Printemps des Comédiens: Serious allegations against the festival organizers

Montpellier – 08.06.2026: The Occitanie Regional Audit Chamber has revealed serious issues in the management of the “Printemps des Comédiens” festival in Montpellier in a report published on June 8th. The criticism is particularly directed at inefficient financial and personnel management under director Jean Varela from 2011 to December 2025.

The report shows that Varela concentrated much decision-making power without proper oversight. This led to many expenditures that were not reasonably justified or aligned with the association’s interests. His salary ranged from 190,000 to 200,000 euros per year, accounting for about 12% of total personnel costs during the investigation period. Additionally, external service providers were hired to perform tasks that were in fact the responsibility of the director. Travel and representation expenses reached approximately 130,000 euros annually.

Poor oversight was also noted regarding the main sponsors of the festival. Métropole de Montpellier, the largest sponsor, did not have long-term agreements on objectives with the festival association and had only limited proactivity in requesting detailed reports. State subsidies were also regularly increased without clear purpose. For example, an additional support of 50,000 euros for a theatrical project was never realized. Recovery of this amount has not yet been pursued due to the lack of proactive requests from the competent authorities.

The festival organizers deny the allegations and emphasize that the financial situation of the organization, which has not operated independently since 2025, needs to be evaluated more comprehensively than just based on pure accounting. Since 2025, the festival has been organized by the “Cité européenne du théâtre,” a public institution aimed at promoting cultural cooperation. Métropole de Montpellier has announced it will seek an agreed solution with the new managing entity to end the former director’s role due to financial instability and lack of transparency. Jean Varela resigned in December 2025.

Despite the current allegations, the 40th edition of “Printemps des Comédiens” is still ongoing. The festival runs from May 29 to June 21, 2026, at Domaine d’O in Montpellier, showcasing a variety of plays and diverse stage performances. It remains one of the region’s most important cultural events, attracting visitors both nationally and internationally.

The festival was founded in 1986 and for decades has become an important platform for contemporary theater. With a combination of classical plays and avant-garde performances, the festival promotes cultural exchange and provides a stage for young artists. Despite undergoing a management crisis, the organizers strive to maintain the festival’s good reputation and continue to lead it successfully into the future.