The 2026 edition of the Festival du Dessin promises a rich and vibrant programme!
The main exhibition will take an original form: rather than showcasing a single artist, it will bring together several major figures, both historical and contemporary, from Italy. Entitled Viva l’Italia!, this group exhibition will bring together works by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Giorgio De Chirico, Alberto Savinio, Giorgio Morandi, Lucio Fontana, Guido Crepax, Chiara Gaggiotti and Lorenzo Mattotti, as well as creations linked to cinema by Federico Fellini, not to mention drawings by the writer Dino Buzzati.

As for the personality being honoured, the festival will be led by a president with a strong personality: Éric Cantona. A knowledgeable art lover and keen painter himself, he will embody this role perfectly.

In total, nearly 40 exhibitions will be on display to the public for a month, from 18 April to 17 May. Big names from the history of art and contemporary creation will enrich this edition, including Fernand Léger, Germaine Richier, Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud, Théodore Géricault, Alberto Giacometti, Francisco de Goya, Louise Bourgeois and Philippe Katerine.
Finally, the festival will also place a strong emphasis on emerging talent, showcasing the work of children from Arles as well as students from the schools of decorative arts in Paris, Florence and Athens. Throughout the event, a varied programme of events will complement the exhibitions: talks, lectures, guided tours, workshops, screenings and concerts will punctuate this month entirely dedicated to drawing.
Furthermore, the talent of the (very) young generations (the children of Arles and students from the Schools of Decorative Arts in Paris, Florence and Athens) will also be showcased. And of course, debates, talks, guided tours, workshops, screenings and concerts will punctuate this month entirely dedicated to drawing.