The Mediterranean is not a history museum. It is a living, ever-changing space, shaped by ecological crises, population movements, unresolved political legacies and imaginaries that refuse to die.

From 15 May to 31 October 2026, the 2026 Mediterranean Season will unfold — a major multidisciplinary programme that places the Mediterranean basin at the heart of a collective reflection. Far from celebrating a picturesque Mediterranean, this Season examines structural issues: youth and mobility, shared narratives and memories, ecological and social transition, and artistic innovation.

With Marseille as the opening city, the Season extends across the whole of France and to both shores of the Mediterranean, in close collaboration with the arts scenes in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Lebanon. It is an invitation to engage in dialogue across borders, to promote initiatives by young people and diasporas, to support creative endeavours and to strengthen cooperation between civil societies.

As part of the partnership between Les Rencontres à l’échelle (Marseille) and Dream City / L’Art Rue, a selection of works and artists previously featured at Dream City has been invited to Marseille to extend and deepen the Mediterranean dialogues that run through them. This joint programme brings together performance art, historical research and political writing: Dignity (theatre production and installation) by Chokri Ben Chikha / Action Zoo Humain; I Am the Actor of My Mother’s Poetry (solo) by Michael Disanka; the opening performance by Adeline Rosenstein with Ravage tout court; as well as a debate on ideas centred on the publication of Leyla Dakhli’s book Les Révoltes de la dignité (co-ed.).

These events, performances, debates and European premieres build on the contextualisation process begun in Tunis and contribute to a collective conversation on dignity, colonial memory, documentary creation and practices of cultural resistance in the Mediterranean region, as part of the broader framework of the 2026 Mediterranean Season. This collaboration extends beyond Marseille: a programme of return events and follow-up initiatives is currently being organised in Tunis to deepen the exchanges and jointly shape the next stages of the partnership.

1) Dignity — Chokri Ben Chikha (Action Zoo Humain) 

Dignity (a theatrical production and installation) explores human rights and the legacy of the ‘human zoos’ (Marseille 1906, 1922) and depicts the first dignity commission in France. European preview at the Rencontres à l’échelle. 

Presented at Dream City, Tunis — 2025 (Dignity).

2) Je suis l’acteur de la poésie de ma mère — Michael Disanka  

Je suis l’acteur de la poésie de ma mère , the first solo piece concluding Michael Disanka’s theatrical trilogy, weaves together an intimate and political narrative on heritage and childhood. 

Artist featured at Dream City, Tunis — 2023 with Neci Pediri.

3) Ravage tout court — Adeline Rosenstein 

Ravage tout court, a documentary theatre piece by Adeline Rosenstein, combines evocative landscapes and stage designs to explore ruins, memory and collective reconfigurations. (She opened the 21st edition.) 

Artist featured at Dream City, Tunis — 2019 with Décris Ravage.

4) Les Révoltes de la dignité (debates on ideas) — Leyla Dakhli 

Leyla Dakhli presents and discusses her book Les Révoltes de la dignité (co-ed.) and takes part in discussions on research and theatrical forms relating to memory and dignity. 

Artist featured at Dream City, Tunis — 2023 with The Maps of Dignity.