Chronicles of Bourges in Avignon 2025!

And amid an edition marked by resounding success, the unmistakable “Bourges 2028” touch made its appearance.

With an attendance rate of 96.7%, the Festival d’Avignon experienced a truly historic edition.
Among the hundreds of thousands of culture lovers who travelled from all over the world were representatives of Bourges 2028.
To strengthen ties with Avignon.
To draw inspiration from today’s artists and creations.
And to attend acclaimed performances by artists already announced as part of the European Capital of Culture programme.

From the legendary Cour d’Honneur of the Palais des Papes to the more intimate venues of the Off, our artists and their creations were at the heart of this unmissable festival for the performing arts.

Mohamed El Khatib took us on a journey with his dance piece exploring Mediterranean masculinities.
The Compagnie de Lela electrified audiences with a performance that was both punk and poetic.
Joanne Leighton carried us into a unique sensory adventure.
The Printemps de Bourges, the Maison de la Culture de Bourges and the Institut du monde arabe** moved us to tears with La Voix des Femmes, a creation that brings back to life the voice of the greatest singer of the Arab world, Oum Kalthoum.
The Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and the Région Centre-Val de Loire** brought together six choreographic teams to showcase talent from across their territories.
And Nemo Flouret created a magical moment, suspended between celebration and emotion…

The result? Sold-out venues and an enthralled audience.
These very artists who shone under the Provençal sun will soon be with us, in 2028, transforming the Centre-Val de Loireinto a vibrant and committed European stage.

But the 2025 edition of the Festival d’Avignon also marked a major first for our Bourges team: the official unveiling – at the Hôtel de Ville d’Avignon – of part of the Bourges 2028 programme, revealed publicly for the very first time.

Surrounded by Pascal Keiser and Yann Galut, Mayor of Bourges, five of our leading artists – Mohamed El Khatib, Ninon Bardet, Alexandra Badea, Jacques Vincey and Lola Molina – shared their vision for 2028.
It was a powerful moment in Avignon, a city that has supported us from the very beginning of this journey as a member of the Matrice network.

A taste of what’s to come in the Berry and the Centre-Val de Loire!