The Grands Ateliers des Arts (GADA) return for a fifth edition from 23 to 25 October 2026, split between Abidjan and Mondoukou, near Grand-Bassam. The programme was presented on 6 October at Bushman Café.

The festival is organised by Compagnie Mehansio, founded in 2020 by choreographer Jean-Paul Mehansio. This year's theme, "De la tradition", asks how heritage can be passed on and reinvented in contemporary creation, with the body, dance and movement at the centre.

The opening and main shows take place at the Institut Français in Abidjan, where the first evening features BVKO Spirit, Daudet Grazaï's solo "Les Larmes de l'Océan" and "Full Moon" by Josef Nadj's company Atelier 3+1.

The weekend moves to the Cocoteraie des Arts in Mondoukou: a libation with the local chieftaincy, dance workshops, a zouglou concert by Seba La Force Tranquille, a workshop led by Josef Nadj, a coupé-décalé initiation and a presentation of the Zaouli mask.

In total, 28 events bring together artists from Côte d'Ivoire, France, Hungary, Burkina Faso and Congo-Brazzaville, across dance, music, storytelling, slam, photography and performance. For the organisers, "La tradition n'est jamais immobile."