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The atmosphere at the Avignon Festival

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Frédéric Dahm / Empreintes d'Ailleurs

The Festival-Goer’s Guide

A guide to the festival: practical information and top tips

In July, the Avignon Festival and the Avignon Off Festival transform Avignon into a vast open-air stage. For nearly a month, shows, artists and festival-goers take over the city’s streets and iconic venues. To plan your stay and make the most of the event, you’ll find all the practical information, tips and useful advice you need for the festival here.

How do you book your tickets?

For the Avignon Festival

👉 Most tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale. But it’s always possible to find some, sometimes even on the day of the performances: some festival-goers resell their tickets at the last minute, most often in the Cloître Saint-Louis, where the ticket office is located! There you’ll find a noticeboard with lots of tickets for sale.

👉 Alternatively, you can head to the venue hosting the show of your choice an hour before it starts. This is because reserved tickets must be collected no later than 30 minutes before the start of the performance: after this time, they are put back on sale, giving a few lucky people the chance to snap up those coveted tickets.

For the Avignon OFF Festival

At the theatre box office before the show
On online ticket sales sites

👉 Some companies put on street performances, staging short scenes, and on these occasions offer discounted tickets or even free entry to festival-goers. Keep an eye out!

👉 Buy the public season ticket at the Tourist Office or at the Village du Off; it entitles you to a 30% discount on all shows in the programme, access to parties and concerts at the Village du Off, reduced-price entry to the Palais des Papes, and many other benefits…

Tourism and Festivals Office

Throughout the festival, the Tourist Office becomes the Tourist and Festival Office!

Our teams are on hand to answer all your questions and help you make the most of your festival experience: practical information, maps of venues and performance locations, personalised advice, transport options, programmes for young audiences… make the most of our advisers’ expertise to organise your stay to perfection.

👉 Information point and ticket sales for the Festival Off Avignon.

👉 And to extend the experience, pop into our shop!
You’ll find official merchandise and plenty of festival souvenirs there. A selection of items is also available in our online shop.

Practical information:

Mobility

Getting around

4–25 July

Restricted access and pedestrianisation of the old town

During the Festival, throughout the old town, pedestrian access takes priority and vehicle access is restricted from 12 noon to 2 am, with access permitted only to vehicles holding an access pass, thereby encouraging sustainable transport. Applications for passes, reserved for local residents or certain categories of authorised persons, should be made via: avignon.e-habitants.com

Access to the old town is via:

  • Porte de la République
  • Porte Saint Michel
  • Porte Thiers
  • Porte Saint Dominique
  • Porte du Rocher
Car parks and transport
Museums and monuments
Festival venues
Luggage storage
TGV station 1920x1081 1

Getting to Avignon

Easily accessible by train, car, bus or bike, Avignon enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Provence. During the Avignon Festival and the Avignon Off Festival, there are several ways to reach the city centre and the main performance venues.

Parking in Avignon

During the Avignon Festival and the Avignon Off Festival, there are several parking options available to make it easy to reach the historic centre and the performance venues.

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Accessibility

The Tourist Office has been awarded the ‘Tourisme & Handicap’ label for four types of disability: mobility, visual, hearing and intellectual. To ensure we can provide the best possible welcome for visitors, please take a look at our information leaflets.

Festival-goer’s essentials

Tourists Wearing Hats at the Festival – At 10470 Md

Festival-goer’s essentials

In July, temperatures can be high and the days can be packed with activities. Remember to pack a few essentials before heading off to a gig:

  • a reusable water bottle
  • sunglasses
  • a hat or cap
  • sun cream
  • a fan
  • comfortable shoes
  • a power bank for your phone

A small, lightweight bag will also help you keep your essentials to hand throughout the day.

At 08265 Bd

Good practices during the festival

During your stay, adopt a few simple habits to help make the festival more enjoyable and sustainable:

    • choose to walk or cycle wherever possible
    • use the recycling bins and minimise waste
    • opt for a water bottle and reusable containers
    • shop locally in the town’s shops and restaurants
    • respect public spaces and historic sites

These actions help to preserve the character of the historic centre and ensure a welcoming atmosphere during the festival.

Rue Bondee at the Festival – At 10419 Md 1

Respect the city and its residents

The festival takes place in the streets, squares and theatres of Avignon, in the heart of a living city. To ensure everyone can enjoy the festival to the full, please remember to:

    • keep noise to a minimum at night
    • be mindful in busy streets
    • show respect for residents, artists and festival staff
    • be kind and respectful towards everyone

Respect for our heritage, public spaces and fellow festival-goers helps to make the festival a friendly and shared experience.

Enjoy with peace of mind

Comfort and freshness

Stade Nautique 1920x1081px

Swimming and refreshing activities

Looking for a bit of a cool-down? Caves, boat trips, water sports… get plenty of ideas!

Freshness Points Card

Cool spots

To stay cool and enjoy the city despite the heat.

Managing your waste during the festival

During the Avignon Festival and the Avignon Off Festival, everyone can help to keep the historic centre clean and maintain the quality of the local environment. Collection points and sorting facilities have been set up in several areas of the city to facilitate recycling and waste management during the event.

Adopting the right habits

A few simple steps can help minimise the festival’s impact on the environment:

  • use the recycling points available around town
  • opt for reusable water bottles and containers
  • reduce single-use packaging
  • don’t leave rubbish in public spaces
  • follow the collection timetables and instructions

Recycling points in several neighbourhoods

During the festival, recycling and collection points will be available near the busiest areas to make it easier to recycle everyday waste.

A more responsible festival

Preserving Avignon’s streets, squares and heritage helps to make the festival more enjoyable for everyone: residents, artists, visitors and the organising teams.
Every little helps in minimising the festival’s environmental impact and preserving the beauty of the historic centre.

In the event of an emergency

The festival must remain a friendly and respectful experience for everyone. In the event of a risky situation, harassment, violence or a need for assistance, support, counselling and reporting services will be available throughout the event.

Emergency numbers

  • 15: SAMU — medical emergency
  • 17: Police
  • 18: Fire brigade
  • 112: European emergency number
  • 114: emergency number accessible via text message and video call for people with hearing or speech difficulties

Useful services in Avignon

Avignon Hospital
A
majorhospitallocated near the city centre.

Municipal and national police
On duty throughout the festival to ensure safety and assist visitors.

Red Cross and first-aid posts
First-aid teams and facilities are deployed across several areas during major events and at times of high visitor numbers.

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