American Saloon - Tarbes American Festival
Country, Western, and North American Culture Festival in Tarbes — discontinued since 2021
Edition 2026 — event currently on hold
There is no edition scheduled in 2026 for this event. This page remains accessible to archive the history of the manifestation and will be updated if a new edition is announced.
About American Saloon
ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The American Saloon, which became the Tarbes American Festival, has not been held since 2021. Its last edition, organized from September 17 to 19, 2021, at the Parc des Expositions de Tarbes, was interrupted and closed by municipal order after a serious incident occurred on the sidelines of the event. No new edition has been publicly documented since.
Created in 2015, this festive event dedicated to North American culture annually brought together, for a weekend, three complementary events at the Parc des Expositions de Tarbes: the Tarbes American Festival (country and rock concerts, country dance workshops, western village), the Tarbes Poker Game (poker tournament), and an international tattoo exhibition (Battle in Bigorre). It gathered enthusiasts of country music, western culture, poker, and tattooing in the heart of Bigorre.
ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The Tarbes American Festival (formerly American Saloon) is no longer held. Its last documented edition took place from September 17 to 19, 2021, at the Parc des Expositions de Tarbes — it was cut short and the site closed by municipal decision following a tragedy that occurred on the sidelines of the festival. No edition has been organized since, and the official website no longer announces new dates.
A 100% American Culture Weekend in Tarbes
From its creation in 2015 until 2021, the American Saloon — renamed Tarbes American Festival — was the annual gathering for North American culture enthusiasts in the Hautes-Pyrénées. The festival had successfully built a loyal audience of all ages around country music, dance, poker, and tattooing.
Three Events in One
The Tarbes American Festival stood out for its original format, bringing together three complementary events in a single weekend:
The Country Festival
- Concerts: French and international country and rock artists performed on the stage of the Parc des Expositions.
- Dance Workshops: Line dance and country dance classes were offered throughout the weekend, led by renowned choreographers.
- Western Village: A thematic area with stands for western accessories, clothing, jewelry, and objects.
The Tarbes Poker Game
A free-roll poker tournament that gathered several hundred players, with prestigious prizes at stake.
The International Tattoo Exhibition
The Battle in Bigorre welcomed French and international tattoo artists for demonstrations and live tattooing sessions.
A Saloon Atmosphere
The Parc des Expositions de Tarbes was transformed for the occasion into a true giant saloon, with careful decoration, American food stands, and a festive atmosphere reminiscent of the Far West.
The End of an Adventure
The 2021 edition was marked by a tragedy that occurred on the sidelines of the event, which led to the closure of the Parc des Expositions by the municipality and the discontinuation of the festival. Since then, the Tarbes American Festival has not been held, and no resumption has been publicly announced. If a new edition were to be organized in the future, this page would be updated.
American Saloon — edition 2026
ℹ️ No 2026 edition — festival discontinued. No 2026 edition of the Tarbes American Festival (American Saloon) is taking place. The festival has not been held since its last documented edition on September 17-19, 2021, which was cut short and closed by municipal order at the Parc des Expositions de Tarbes following a serious incident. At the time of our editorial review (June 2026), no public source (organizer, town hall, Parc des Expositions, local press) announced a resumption.
ℹ️ 2026 edition non-existent — festival stopped. The Tarbes American Festival has not been held since the weekend of September 17-19, 2021, an edition that was interrupted after a tragedy occurred on the sidelines of the event (closure of the Parc des Expositions by the municipality). The official website no longer announces a new date and no source confirms a 2026 edition. Consult the festival's page for the complete history of this country and western culture event in Tarbes.
Prices American Saloon 2026
Practical information — American Saloon
Practical Information
Location
Parc des Expositions de Tarbes, Boulevard du Président Kennedy, 65000 Tarbes.
Access
- By car: From the A64 motorway, take the Tarbes-Ouest exit, follow signs for the city center then Parc des Expositions. Free parking on site.
- By train: Tarbes station, then a 10-minute bus or taxi ride.
Contact
- Phone: 09 72 11 00 30
- Website: www.tarbesamericanfestival.fr
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — American Saloon
Parc des Expositions de Tarbes
Boulevard du Président Kennedy, 65000 Tarbes