Molière Month in Versailles 2026, the lineup of bargain-priced and free shows

The Molière Month returns to Versailles from May 30 to June 30, 2026 for a special anniversary edition marking its 30th year, boasting nearly 350 performances staged across the city. Classical and contemporary theatre, popular formats, emerging works, family-friendly offerings, and often-free shows make up this edition, which over the years has become one of the great cultural landmarks of Versailles and Île-de-France.

Born in 1996, the festival has gradually carved out a special place in the world of live performance. For a month, Versailles becomes an open-air stage, with performances held in more than sixty venues across all districts. The core idea since its inception remains the same: to bring theatre out of its usual frames and open it up to as many people as possible. This identity is also reflected in programming that blends classic texts, contemporary writing, comedies, more sensitive works, and performances designed for audiences of all ages.

Mois Molière also champions developing companies while supporting established troupes. Several artists have unveiled their first works there before continuing their journeys at the Festival Off d’Avignon, where the festival is expanding its footprint with programs at the Petit Louvre and at the former Carmel. In Versailles, around a dozen companies are hosted in residence throughout the year, linked to school outreach initiatives. This local anchor is at the heart of the festival’s ethos, which aims to combine creation, transmission and dissemination.

• To be read
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• Versailles beyond the château: festivals, gardens and the art of living as told by its mayor

Another hallmark of the event is its accessibility. A large portion of the performances are offered with free admission to make theater approachable for everyone—whether you’re alone, with friends, or with family. In a press release, François de Mazières, the mayor of Versailles and founder of the festival, reiterates this ambition by noting that "the Mois Molière se veut partage." For its 30th anniversary, the lineup looks particularly broad, with an enhanced official program complemented, as every year, by numerous shows mounted by amateur troupes and musical ensembles. All of this promises to make June a major cultural moment that the city follows closely.

The Molière Month 2026 lineup:

In development

Potager Fantasies during Molière Month: theater takes root in the King's Kitchen Garden
The Garden Fantasies are presented at the King's Garden (Potager du Roi) in Versailles on June 6, 7 and 13, 2026, as part of the Mois Molière’s 30th anniversary. Designed by Stéphanie Tesson with Phénomène et Cie, this theatrical journey gives voice to vegetables, fruits, plants and insects through works by contemporary authors. [Read more]

Dom Juan at Molière Month: Molière’s classic returns to the stage in Versailles
Don Juan returns to the stage in Versailles, in the Court of the Grand Stables, on June 4 and 5, for the 30th anniversary of Mois Molière. A decade after The Tricks of Scapin, the L’Éternel Été Company revisits Molière with an adaptation faithful to the original text, directed by Emmanuel Besnault. [Read more]

Olympe Audouard at Molière Month: a play about the pioneer of journalism
Longtime eclipsed by other 19th-century figures, Olympe Audouard returns to the stage at the Auditorium Claude Debussy, on May 31 and June 26, as part of the Mois Molière. The play traces the path of a journalist, traveler and feminist who carved her era with a pen in hand. [Read more]

Louison and Monsieur Molière: the opening play of Mois Molière 2026 in Versailles
For Molière Month 2026, theatre enthusiasts will gather on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 in the Cour de la Grande Écurie to discover Louison and Monsieur Molière, a production directed by Axelle Masliah and adapted from the eponymous novel by Marie-Christine Helgerson. A play opening this theatre festival. [Read more]

Don’t delay in book your seats, as tickets sell out fast. Some performances are free, others are budget-friendly, but all require a reservation. Reservations open on May 20 for the period May 30–June 14, and on June 3 for the period June 15–30. This year again, the lineup is broad, and will appeal to both adults and children. Online booking is mandatory. Most shows are at 4 euros!