The Nuits de Fourvière festival in Lyon will celebrate its 80th anniversary in the summer of 2026 with a particularly rich program. Organized from May 28 to July 25 in the ancient theaters on Fourvière Hill and in several venues throughout the city, this anniversary edition will bring together more than 110 shows combining concerts, dance, theater, and circus, including 16 original creations, according to information released by the organizers and reported by AFP.
A musical program featuring French and international stars
The music stage, always at the heart of the festival, will host numerous popular artists. Among the headliners are Vanessa Paradis, expected for two concerts in early June, as well as Canadian singer Charlotte Cardin, named Female Artist of the Year at the 2026 Victoires de la Musique awards. Other major figures are also announced, such as Sébastien Tellier, Gaël Faye, Bertrand Belin, and MC Solaar, who will present a special creation entitled Supersonic Social Club with rapper Youssoupha.
On the international front, several big names are expected, including Massive Attack, Jack White—formerly of The White Stripes—New Zealand singer Lorde, and the British group The Divine Comedy, according to franceinfo Culture with AFP. The festival also plans musical tributes, notably to Cape Verdean singer Cesária Évora, as well as a performance by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock.
Circus, dances and shows throughout the metropolis
The festival will open with a performance by the Australian circus company Circa, which will present the world premiere of its show Revoir les étoiles (Seeing the Stars Again) from May 28 to 30 at the Grand Théâtre. Circus will play a significant role in this year's festival, with several performances in the ancient theaters and the return of big-top shows to Lacroix-Laval Park.
To celebrate this anniversary, eight themed balls will also punctuate the program, ranging from a masked ball to a disco ball, including folk evenings and events for young audiences. According to the organizers, these events symbolize the festive and popular spirit of the festival, which was born in 1946 after the rediscovery of the Roman theaters of Fourvière.
In total, the performances will take place in around ten venues across the Lyon metropolitan area, including the Maison de la Danse, the Radiant-Bellevue, and Les Subs. Tickets will go on sale on March 18 at noon for this highly anticipated anniversary edition, following the festival's previous success in 2025, which attracted 176,000 spectators with a 92% attendance rate, according to AFP.
