Marseille and Provence are definitely the place to be in early summer. Who would want to be anywhere else with so many exciting festivals of all kinds happening, and sunshine and Provençal pleasures to boot?

Dance, drama, music, song, multimedia - there’s something going on in all the arts. The muses, daughters of Zeus, have alighted for the summer in Marseille, Arles, Aix and Avignon, flying in from Mount Parnassus to enchant us with a host of events, some of which have achieved mythic status over the years. A quick look around confirms that, yes indeed, Provence is the place for a festive summer.

The Festival de Marseille has regained its youth under its new director Jan Goossens, with a performing arts programme that includes a focus on Africa. It’s also a chance to see the Ballet National de Marseille with Georges Appaix, our local champion of contemporary dance, and another local discovery, Dorothée Munyaneza, whom we’re sure to be hearing a lot more about. This festival is packed with great performances.

Not far away, Villa Noailles is holding its 12th Design Parade Festival with a number of accompanying exhibitions in Hyères and Toulon. What with the encounters, workshops, design market and announcement of the competition prize winners, there’s a lot to be enjoyed.

Next stop Arles, a town of endless interest, especially in summer. Les Suds à Arles is a festival of music from many countries and many genres, always featuring some exciting new acts. From the Roman theatre to the town’s museums and from bands to dance workshops, this is a festival blessed by the Provençal summer.

 «My nights are better than your days,» says Andrzej Zulawski. Could be! His Marsatac electronic and urban music festival is shaking up the Parc Chanot and its Marseille audience for two red-hot evenings. With new acts, renowned veterans and spectacular light shows, this 19th edition should live up to expectations.
Also in the southern part of town is the Théâtre Silvain, an open-air theatre we particularly like, although it’s not so easy to get to. It is the venue for the Festival à la Belle Etoile, which this year includes Ivo Livi (a musical about the life of Yves Montand) and Faisons un Rêve by Sacha Guitry.
Photography next. The 7th edition of Photomed has 300 photographers contributing with their personal take on life. This event started life in Sanary but now has exhibitions in Bendor, Toulon and even Marseille – at the Friche Belle de Mai, MuCEM, Villa Méditerranée and Frac.
Theatre, music and song come together at the Festival International d’Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence. This year’s vintage looks like being one of the best, with a programme that includes Pinocchio by Belgian composer Philippe Boesmans as well as Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Mozart and Cavalli. Opera lovers have been rushing for tickets so you may have to fight to get into Carmen, The Rake’s Progress or Don Giovanni.

Most famous of all is the Festival d’Avignon; this year’s edition is the 71st. Every year the town seethes with activity, the heat is usually crushing at this time of year and the walls are covered in posters for fringe events. Temporary stages spring up all over town, by day and by night, giving young drama companies a welcome showcase. It’s all a bit disorganised, but bursting with energy. The official offerings take place mostly in the evening, and the poster sets the tone: this is engaged, or indeed angry, theatre. A marathon, moreover, as witness Atrides, huit portraits de famille with eight plays, each by a different author, with four performed per day. In short, this is the most fantastic theatre experience imaginable.

And finally jazz, starting with Marseille Heure Jazz in June: Ahmad Jamal and Abd al Malik at the Opéra. That’s a delicious foretaste before the Marseille Jazz des 5 continents festival arrives in July, under the big trees in the gardens at Palais Longchamp. Sitting on the grass or at one of the tables near the stage, we’re in for a delicious evening. Among the headliners this year are Norah Jones, George Benson and Herbie Hancock. Jazz connoisseurs wouldn’t miss it for the world, so book soon before it’s too late. These evenings at Palais Longchamp are unforgettable and the town is tuned in to the same vibe, with a host of before- and after-show gatherings.

Festival de Marseille. Du 15 juin au 9 septembre www.festivaldemarseille.com

Festival design Parade. Du 30 juin au 24 septembre www.villanoailles-hyeres.com

Les Suds à Arles. Du 10 au 16 juillet. www.suds-arles.com

Marsalas. Les 23 et 24 juin. www.masatac.com

A la Belle Etoile. Les 5 et 6 juillet. Tél. 0 892 68 36 22

Festival International d’Art Lyrique Aix. du 3 au 22 juillet. www.festival-aix.com

Festival d’Avignon. Du 8 au 26 juillet. www.festival-avignon.com

Marseille Heure Jazz. Du 6 au 24 juin

Marseille Jazz des 5 continents. Du 19 au 29 juillet. www.marseillejazz.com