount cards
Planning questions
Is La FabricA’s January programme the summer festival?
No. Festi’hiver’s 29–31 January 2027 performances are separate from the next summer edition.
Can an Avignon festival card be used for Off shows?
The main festival’s 2026 booking page expressly excluded Off Avignon. Check the correct organiser’s current card and ticket terms.
Contact and published information
Where this place fits
Sources and review dates
- Festival d’Avignon: summer archive and separate winter events — Festival organiser — checked 2026-10-28
- Festival d’Avignon: performing arts, venues and history — Festival organiser — checked 2026-10-28
- Festival d’Avignon: language and surtitles — Festival organiser — checked 2026-10-28
- Festival d’Avignon: 2026 booking and discount cards — Festival organiser — checked 2026-10-28
Author and corrections
Sarah Haddad is responsible for this profile. It is based on the published sources cited here; no firsthand visit or independent service test is claimed.