Festival d’Avignon 2027 – France

What to expect in 2027

Festival d’Avignon 2027 will bring theatre, dance, performance, circus, music, readings, cinema, exhibitions, debates and other forms of contemporary performing arts to Avignon and surrounding locations. The festival is one of France’s major international performing-arts events, with a programme that combines productions by established artists, emerging creators and international companies.

The 2027 edition will also be significant because the Festival d’Avignon, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Holland Festival are marking their shared 80th anniversary period. The three institutions have announced a historic artistic collaboration, reinforcing the festival’s international dimension.

The official 2027 artistic programme has not yet been published in full, so individual productions, performers, venues, performance times and ticket categories should be checked when the festival releases its official programme and booking information.

Visitors can expect the festival’s characteristic combination of major theatre venues, historic buildings, open-air spaces, contemporary performance locations and discussions that extend beyond the stage. The festival’s programme traditionally includes theatre, dance, circus, music, multidisciplinary work, screenings, readings, exhibitions, professional meetings, encounters and free events.

Event dates

July 2027 (Dates TBD)

The official Festival d’Avignon website has not yet published the complete 2027 calendar and performance schedule. The festival traditionally takes place in Avignon during July, but individual performance dates and times should be confirmed through the official programme when released.

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Venue & performance locations

Festival d’Avignon uses a wide network of venues rather than one single festival site. Performances take place in theatres, cloisters, courtyards, cultural institutions, outdoor locations and specially adapted spaces around Avignon and the surrounding area.

One of the festival’s most recognisable venues is the Cour d’honneur of the Palais des Papes, an historic performance setting used for major productions. The venue provides reserved accessible seating and individual magnetic loops by reservation for visitors who require them.

La FabricA is another important festival location and serves as the Festival d’Avignon’s permanent home for creation and artistic activity. It is also used for performances and festival-related events.

Other locations used by the festival have included the Cloître des Célestins, Théâtre Benoît-XII, Carrière de Boulbon, Gymnase du lycée Aubanel, Utopia-Manutention and L’Autre Scène du Grand Avignon in Vedène. The festival also works with venues and cultural partners outside the historic centre.

Because the 2027 venue allocation has not yet been published, visitors should use the official programme and individual venue pages to confirm where each production will take place.

Full programme

The full 2027 programme has not yet been released by Festival d’Avignon. The official programme normally provides filters allowing visitors to search performances by date, category, artist, venue and available seats.

The festival’s established programme categories include:

• Theatre
• Dance
• Music
• Circus
• Performance
• Multidisciplinary work
• Screenings
• Readings
• Exhibitions
• Encounters and debates
• Professional meetings
• Open-air events
• Visits
• Events for English-speaking audiences
• Free-admission events

The previous official programme demonstrates the breadth of the festival, with hundreds of individual programme entries distributed across these categories.

The festival also provides an online programme system that allows audiences to create personalised schedules and save favourite events. Visitors planning a multi-day trip can therefore build an itinerary according to artistic interests, venue locations and available performance times.

Featured productions & performers

Specific 2027 productions and performers have not yet been officially announced in full, so they should not be presented as confirmed parts of the 2027 programme.

One important confirmed international development connected with the festival is its collaboration with the Edinburgh International Festival and the Holland Festival. The three institutions have announced a three-year partnership surrounding their shared 80th anniversary period, with Christiane Jatahy’s A Trial – after An Enemy of the People identified as the first co-production of the partnership.

The Festival d’Avignon is also closely associated with artistic director Tiago Rodrigues, whose work has shaped the festival’s recent international programming and production activity. The festival’s production department describes its role as both co-producer and producer of performances, with some productions touring internationally after their festival presentations.

Further 2027 performers and productions should be added only after they appear on the official Festival d’Avignon programme.

Shows & performances

The festival’s strength lies in the variety of formats presented to audiences. Theatre remains central, but visitors can also encounter contemporary dance, circus, performance art, music, readings, film programmes and multidisciplinary projects.

The festival’s recent programming has included both large-scale productions and intimate performances. International companies and artists are presented alongside French creators, while some productions combine several artistic disciplines.

The official archive shows examples ranging from large theatre productions to circus and multidisciplinary work. Productions can be performed in French or other languages, with surtitles provided for selected performances.

The programme can also include events specifically marked for English-speaking audiences, screenings, exhibitions and open-air activities, making the festival suitable for visitors who want more than conventional theatre.

Performance schedule

The 2027 performance schedule has not yet been published.

