The favorite appointment for children, and often for parents as well, will make its grand return to Haute-Savoie at the end of summer 2026. From Sunday, August 23 to Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Au Bonheur des Mômes festival will once again take over the streets and squares of Le Grand-Bornand with hundreds of shows, activities, and workshops dedicated to young audiences.
Every year, this unique festival in Europe attracts several tens of thousands of visitors who come to enjoy a rare family atmosphere, blending street arts, theater, circus, puppetry, music, and creative workshops. For this 34th edition, the village of Le Grand-Bornand promises five more days of celebration and wonder at the heart of the Aravis.
A must-see summer festival in Haute-Savoie
Created in the early 1990s, Au Bonheur des Mômes has over time become one of the largest European festivals dedicated to live performances for young audiences. For five days, the center of the village completely transforms to make room for a poetic and quirky universe where children become the true kings of the celebration.
The festival stands out for its unique atmosphere: here, performances emerge both inside venues and on the streets, squares, or specially arranged spaces for the occasion. Companies from France and abroad offer creations mixing humor, emotion, music, acrobatics, and imagination.
The expected program for the 2026 edition
The full 2026 program will be unveiled during June, while the official ticket office opening is announced for Monday, July 6, 2026.
While waiting for the details of this new edition, several already emblematic highlights should return:
Hundreds of live performances
The festival is expected to offer between 400 and 500 shows spread across about thirty venues in Le Grand-Bornand. Theater, contemporary circus, puppetry, musical performances, dance, mime, and street arts will mark the days of festival-goers.
The famous “Bulle des Mômes”
Impossible to mention Au Bonheur des Mômes without speaking of the “Bulle des Mômes,” the true beating heart of the festival. This secure pedestrian area hosts street performances, amusements, activities, and meetings in a festive and colorful atmosphere. Day or week passes allow easy access throughout the event’s duration.
Creative workshops for children
Throughout the festival, children can participate in numerous workshops supervised by professionals: artistic creation, games, music, nature discovery, theater, or manual activities. These activities are usually offered by session and adapted to different ages.
Performances throughout the village
One of the festival’s particularities remains its full integration within the village. The streets of Le Grand-Bornand themselves become open-air stages where visitors discover surprising and often interactive performances as they stroll.
Practical information for Au Bonheur des Mômes 2026
- Dates: From Sunday, August 23 to Thursday, August 27, 2026.
- Location: Village of Le Grand-Bornand, in Haute-Savoie, in the Aravis mountain range.
- Ticket office: Opening scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2026. Some shows will be free while others will require reservation or a festival pass.
- Access: Le Grand-Bornand is located about 40 minutes from Annecy and a little over an hour from Geneva. Shuttle buses and public transport are generally strengthened during the festival to limit traffic in the village.
Tips
As every year, the event is expected to attract many families. It is highly recommended to book accommodation several weeks in advance and anticipate purchasing tickets for the most popular shows.
With its blend of imagination, quality shows, and friendly mountain atmosphere, Au Bonheur des Mômes already promises to be one of the major family events of summer 2026 in Haute-Savoie.
