Valloire: The International Straw And Hay Sculpture Competition Returns From June 30 To July 5, 2026.

Every summer, Valloire transforms the Verneys plateau into a giant workshop where straw and hay become monumental sculptures. An artistic interlude, raw and surprising.

An extraordinary summer appointment

Valloire has made ephemerality a specialty. For fifteen years, the resort has invited sculptors and curious onlookers to gather on the Verneys plateau, a few kilometers from the village, for a straw and hay sculpture competition.

For a few days, the plateau transforms into a creative workshop: metal structures, fencing, and tons of plant material are assembled to give birth to monumental pieces that stand along the Route des Grandes Alpes.

It is both a technical exercise and a visual feast; we look, we question, sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we are left speechless.

The format: constraints and boldness

The competition pushes the idea of an "in situ" work to its limits. Each team works under a tight schedule: within 5.5 days, a sculpture must be created that stands upright and corresponds to the submitted project.

The material imposes its own logic; straw and hay cannot be sculpted like stone, and it is precisely this challenge that stimulates inventiveness. The structures reach impressive heights (up to 6 meters), and to achieve this, teams have a very specific kit: 600 kg of hay, 400 kg of straw, 75 m of wire mesh, as well as wooden rafters, rolls of iron, nails, and other fasteners. It goes without saying that technique is as important as the idea.

Teams and selection

The selection is demanding: around sixty applications are submitted to be evaluated by a jury that meets in the spring.

The proposal must be clear through sketches or models and convincing in its use of materials; straw and hay have their textures, colors, and limitations, and the works are judged on creativity, material intelligence, and quality of execution.

The competition brings together teams from diverse backgrounds, and each composition is designed to stand on its own, without external artifice.

A jury and multiple voices

The final phase takes place in front of a jury composed of personalities from the local artistic community and organizers. Among the members are the jury president, the artistic director, and professional sculptors, as well as representatives from Valloire Tourism.

The verdict is announced on the last day of the competition (the results are proclaimed in the late afternoon) and several awards capture attention: the Public Prize, the Young People's Prize, the Internet Users' Prize (with an online vote), and the Artists' Prize, chosen by the present sculptors.

The mix of perspectives from the jury, the public, young people, and the artists themselves gives a collective dimension to the ranking.

A show that lasts all summer.

Once erected, the sculptures do not disappear immediately: they remain on display throughout the summer, positioned along the road, ready to surprise passersby and vacationers.

This presence extends the conversation between the artwork and the public: one can return, revisit, and sometimes notice the small changes that time and weather bring to natural materials. The competition is thus part of a season rich in cultural and festive events, marked by markets, concerts, and other local gatherings.

Faces of the organization

Behind the event, names and voices ensure continuity. Christian Burger serves as the artistic director, an experienced sculptor accustomed to monumental materials, and works with the teams throughout the creation week.

Emmanuelle Lacoste, director of Valloire Tourism and organizer, summarizes the spirit of the project by reminding us that "our artistic limits are meant to be surpassed". It's a way of saying that the challenge is not just to build, but to open up possibilities.

Why go there (or be interested in it)

Because it is rare to see art being created on this scale, because the raw and rustic material evokes memories and sensations often absent from galleries, and because the event combines spectacle and conviviality, there is the open-air workshop but also more festive moments and paths to discover the works.

For families, enthusiasts of DIY art, or simply the curious, the experience promises unexpected encounters between imagination and landscape.

Note Well

Ephemeral sculpture: a work designed to last for a limited time, often displayed outdoors and made of materials that change with the seasons.
Plateau des Verneys: the mountain site where the sculptures are installed during the competition, accessible from Valloire and visible from the Route des Grandes Alpes.

In short

An international competition, teams working under time constraints, simple materials transformed into monumental forms, and an exhibition that extends the celebration throughout the summer: Valloire confirms its taste for works that question public space.

If you feel like checking out these constructions, know that the creation week culminates in a results announcement at the end of the day, and the public has a say in the selection of the winners. An invitation to take a closer look and to keep an eye on these sculptures that play with the landscape.