When the programme is released, each production page is expected to provide the essential practical information needed for planning, including:

• Performance time
• Venue
• Duration
• Seating information
• Language
• Surtitles where applicable
• Accessibility information
• Booking availability
• Transport information for selected venues

The official programme allows visitors to filter events and organise their own itinerary. This is particularly useful because performances are spread across different locations and some productions require additional travel arrangements.

Visitors should also allow sufficient time to reach venues. Festival guidance recommends arriving well before performances, with especially early arrival advised for major or more remote locations. Late arrivals may be refused entry because performances begin on time.

Ticket types

The 2027 ticket structure and prices have not yet been announced. For planning purposes, the festival’s most recent published ticket system provides an indication of how admission has been organised.

The festival has used individual performance tickets together with discount cards that reduce the cost of eligible performances. The most recent published system included the Carte Festival and Carte 3 clés.

Previous published rates, converted from euros to approximate US dollars, included:

• Carte Festival individual pass: approximately $29.43
• Carte Festival for job seekers: approximately $1.18
• Carte 3 clés: approximately $1.18
• Carte Festival professional: approximately $29.43
• Reduced show prices with Carte 3 clés: approximately $11.77–$29.43
• Avignon University Patch Culture ticket: approximately $5.88

These are previous-edition reference prices only and should not be treated as confirmed 2027 prices.

The festival also provides specific arrangements for young audiences, students, job seekers, people receiving minimum welfare benefits, people with disabilities and performing-arts professionals.

Ticket release & booking

The 2027 ticket-release timetable has not yet been announced.

In the most recent published booking system, tickets were made available through the official Festival d’Avignon website, telephone booking, the festival ticket office and selected external ticketing channels. Additional tickets could be released periodically as availability changed.

The festival also operated last-minute ticket offices at individual venues, subject to availability. Tickets and passes were generally non-refundable, although the official system provided an exchange platform for eligible bookings.

For 2027, visitors should use the official booking page rather than relying on unofficial ticket sellers. The final release schedule, booking channels and conditions should be confirmed once the 2027 sales information is published.

VIP & premium seating

Festival d’Avignon does not currently publish a conventional public VIP ticket package as part of its standard ticket information.

Instead, the festival provides professional and patronage arrangements for specific groups. Performing-arts professionals can obtain professional-rate access through the festival’s professional services, while sponsors and patrons can receive dedicated services and privileged placement arrangements.

For ordinary visitors, seating arrangements depend on the individual venue and production. Some venues use numbered seating, while others may use unnumbered or free seating. The official terms state that seating arrangements are specified for individual events.

Visitors looking for specific premium or accessible seating should therefore check the individual performance page before booking.

Event rules

Festival d’Avignon performances operate under the festival’s published terms and conditions. Visitors need a valid physical or digital ticket containing the information required for admission.

Important rules include:

• Tickets must be presented at the venue entrance.
• Digital tickets may be displayed on a suitable mobile device or other supported format.
• Seating may be numbered or unnumbered depending on the production.
• Audience entry normally takes place before the performance begins.
• Late arrivals may not be admitted.
• Some productions may have specific artistic, technical or safety requirements.
• Photography or audiovisual recording may take place at festival events.
• Animals are generally not admitted, except guide dogs.

The festival also reserves the right to make necessary changes to audience seating when photography or audiovisual recording is taking place.

Visitors should always check the specific production page for additional restrictions, language information, accessibility arrangements and venue instructions.

How to get there

Avignon is well connected by rail, road and regional public transport. The festival itself recommends walking and cycling as practical ways to move around the city, particularly because many venues are concentrated in and around the historic centre.

Rail travel is convenient for visitors arriving from other parts of France. Avignon’s central railway connections make the city accessible from major French transport networks, while regional buses connect Avignon with surrounding towns.

For productions outside central Avignon, visitors should check the individual event page because some venues require additional transport planning.

The festival also promotes car-sharing for selected performances and provides information about dedicated shuttle services for certain remote venues.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is an important part of attending the festival. Orizo operates local transport services around Avignon, while regional bus networks connect the city with surrounding communities.

The festival’s official travel information lists several free park-and-ride options connected with downtown shuttle services, including Parking de l’île Piot, Parking des Italiens, Parking Courtine and Amandier. Paid parking options include facilities such as Parking Palais des Papes, Parking Jean-Jaurès, Parking de l’Oratoire and Parking des Halles.

