La Plage des Six Pompes

What La Plage des Six Pompes does

La Plage des Six Pompes is an international street arts festival organized by Association Agora, a non-profit association recognized as being of public utility in Switzerland since 1995. The festival has been held annually in La Chaux-de-Fonds since 1993, with the 2026 edition scheduled for August 3–8. It operates free of charge to the public, featuring over 200 performances across multiple outdoor venues — the promenade des Six-Pompes, rue du Collège, Numa-Droz sector, the Vadec and Viteos industrial complex, and Place du Marché — drawing more than 100,000 spectators each year. The program spans theater, dance, circus, and music, with dedicated "jeune public" programming for children and youth. The festival also operates La Nouvelle Vague, an emerging-company support program created in 2014, and the Six Pompes Summer Tour, a decentralized touring program launched in 2018 that reaches approximately 35 Swiss cities with over 120 performances.

The core technology is a multi-venue outdoor performance platform integrated into the urban fabric of La Chaux-de-Fonds, including industrial sites as performance venues. A digital e-chapeau payment system (mobile app and website) supplements the traditional pass-the-hat donation model, and the festival accepts the local Abeille currency at its bar operations. Revenue is assembled from four streams: voluntary audience donations (au chapeau and e-chapeau), on-site bar sales, tiered membership fees through Association des Ami·es de La Plage (CHF 50–240 annually, plus a CHF 1,000+ Super Donateur tier), and institutional funding from cantonal and municipal governments, the Banque cantonale neuchâteloise, Loterie Romande, and corporate sponsors. The organization is staffed by 14 employees and supported by 600+ volunteers, with CHF 350,000 in annual spending directed to local Neuchâtel-based service providers and technical partners.

Name

La Plage des Six Pompes

Legal name

Association Agora – La Plage des Six Pompes

Website

https://laplage.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Plage des Six Pompes is a Swiss non-profit street arts festival in La Chaux-de-Fonds, run by Association Agora since 1993. It offers free programming of 200+ performances to 100,000+ spectators annually, supplemented by a national Summer Tour and an emerging-artists program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGABAM

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYMPAGAEAG

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Cultural Festivals & Community Events

SECONDARYTHAHAAAG

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Conference & Convention Venues (Convention Centers, Civic Centers)

Keywords

• Street arts festival
• Outdoor performing arts
• Cultural festival events
• Live street performances
• Public arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

La Chaux-de-Fonds

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and 'au chapeau' collections: Performances are funded through audience donations at shows. The festival offers an e-chapeau digital payment option via mobile app and website to accommodate declining cash usage.
2. Bar sales: On-site bar operations selling beverages, including local currency (Abeille) acceptance.
3. Membership fees: Association des Ami·es membership tiers: Individual CHF 50, Couple CHF 80, Support CHF 120, Pavé d'or CHF 240, Super Donateur from CHF 1,000.
4. Government subsidies and sponsorships: Public funding from cantonal and municipal governments, plus corporate sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Plage des Six Pompes produces a free-admission international street arts festival held annually in early August in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, presenting over 200 performances of theater, dance, circus, and music across multiple outdoor venues including industrial sites. Artists are compensated through voluntary audience donations ('au chapeau') and an e-chapeau digital payment option. Complementary offerings include the Six Pompes Summer Tour (decentralized touring in 35+ Swiss cities) and La Nouvelle Vague (emerging company support with international exchange via Les Années Joué).

Product overview

La Plage des Six Pompes is an international street arts festival organized by Association Agora, a non-profit organization recognized as being of public benefit since 1995. The core offering is the annual week-long festival held in early August in La Chaux-de-Fonds, featuring free admission performances across multiple venues with over 200 representations. The festival portfolio includes the main Six Pompes Summer Tour (launched 2018) extending performances to 35+ Swiss cities, and La Nouvelle Vague (since 2014) supporting emerging companies through experimental space and professional guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Nouvelle Vague: A program created in 2014 to support and accompany emerging companies by offering them a space for experimentation during the festival. Companies present their shows multiple times, test, adjust and evolve their creations in contact with the public.
• Six Pompes Summer Tour

