Festival des Architectures Vives 2027

Montpellier has more than seventy historic mansions, and most of their inner courtyards stay shut to the public all year. For six days each June, the Festival des Architectures Vives opens them up and fills them with experimental installations. The 21st edition just launched its open call, and I already have mid-June circled.

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Key Highlights

• A “Shared Happiness” brief. The 2027 theme asks teams to make happiness tangible through a gesture, material, light, movement or interaction, not simply to illustrate it.
• A landmark anniversary. The edition marks 50 years of France’s 1977 Architecture Act, which declared that “architecture is an expression of culture.”
• Chris Younès as patron. The philosopher and École Spéciale d’Architecture professor frames the theme with her essay “The City as a Common Body: Towards a Joyful Architecture of Sharing.”
• Ten installation slots. Emerging teams can apply for free until Monday, December 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM French time, and each selected team receives a €1,500 grant.
• Courtyards assigned after selection. Proposals must adapt to different sites, and nothing may be drilled, nailed or glued to the heritage walls and floors.
• Reuse baked in. Partner Mas Réemploi offers a catalog of reclaimed materials, and reusing the 2026 installations avoided roughly 12,275 kg of CO₂ equivalent.
• Music and visual arts crossovers. Through the EU ReCITYing program, the University of Hanover and Maribor Art Gallery will explore architecture’s links with music and visual arts.

Why Festival des Architectures Vives 2027 Matters

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It’s rare for architecture this small to reach a crowd this big. The 2026 edition drew nearly 18,000 visitors to 13 installations, up from 3,500 when the festival started in 2006, and entry stays free. For emerging practices, that means building at full scale inside protected heritage and testing ideas in front of real people. Nearly half the invited architects come from abroad, so it’s a genuinely international stage for young talent.

If you’re an emerging practice, start shaping that statement of intent now. If you’re just curious, plan a slow wander through the Écusson next June.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can students or international teams apply?

Students aren’t eligible, and every team needs at least one qualified architect (DPLG, DE, HMONP or a foreign equivalent). International teams are welcome, and there’s no application fee.

What does the €1,500 grant cover?

It’s the whole budget, tax included, for materials, transport and equipment, and it’s paid after the festival. Teams can add their own sponsors, though only French companies are accepted.

What goes into the application?

A single PDF of up to 10 MB with the signed application form, one-page CVs, a portfolio, a roughly one-page statement of intent on “Shared Happiness” and a 3D perspective of the proposal.