A Magical Puppet Adventure at the 2026 Méliscènes Festival
32 puppet and object theatre shows across Brittany, March 7–21 in the Pays d’Auray
The 2026 Méliscènes Festival returns to the town of Auray and surrounding communities in Brittany from 7–21 March 2026. Now in its 25th edition, the festival is dedicated to puppetry and object theatre, presenting a wide range of contemporary performances for children, families, and adult audiences. (Ville Auray)
Organised by the Centre Culturel Athéna, the festival brings together around 32 shows and 90 performances by companies from France and beyond, staged across 24 communes in the Pays d’Auray, including coastal towns and the islands of Houat and Hoëdic. (Ville Auray)
Alongside theatre performances, the programme also includes workshops, public events, and a participatory artistic project titled “Un Appétit de Géant”, featuring giant puppets and collaborative creations with residents. (Ville Auray)
Below is a selection of performances from this year’s programme.
Opening Weekend
The festival begins with several performances on Sunday 8 March:
Foreign Land – Cie Juste Après
Athéna, Auray – 3:00 pmCASES – CréatureS Company
Carnac – 5:00 pm
(Also at Athéna on 11 March)The Bear – INDEX Company
Landaul – 5:00 pm
(Later performances in Brec’h and Athéna)
Touring Performances Around the Coast
Several productions travel between towns across the region.
Teatro Golondrino presents two works:
The Adventures of Jojo Golendrini
Hoëdic – 9 March, 11:00 am
Houat – 9 March, 6:30 pmThe Escapee
Quiberon – 11 March, 5:00 pm
Other touring productions include A Broom! by La Bobêche in Locmariaquer and La Trinité-sur-Mer.
Highlights at Athéna Theatre
The Centre Culturel Athéna in Auray hosts many of the festival’s central performances, including:
Imagine the Rain – Tro-heol Company
10 March, 8:30 pmMy New Shoes – Tian Gombau
11 March, 3:00 pm & 5:00 pmHector, the Extraordinarily Strong Man – La Bobêche
14 March, 2:00 pm & 5:30 pmYSS – Collectif AÏE AÏE AÏE / Célia Hue
14 March, 3:00 pm & 6:00 pmUprooted – Collectif Les Becs Verseurs
14 March, 7:00 pm & 15 March, 6:00 pm
Outdoor and Special Events
The programme also includes outdoor performances and participatory events.
The Sowing Ritual – A Giant’s Appetite by Compagnie Les Grandes Personnes invites audiences on a promenade through Auray with giant puppets, beginning from the Oasis at 3:30 pm on 14 March.
Other special events include:
Evening of Small Forms – 13 March
Radio Shows with Clémence de Clamard (RoiZIZO theatre) – 16–19 March
The Happy Punchinello – roaming performances in Auray on 15–16 March
International Companies
The programme also features international artists, including the Kharkiv State Academic Puppet Theatre (Ukraine) presenting:
Mons the Giraffe
Athéna – 20 & 21 March, 7:00 pm
Final Weekend
The festival closes with several major performances:
The Centerpiece – TAC TAC Company
20–21 MarchSubjective Moon – Compagnie les Maladroits
20 MarchMan’s Skin – Compagnie La Salamandre
21 March
The closing event, “Under the Lightning: Stars and Glitter…”, takes place on 21 March from 6:30 pm, marking the festival finale.
Tickets for all performances are coordinated through the Centre Culturel Athéna in Auray, with booking available online or through the venue’s box office.
For the full programme and schedule, visit the festival website.