Cannes Côte d’Azur Dance Festival 2026

From 21 November to 6 December 2026, Cannes will host the 26th edition of the Cannes Côte d’Azur Dance Festival.

For just over two weeks, dance will take over several venues in Cannes and across the region, with a particularly international programme. This year, 25 companies from 11 countries are expected to take part.

The festival does not focus on one single style. Some works are firmly rooted in contemporary dance, while others move closer to ballet, physical theatre or performances where music plays a central role.

 

A strongly international edition

One of the main strengths of the 2026 edition is the range of companies taking part.

Artists from Australia, Portugal, Greece, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France will appear across the different festival venues.

The programme includes names such as Stephanie Lake Company, Dancenorth Australia, Marco da Silva Ferreira, Christos Papadopoulos, Leïla Ka, Emanuel Gat Dance, Malandain Ballet Biarritz, Modern Table Dance Company and the London City Ballet.

That variety means the programme can move from highly physical work to something much more minimal, then towards a production with stronger links to classical ballet.

 

Early highlights to look out for

The festival opens on 21 November with Manifesto by Stephanie Lake Company.

The following day, Dancenorth Australia will present Wayfinder. The programme will then continue at a steady pace through to the beginning of December.

On 25 November, Marco da Silva Ferreira will present Carcaça, followed by Leïla Ka on 26 November.

A few days later, on 28 November, Édouard Hue’s Beaver Dam Company will perform Avant la nuit / L’Oiseau de feu.

December will also bring performances by the Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon, Emanuel Gat Dance, Iker Karrera Dance Company and Modern Table Dance Company.

 

A closing performance with London City Ballet

The final part of the festival will also feature a major appearance by the London City Ballet.

The company will perform alongside the Orchestre national de Cannes in a programme built around several works, including pieces set to music by Schubert and Stravinsky.

It gives the festival a different tone towards the end, contrasting with some of the more contemporary productions presented earlier in the programme.

 

More than stage performances

The festival also offers ways to explore dance beyond the performances themselves.

Masterclasses, workshops and a number of meetings are planned throughout the event.

On 26 November, Cineum will also host MOV’IN Cannes, an international competition dedicated to dance films.

It is a natural fit for Cannes, bringing together two worlds that are already strongly associated with the city: dance and cinema.

 

Venues across Cannes and the Côte d’Azur

Not every performance will take place at the Palais des Festivals.

Some events will be held in central Cannes, others at the Théâtre de la Licorne in Cannes La Bocca, while several partner towns across the Côte d’Azur will also host performances.

If you are planning to see more than one show, it is worth checking the exact venue when booking.

 

Staying in Cannes during the Dance Festival

For performances taking place at the Palais des Festivals and in the city centre, staying in central Cannes makes the whole trip much easier.

Hotel Alnéa is located in the heart of Cannes, close to the Palais, the train station and the main streets of the city.

That makes it easy to walk to a performance, then spend some time in the centre before or after the show.

 

Cannes Dance Festival 2026: key information

Dates: 21 November to 6 December 2026

Edition: 26th edition

Companies: 25

Countries represented: 11

Programme: performances, new creations, masterclasses, meetings and dance films

Venues: Cannes and several partner locations across the Côte d’Azur

 

With more than two weeks of programming, the Cannes Côte d’Azur Dance Festival 2026 offers a chance to discover a wide range of companies across Cannes and the surrounding region.

It is also one of the city’s major cultural events at the end of the year, at a time when Cannes becomes quieter but remains particularly active when it comes to live performance.

Credit : 

@cannes.com