FAV 2026 Marks 20 Years of Creative Transmission

The Festival des Architectures Vives returns to Montpellier from June 9 to 14, 2026, marking its 20th edition with a format that departs from tradition and embraces the idea of Transmission as its core narrative. This special anniversary invites previous contributors to become mentors, passing creative responsibility to a new generation of architects who will shape the installations presented across the historic courtyards of the city. This evolving approach underscores how the Festival des Architectures Vives continues to position itself as a platform for exchange, experimentation, and shared architectural culture.

A Festival Dedicated to Transmission

For its twentieth year, the event highlights creative legacy as an essential yet often invisible architectural dimension. Transmission is interpreted not merely as the transfer of skills but as a living, relational process between generations. Within Montpellier’s private mansions and their character-rich courtyards, this theme resonates strongly: these spaces embody a delicate interplay of heritage and contemporary expression, where artisanal knowledge meets innovation. Each installation becomes a dialogue across time, bridging the past that shaped these places and the designers who reinterpret them today.

The Mentor–Mentee Framework

This edition introduces a unique structure: invited mentors will not build an installation but instead select and guide an emerging architect or team they trust. Through this gesture, mentors engage in a symbolic act of creative stewardship, highlighting continuity within the architectural discipline. The resulting installations remain the outcome of collaboration, where shared values, methods, or inspirations define a theme chosen jointly by mentor and mentee. This freedom allows each pair to articulate a personal narrative of exchange, whether grounded in tradition, craftsmanship, research, or cultural identity.

A Diverse Panel of Mentors

Nine mentors return from previous FAV editions, joined by one special guest team, forming a collective that reflects the festival’s expansive history. Their backgrounds span France, Portugal, Spain, Canada, Italy, and Japan, reinforcing a culture of international exchange. Special Guest Mentors Ateliers A+ stand out as newcomers whose long-standing commitment to mentorship and their deep roots in Montpellier make them emblematic contributors to this theme of renewal. Their involvement reaffirms how the festival values shared architectural practice as a foundation for future creativity.

A Festival Linking Heritage and Contemporary Creation

Each year, the Festival des Architectures Vives transforms the courtyards of Montpellier’s historic townhouses into a public route of architectural discoveries. By granting access to these typically private spaces, the event reveals how contemporary installations converse with layered architectural histories. The 2026 edition reinforces this mission through its emphasis on transmission, encouraging visitors to see design as a continuum shaped by human relationships, knowledge exchange, and cultural evolution. This anniversary becomes not only a celebration but a reflection on what defines architectural progress.

Timeline – FAV 2026