Cergy Soit! 2025: the free circus arts festival returns

The not-to-be-missed event of the autumn cultural season returns to the Val-d'Oise. This 27th edition of Cergy Soit! once again transforms the Cergy-Pontoise conurbation into a huge open-air stage. This year, we welcome back the famous Pitt Ocha, emblematic character of Les Ogres de Barback, who will guide the festivities as the guiding light of this exceptional edition.

The Cergy Soit! festival is distinguished by its eclectic program, which combines contemporary circus, street arts, theater and music. Throughout the year, over 650 children from schools and leisure centers across the conurbation took part in musical creation workshops to compose a bouquet of songs in honor of this festive visit.

Les Ogres de Barback set up their big top

One of the highlights of this year's event will undoubtedly be the presence of Les Ogres de Barback, the emblematic group born in Jouy-le-Moutier. The founding siblings - Alice, Mathilde, Sam and Fred Burguière, joined by youngest member Léo - will present four performances of their musical show Pitt Ocha under their famous big top, set up in Cergy's Parc François Mitterrand.

This performance marks a return to their roots for the group, who return to their home territory to offer an unforgettable musical experience. The character of Pitt Ocha, a child prankster and rhythm tamer, will also be touring the towns of the conurbation from September 12 to 20 to meet local residents.

Benin in the spotlight

After Senegal in 2023 and Haiti in 2024, Benin will be the guest of honor for the 2025 event. This invitation is part of the decentralized cooperation partnership that the Communauté d'agglomération de Cergy-Pontoise has maintained with Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin, for the past 30 years.

We'll be discovering Florence Gnarigo with "La Danse des 7 Tours", the Eyo'nlé brass band and their traditional rhythms, and Louis Oké Agbo 's photographic exhibition on Tohossou children. These artistic proposals will enable the public to open up to new cultures and travel through art.

• To be read
• The best deals in Paris and Île-de-France this week, from January 19 to 25, 2026

New creations and an area for young audiences

The festival will also feature 2025 creations, with shows such as "Mizu" by Cie Furinkaï, "Tendre" by Jardin des Délices, and "ADN" by Transe Express. Theyoung-audience area will offer dedicated activities, with shows suitable from 6 months upwards for the very young.

New features include the "K.O - Sport" participative performance by Cie Supersueurs, inviting the public to kosport together, and theENSAPC creations involving students from the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Paris-Cergy in the festival.

Please note:

The Cergy Soit! festival takes place in two stages: preludes from September 12 to 19 in various towns in the conurbation, followed by the main event on September 20 and 21, concentrated in Cergy. All shows are free of charge, with the exception of four performances for which a reservation is required.

There's free parking for 400 cars at the Les 3 Fontaines shopping center, as well as a wide range of catering options with food-trucks set up in the park and a marquee-bar hosted by the La Ruche and Art Osons associations.

For this 27th edition, Cergy Soit! confirms its position as a family-friendly, festive event, true to its mission: to bring people together around art to create those shared memories that bind us together and make society.

Full program and reservations on cergysoit.fr