Creation of the festival 1947 (≈ 1947)
Dramatic art week founded by Jean Vilar.
1948
Official birth
Official birth 1948 (≈ 1948)
Becoming the Avignon Festival.
1966
Birth of Festival Off
Birth of Festival Off 1966 (≈ 1966)
Independent and alternative initiative.
1968
Crisis of May 68
Crisis of May 68 1968 (≈ 1968)
Partial cancellation, political debates.
1980
Associative status
Associative status 1980 (≈ 1980)
Becoming an association law 1901.
2003
Cancellation of the festival
Cancellation of the festival 2003 (≈ 2003)
Strike intermittents from the show.
2014-2022
Directorate Olivier Py
Directorate Olivier Py 2014-2022 (≈ 2018)
First artist director since Vilar.
2023
New direction
New direction 2023 (≈ 2023)
Tiago Rodrigues appointed director.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Jean Vilar - Founder of the festival
Creator in 1947, defender of popular theatre.
Christian Zervos - Art critic
Project initiator with René Char.
Maurice Béjart - Choreographer
Pioneer of contemporary dance at the festival.
Olivier Py - Director (2014-2022)
Artist and director engaged.
Tiago Rodrigues - Director since 2023
Portuguese director, new orientation.
Gérard Philipe - Iconic actor
Major figure in the first editions.
Origin and history
The Festival d'Avignon was born in 1947 under the leadership of Jean Vilar, with the help of Christian Zervos and René Char, as part of a modern art exhibition at the Palais des papes. Originally called Week of dramatic art, he proposed three creations in three places, including the court of honor of the Palais des papes, a site now emblematic. The event, supported by the municipality of Avignon wishing to revitalize the city after the bombings of 1944, quickly gained popularity, attracting a growing and faithful audience.
In 1948, the festival officially took the name of Festival d'Avignon and extended to more than 30 places in the city and its region, including gymnasiums, cloisters, chapels and churches. Jean Vilar, its founder, defends the idea of a popular theatre, accessible to all, while highlighting emerging talents such as Gérard Philipe, Jeanne Moreau or Maria Casarès. The Court of Honour of the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage site, remains the symbolic heart of the festival, where international artists and bold creations are performed.
The festival experienced periods of crisis, especially in 1968, where the protest movements of May 68 disrupted its course, leading to the cancellation of many French shows. This edition marked a turning point, with political debates and tensions between artists and authorities. Despite these challenges, the festival continued to evolve, opening up to new artistic forms such as contemporary dance with Maurice Béjart as early as 1966, musical theatre, and street arts.
In 1980, the festival became an association governed by the law of 1901, with a board of directors including representatives of public authorities (state, city of Avignon, department of Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region). Under the direction of Bernard Faivre d'Arcier, then Olivier Py from 2014, the festival has diversified its programming, integrating international artists and committed themes, such as the Mediterranean or gender issues. The Festival Off, born in 1966, developed in parallel, offering a platform to independent companies.
Today, the Festival d'Avignon is a major event of the live show, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators each summer. There remains a place of creation, debate and innovation, while preserving its historical heritage. Its budget, which is mainly subsidized by the State and local authorities, reflects its cultural and economic importance to the city and the region. The festival continues to adapt to contemporary issues, as evidenced by the appointment of Tiago Rodrigues to his leadership in 2023, marking a new artistic era.
