⚠️ The date shown at the top of this event comes from the official source. The original description mentions other dates that may be outdated.
From August 1 to 9, 2025, from Montreuil to Porte Montmartre, Porte de Bagnolet, Porte de Montreuil, Porte de Vincennes, and also Gennevilliers… families, young people, not-so-young people, women, men, and children will discover performances and have the chance to try out new artistic disciplines.
The Festival des Essentiels is a cultural event open to everyone: family-friendly, intergenerational, mixed, multicultural, itinerant, and completely free. It takes place from August 1 to 9, 2025, in Montreuil and Gennevilliers as well as at the Portes de Paris, and is aimed at a broad and diverse audience. For the occasion, a demanding yet accessible artistic program is offered in the heart of local neighborhoods, with the goal of encouraging encounters between audiences and works of art. Artists from across France, carefully selected for the quality of their work and the richness of their creative worlds, will meet local residents to create a unique, festive, and inclusive cultural experience. We will begin this festival on Saturday, August 1 at Place du 14 juillet (Cité de l’Espoir) in Montreuil: From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., enjoy our many stands and ongoing activities: a graphic design workshop with SUn.C to collectively create the large Festival des Essentiels banner, games and La Rue Râle’s open-air library, as well as an environmental awareness stand run by a local neighborhood association. At 3:30 p.m., Compagnie Retouramont takes over the walls of the housing estate with "Environnement Vertical", a magnificent performance in which the grace of two dancers transforms the architecture into a performance space. At 4 p.m., discover "L’étoffe de nos rêves" by Compagnie AFAG, an action-packed musical tale with guitars, flutes, and trumpets, created for children to inspire them to invent their own stories. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Compagnie Retouramont returns for "Hisse émoi", a unique experience where children and adults discover their neighborhood from above, hoisted up by their own neighbors and friends. At 5 p.m., it’s time for dance with the Hip hop show by Compagnie Jeanne Chassin, followed at 5:30 p.m. by a workshop where you can try Hip Hop dancing yourself. And to close this beautiful first day, at 6 p.m., the Algerian-Quebec group Labess will take the stage to get you moving to the rhythms of rumba, flamenco, and chaâbi music, offering a unique musical path beyond borders. The program for Sunday, August 2 at Jardin de la Gare de Charonne (Porte de Montreuil) in the 20th arrondissement, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: At 4 p.m., "La Bad'J parade" will kick off the festivities with a roaming musical show specially designed for children. At 4:30 p.m., François Godard and l'Inquiétant Suspendu present "Rosa 1973", a powerful moment that tells, through music, the story of the creation of the Emmaüs communities in response to the growing social crisis. And to end the afternoon dancing, at 5:30 p.m., Solorkestar will warm up the atmosphere with music from the Balkans. For Tuesday, August 4 in the 12th arrondissement, around Avenue Lamoricière (Porte de Vincennes) from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: We will be delighted to welcome back the show "L’étoffe de Nos rêves" by Compagnie AFAG, as well as the play "La Tosca" performed by Compagnie Lune dans les Yeux. Then, on Wednesday, August 5 at Jardin Binet (Porte de Montmartre) in the 18th arrondissement, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., enjoy La Rue Râle’s workshop with games and books for children. At 3 p.m., Compagnie AFAG will present "L'Etoffe de nos rêves", a poetic and interactive reflection on how to make fairy tales fairer (ages 5 and up). At 4 p.m., movement takes center stage with Compagnie Sanke, offering a show combining dance and acrobatics by artists from Latin America and West Africa. At 5 p.m., Compagnie La Lune dans les Yeux will present its superb theatrical adaptation of "La Tosca", Puccini’s famous opera. And at 6:30 p.m., to end in style, the group Trab Teräpy (driven by the hybrid music of Said from Sidi Watcho) will joyfully blend raï, electro, and rap. On Thursday, August 6, the festival will stop at Gennevilliers Plateau Chateaubriand and esplanade Saad Abssi: From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the public space will come alive with our ongoing workshops. Children and families can enjoy outdoor wooden games and a small outdoor library, while taking part in environmental awareness activities. It will also be a unique opportunity to join a circus workshop introducing participants to acrobatic practices alongside the artists of Compagnie Sanke. At 3:30 p.m., Compagnie AFAG will open the festivities with "L’étoffe de nos rêves", a lively interactive tale full of action and music, specially designed for ages 7 and up to give children all the tools they need to invent their own stories. At 4:30 p.m., it’s time for La Bad'J’s family-friendly clown parade with the show "La Paix !". A joyful, moving parade that takes over the street to make the whole neighborhood laugh, and perhaps even think. At 5 p.m., get ready for a spectacular journey with Compagnie Sanke. Their vibrant and warm performance blends dance with high-flying acrobatics, powered by the fantastic energy of artists from Latin America and West Africa, bringing all generations together. And to end the day in style, at 6 p.m., Träb Terapy will take the stage. Saïd (Sidi Wacho) will take the microphones with a high-energy, festive mix of raï, electro, and rap, perfect for bringing good vibes and making the whole neighborhood come alive! On Saturday, August 8, we will be back in the 20th arrondissement at Square Séverine (Porte de Bagnolet) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy an open-air library and games area. At 4 p.m., it’s time for La Bad'J’s family-friendly clown parade with the show "La Paix !". A joyful, moving parade that takes over the street to make the whole neighborhood laugh, and perhaps even think. At 5 p.m., settle in for Soraya Verdier’s piano recital, which will bring the square to life with her program "Soraya fait son cinéma". At 5:30 p.m., Compagnie Sanke will present its show combining dance with African and South American acrobatics. At 6 p.m., the festival will close on site with Puccini’s opera "La Tosca", magnificently adapted by Compagnie La Lune dans les Yeux. And we will close this festival on Sunday, August 9 in the 12th arrondissement, at Place Henri Fresnay (Métro Gare de Lyon) from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: At 4 p.m., come listen to a grand piano recital featuring some of the most beautiful film music, "Soraya fait son cinéma" by Soraya Verdier. At 5 p.m., for the grand finale, Compagnie La Lune dans les Yeux will perform its theatrical and lyrical adaptation of "La Tosca" one last time. Visit our website for more information Official Festival des Essentiels website Festival des Essentiels Instagram
Source: paris.fr — photo: Jean-Marc Armani