The city centre has vehicle restrictions during the festival period, so visitors arriving by car should consult the latest official traffic and parking information before travelling.

For selected performances outside the city centre, the festival may operate or offer bookable shuttle services. The most recently published information included shuttle services to Carrière de Boulbon and L’Autre Scène du Grand Avignon in Vedène.

Accommodation areas

Visitors can stay in central Avignon for convenient access to the historic venues, restaurants, shops and public transport. Staying within or close to the old town can reduce the need for daily transport between performances.

Popular areas for festival visitors include:

• Avignon historic centre
• Around the Palais des Papes
• Near Avignon Centre railway station
• Areas close to the city walls
• Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
• Surrounding communities in Grand Avignon

Accommodation should be booked well in advance because the festival attracts audiences, artists and cultural professionals from France and abroad.

For visitors attending productions outside central Avignon, staying closer to a regional transport connection or having access to a bicycle or car can make the journey easier.

Dining & refreshments

Avignon offers a broad choice of restaurants, cafés, bakeries, bars and casual dining locations, particularly around the historic centre. Visitors can combine meals with performances by choosing restaurants close to their next venue.

Festival venues may also have refreshments or nearby food options. The official programme has included café and discussion formats where drinks are available, while some festival locations provide temporary refreshment services.

Because performance times and locations vary, visitors should allow enough time for meals rather than assuming that food will be available immediately beside every venue.

For a full-day festival itinerary, a practical approach is to combine breakfast or lunch in the city centre with an early dinner before an evening performance, especially when the next show is at a remote venue.

Accessibility

Festival d’Avignon provides dedicated accessibility services for people with disabilities. The festival offers adapted seating, assistance and specific information for individual venues and performances.

Accessibility measures include:

• Reserved seating for people with reduced mobility
• Adapted toilets at selected venues
• Assistance at venue entrances
• Hearing loops and individual magnetic loops at selected locations
• French sign-language access for selected events
• Subtitled performances where available
• Audio description
• Tactile visits and tactile models
• Accessibility maps
• Dedicated accessibility support

The festival’s accessibility service can help visitors determine whether a particular production or venue meets their individual requirements.

The Cour d’honneur of the Palais des Papes has adapted seating available by reservation, while La FabricA provides accessible facilities and adapted seating subject to reservation.

Visitors who need assistance should contact the festival’s accessibility service before booking or as early as possible.

Best performances to attend

Because the 2027 programme has not yet been published, it is too early to identify specific 2027 performances as confirmed recommendations.

Instead, visitors can plan around the different types of experiences that Festival d’Avignon regularly offers. Those interested in major theatre productions can monitor the programme’s headline productions and performances at major historic venues. Dance enthusiasts can follow the dedicated dance category, while circus audiences can look for productions presented in specialist or open-air settings.

The festival’s multidisciplinary programme is also worth monitoring for visitors interested in experimental work combining theatre, music, movement, visual art and technology.

For international visitors, productions marked for English-speaking audiences, shows with surtitles and selected multilingual performances can be particularly useful. The official programme allows these categories to be identified when the programme is online.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition presented a broad artistic programme under the theme “Under the Flag of Questions.” The festival described the programme as bringing together poetic, political, intimate and collective perspectives through theatre, choreography and other artistic forms.

Notable productions included A Trial – after An Enemy of the People by Christiane Jatahy and Wagner Moura, 1, 2, 3 Poquelin by tg STAN, Everything Must Go by Forced Entertainment, CAPRA (une chèvre) by Jeanne Candel and Salma, Mon Amour by Ahmed El Attar.

The programme also incorporated screenings, readings, exhibitions, encounters, debates and the Café des idées. The official programme archive shows how the festival extends beyond conventional stage performances into discussions, cinema and other cultural activities.

The festival’s production activity is another important part of its legacy. Festival-produced and co-produced works can continue touring internationally after their Avignon presentation, creating a longer life for productions beyond the festival itself.

Official tickets

The official source for Festival d’Avignon ticket information is the festival’s own website:

Festival d’Avignon official website (https://festival-avignon.com/)

For 2027, visitors should wait for the official programme and ticket office announcements before relying on specific performance schedules, ticket prices or seating categories.

Festival d’Avignon’s official contact details are:

Festival office: +33 4 90 27 66 50

Email: info@festival-avignon.com

The festival’s official booking information explains that tickets are normally available through the festival’s own ticketing system and selected authorised sales channels. Visitors should use official sources when booking to ensure that the ticket corresponds to the correct performance and venue.