Products and services

• La Plage des Six Pompes Festival Annual international street arts festival held in early August in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, featuring free-admission performances of theater, dance, circus, and music across multiple outdoor and industrial venues, with artists compensated through voluntary 'au chapeau' donations and e-chapeau digital payments.
• Six Pompes Summer Tour Touring extension of the festival bringing street arts performances to approximately 35 Swiss cities with over 120 turnkey performances, extending the festival's geographic footprint across Switzerland.
• La Nouvelle Vague Support program for emerging street arts companies providing experimental performance space during the festival, with audience feedback and professional guidance from multidisciplinary teams; includes cross-border exchange with Les Années Joué in France for selected companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ spectators annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Jura Trois-lacs (Neuchâtel Tourisme)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism organization promoting the festival as a destination.
• Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss public broadcaster providing media coverage and press support.
• ArcInfosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional newspaper providing press coverage.
• RTNsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional radio station providing media coverage.
• VNV SAsupportingTechnology or IntegrationWebsite development partner - created the festival website.
• ViteossupportingOthersIndustrial site venue partner hosting festival stages at their complex.
• VadecsupportingOthersIndustrial site venue partner hosting festival stages at their complex.
• Car postalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss PostBus providing transportation partnership.
• TransNsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional transportation provider.
• Les Années Joué (FR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2023, French partner enabling cross-border exchange: a Swiss company performs in France while a French company performs at La Plage. Part of La Nouvelle Vague program supporting emerging artists.
• TCS Section neuchâteloisesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTouring Club of Switzerland local section partnering for free evening shuttle buses.
• SCANsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for free evening shuttle bus service to Neuchâtel during festival.
• Collectif premier troissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllustration collective based between Neuchâtel mountains and Vaud Riviera, creating the 2026 festival poster with new graphic identity featuring a monstrous creature.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Festival d'Avignon: One of the largest and most prestigious performing arts festivals in the world, held annually in Avignon, France. Comparable as a major European performing arts festival with government funding and international artist programming, though it operates at significantly larger scale and focuses on theater rather than street arts specifically.
• Sibiu International Theatre Festival: A major performing arts festival in Romania featuring international companies across multiple venues. Comparable in scale and multi-disciplinary approach, with similar government sponsorship structure, though broader in programming scope than La Plage's street arts focus.
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The world's largest arts festival, held annually in Edinburgh. Comparable as a multi-venue performing arts festival with international artist programming and free-access performances, though it operates at vastly larger scale and across broader performing arts categories.
• Festival OFF d'Avignon: The independent fringe component of the Avignon festival, hosting hundreds of street and theater performances. Comparable as a multi-venue performing arts showcase with free-access programming and emerging company support, serving as an analogous model for distributed street arts programming.

Direct peers

• Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac: The largest street arts festival in Europe, held annually in Aurillac, France. Direct peer in the street arts category, with comparable free-access outdoor programming, public funding model, and emerging artist showcases — representing the closest direct competitor to La Plage des Six Pompes in the European street arts ecosystem.
• Les Années Joué: A French street arts festival and existing partner of La Plage des Six Pompes through the La Nouvelle Vague exchange program. Direct peer operating in the same street arts category with comparable free-access programming and emerging artist support — formally connected via the 2023 cross-border partnership.
• Châlon dans la Rue: A major French street arts festival held annually in Chalon-sur-Saône. Direct peer operating in the same street arts category with free outdoor programming, multiple venues, and international company selection — offering similar scale and audience model to La Plage des Six Pompes.
• Theater Spektakel Zürich: A Swiss outdoor performing arts festival held along Lake Zurich. Direct peer operating in the same country with comparable free outdoor programming, multiple venues, and a similar multidisciplinary performing arts mandate — competing for some of the same Swiss arts audiences and public funding sources.

Others

• Cirque Éloize / Cirque du Soleil: Major circus arts producers who often participate in street arts festivals. Comparable as participants and ecosystem partners in the same international circus/street arts talent pool, though they operate as commercial production companies rather than festivals.

Emerging players

• Festival Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes: A puppet and performing arts festival in Charleville-Mézières, France. Comparable as a European festival specializing in a performing arts sub-category with international company programming and similar public funding structures, though narrower in artistic focus than La Plage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/summertour.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plagesixpompes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about La Plage des Six Pompes