The International Folklore Festival 2026, the Farandole: here is the program

The International Folklore Festival, La Farandole, is preparing to take over the Nice neighborhoods from August 12 to 16, 2026. Supported by the City of Nice in partnership with the Collective of Traditional Arts Lou Cat, this celebration invites you to discover the cultural heritage of countries from all corners of the world.

The 66th edition of one of Europe’s oldest festivals dedicated to tradition opens on August 12. Every two years, the Collective of Traditional Arts selects folk groups. The countries being honored this year are Mexico, Benin, Cuba, North Macedonia, and East Timor. “They will bring with them their dances, their songs, their music, their costumes but above all a part of their history, their culture and their identity,” declared Muriel Vitetti, Deputy Mayor of Nice, delegate for Nice traditions.

For five days, five troops of dancers and musicians from all backgrounds will come to animate the neighborhoods of the azure coast city and numerous municipalities of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. Throughout the festival, three Nice folklore groups will perform alongside the international groups: Nice La Belle, the Ciamada Nissarda, and Lou Cauréu Nissart.

This event promises a unique moment, blending cultural riches and Nice traditions. “Being attached to one’s roots has never meant closing oneself off from others, quite the contrary, it is because we know the value of our own heritage that we know how to welcome that of others with respect, curiosity, and generosity,” recalled the Deputy Mayor of Nice.

The sharing of cultures

The programming offers a cultural journey, carried by five groups. El Mariachi “Mi Nombre Es México” and the folk ensemble “Termal” will display traditional costumes in vibrant colors. They will offer a repertoire with emblematic sounds of mariachi, symbol of Mexican musical culture. The folk company “Camagua” will convey the history and traditions of Cuba, blending dances, music, and joie de vivre. Due to the difficult context in Cuba, the arrival of this group in Nice represented a real challenge for the collective and illustrates the ambition of the azure city to preserve cultural exchanges.

The folk ensemble “Oshala” will share the cultural wealth of Benin and will offer an immersive performance, incorporating captivating costumes, stilt-walkers, percussion, and acrobatics. The Albanian National Ballet will invite spectators to discover the cultural and traditional heritage of North Macedonia, with enchanting sounds and ancestral costumes. Finally, the national folk ensemble “Timor Furak” will invite spectators to discover the emblematic dances, rhythmic music, and traditional costumes of East Timor.

Free activities in Nice

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

• 10 a.m.: demonstration and initiation of world folk dance by El Mariachi “Mi Nombre Es México” and the folk ensemble “Termal” (Jardin Général Thiole, Libération). Registration required at 04 89 04 65 03 (Senior Card mandatory).
• 10 a.m.: animation by the Albanian National Ballet (Thérèse Roméo Leisure Center, 6 rue Alfred Binet)
• 10 a.m.: animation by the Folk Company “Camagua” from Cuba (Les Magnolias Leisure Center, 135 boulevard Napoléon III)
• 10:30 a.m.: animation for seniors by the national folk ensemble “Timor Furak” (EHPAD Les Anciens Combattants, 51 rue des Orangers)
• 10:30 a.m.: animation for seniors by the folk ensemble “Oshala” (EHPAD Valrose, 44 avenue Brancolar)

Thursday, August 13, 2026

• 4:30 p.m.: welcoming ceremony for the groups (Town Hall, 5 rue de l’hôtel de ville)
• 6 p.m.: musical welcome (Parvis de l’Europe) and parade of international groups on the Paillon Promenade, accompanied by Nice folklore groups, towards Place Saint-François
• 7:30 p.m.: festival opening show with all the groups (Place Saint-François)

Friday, August 14, 2026

• 9:30 a.m.: animation by the Folk Company “Camagua” (Crèche des Iris, 13 rue Fornero Ménei)
• 9:30 a.m.: animation by El Mariachi “Mi Nombre Es México” and the folk ensemble “Termal” (Crèche Bellevue, 24 avenue Bellevue)
• 10 a.m.: animation by the Albanian National Ballet (Ariane-Nord Jacques Prévert Leisure Center, 5 rue Georges Picard)
• 10 a.m.: animation by the folk ensemble “Oshala” (Jean Mace Leisure Center, 3 rue Général Tordo)
• 10 a.m.: animation by the national folk ensemble “Timor Furak” (Sainte-Hélène Leisure Center, 16 bis avenue du Val Marie)

Saturday, August 15, 2026

• 10 a.m.: musical animations by all the groups (La Libération market, Saint-Roch market, Cours Saleya market, and Saint-François Market)

Sunday, August 16, 2026

• 5 p.m.: Peace ceremony with the participation of all groups (Villa Massena Garden)

Activities at the Théâtre de Verdure

Admission is 6 euros. The box office has been open since July 15. It is possible to order online (Box Office – Heritage Center), at the Heritage Center – The Senate, open until August 14 (14 rue Jules Gilly), and at the Théâtre de Verdure one hour before the show begins.

Saturday, August 15, 2026

• 6:30 p.m.: opening of world stands and food service (Théâtre de Verdure)
• 8:30 p.m.: show “Stopover in lands of tradition” with the folk company “Camagua” from Cuba, Albanian National Ballet from North Macedonia, and El Mariachi “Mi Nombre Es México” accompanied by the folk ensemble “Termal” from Mexico (Théâtre de Verdure)

Sunday, August 16, 2026

• 6:30 p.m.: opening of world stands and food service (Théâtre de Verdure)
• 8:30 p.m.: closing gala bringing together all festival groups

Free activities in the Metropolis

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

• 7 p.m.: show by the folk ensemble “Oshala” from Benin and El Mariachi “Mi Nombre Es México” accompanied by the folk ensemble “Termal” (La Trinité)
• 8 p.m.: show by the folk company “Camagua” from Cuba and the national folk ensemble “Timor Furak” (Belvédère)
• 9 p.m.: show by the Albanian National Ballet from North Macedonia (Saint-Jeannet)

Friday, August 14, 2026

• 7 p.m.: show by the Albanian National Ballet from North Macedonia (Châteauneuf-Villevieille)
• 9 p.m.: show by the folk company “Camagua” from Cuba and the national folk ensemble “Timor Furak” (Drap)
• 9 p.m.: show by the folk ensemble “Oshala” from Benin and El Mariachi “Mi Nombre Es México” accompanied by the folk ensemble “Termal” (Levens)

Saturday, August 15, 2026

• 8:30 p.m.: show “From African shores to the ends of Asia” by the folk ensemble “Oshala” from Benin and the national folk ensemble “Timor Furak” (Saint-André-de-la-Roche)

Nearly a hundred volunteers from Nice cultural associations will accompany and watch over the artists throughout their stay. La Farandole promises to be a moment of transmission and sharing. The Collective is determined to transmit what Nice possesses most precious: its hospitality, its generosity, and its art of living. “La Farandole is carried by