Three core values define Festival de la Cité Lausanne:
Festival de la Cité Lausanne showcases a unique and diverse range of artistic projects at no cost to the spectator. These include theatre, dance and performance art, classical music, jazz and contemporary music, shows for young audiences, circus, literature, visual arts, architecture...
The Festival de la Cité is a contemporary, urban event that openly communicates with the city, its residents and its visitors.
The Festival de la Cité promotes art in the city and artistic endeavours in situ. On a broader scale, it aims to create an interaction with art, the public realm and society at large. The Festival also wishes to instill the vibrant nature of contemporary performing arts at the core of the city's cultural and natural heritage.
Since it is free from the social, spatial and aesthetic limits imposed by venue and cost requirements, the Festival fosters accessibility of art and culture to the greatest number of people.
What sets the Festival apart from the rest is its ambitious programming and convivial, offbeat spirit!
The Festival de la Cité Lausanne invites its audience to discover programming that is at the same time accessible and popular, yet also edgy and disconcerting – with an emphasis on quality and originality.
The Festival de la Cité offers key events – innovative projects that put the spotlight on each edition: creations, encounters between artists, interdisciplinary projects, surprises, performances. The Festival prioritises situational projects and those that interact with the public realm, be it urban, natural or societal.
The Festival de la Cité challenges itself to initiate new projects each and every year, to realise new perspectives, to surprise, to do better and do different. Projects for which collaboration with Festival partners is welcome.
A melting pot of wildly diverse forms of expressions, the programming of the Festival de la Cité Lausanne is undeniably broad in scope!
It brings together emerging talent et proven values in the form of local and international artists, all of whom are professional.
All of the Festival's events are available free of charge.
Kindly respect the performers and your fellow festivalgoers by reducing disruptive behaviour and movement to a minimum during shows.
Don't forget to keep your cool if there are no spots left - remember, everything is free so some shows fill up quite quickly!
The Festival de la Cité Lausanne is privileged to host six nights of cultural festivities in the centre of Lausanne. Everyone is encouraged to take good care of the urban environment, parts of which are rich in heritage value. By respecting the surroundings, you help keep the Festival anchored in an urban setting, right where it belongs.
A big thank you in advance for respecting the neighbourhood's residents by minimizing noise levels when the shows are over, as well as by avoiding damage to buildings and vehicles in the area.
The Festival de la Cité Lausanne is committed to observing the health and safety regulations governing sound levels and hearing protection. Regular checks are conducted by the appropriate authorities.
Festivalgoers with sensitive hearing and young people are nevertheless advised that some shows can be loud, especially those involving amplification. Please consider using hearing protection.
Earplugs are available at the festival bars.