Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival
The biggest blues festival in northern France, in the heart of Calais
About Beautiful Swamp Blues
The Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival is the unmissable event for blues lovers in northern France. Created in 2006, this festival celebrates blues in all its glory every spring in Calais, mixing traditional blues, soul, gospel, R&B, and americana. For three days in April, the Halle de Calais and the brasseries of the Calais-Nord district host international artists for intimate and warm concerts. In 2026, the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with an exceptional edition.
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Beautiful Swamp Blues at the best price.
Sponsored link
Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival: Blues in All Its Glory
The Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival is one of the biggest blues festivals in northern France. Created in 2006 in Calais, it has established itself over two decades as an essential event for lovers of blues, soul, and gospel, attracting internationally renowned artists each year.
An Open and International Program
The strength of Beautiful Swamp lies in the balance of its programming, its international dimension, and its openness to all music related to blues: soul, gospel, R&B, americana, boogie-woogie. The festival invites artists from the United States, Europe, and around the world, offering a complete panorama of the contemporary blues scene.
Intimate and Warm Concerts
The festival stands out for its unique format. The main concerts are held at the Halle, Place d'Armes in Calais, in the charm of a truly intimate concert. After the concerts, the "afters" in the brasseries of the Calais-Nord district offer direct and privileged contact with the musicians, in an authentic and friendly atmosphere.
A Festival Rooted in the City
Beyond the main weekend, the Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival enriches the cultural life of Calais with "off" concerts in various venues throughout the city during April. Masterclasses and artist meet-and-greets complete the program.
20 Years in 2026
In 2026, the Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary, an event that testifies to the vitality and loyalty of an audience passionate about blues north of Paris.
Beautiful Swamp Blues — edition 2026
The 20th edition of the Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival will be held from April 24 to 26, 2026, in Calais. For this anniversary, the festival offers an international program including Matthew Skoller & Chicago Wind feat. Precious Taylor.
Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival 2026 - 20th Anniversary Edition
The Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary from April 24 to 26, 2026, in Calais. An opening concert is scheduled for April 3, followed by "off" concerts throughout the month in various venues in the city.
The program for this anniversary edition highlights the international dimension of the festival and its openness to blues-related music. Matthew Skoller & Chicago Wind feat. Precious Taylor are among the confirmed artists for this exceptional edition.
Programme Beautiful Swamp Blues 2026
2026 Program (Partial)
- April 3: Opening Concert
- April 24-26: Main Festival at the Halle
- Matthew Skoller & Chicago Wind feat. Precious Taylor
- Off concerts and after-parties in the brasseries of Calais-Nord
Highlights Beautiful Swamp Blues 2026
- 20th anniversary edition of the festival
- Matthew Skoller & Chicago Wind feat. Precious Taylor
- Opening concert on April 3
- Off concerts throughout April
Prices Beautiful Swamp Blues 2026
Practical information — Beautiful Swamp Blues
Festival Access
By Car
Calais is accessible via the A16 and A26 motorways. The city center has parking lots near Place d'Armes and the Calais-Nord district.
By Train
The Calais-Ville station is served by TER trains from Lille (1h30) and Boulogne-sur-Mer (30 min). The Calais-Fréthun station hosts the Eurostar from London. The festival site is within walking distance of the stations.
Concert Venues
- La Halle, Place d'Armes - main concerts
- Brasseries of Calais-Nord - "after" concerts
- Various venues in the city - "off" concerts in April
Ticketing
- Festival passes and evening tickets
- Online ticketing at billetterie.calais.fr
- Affordable prices
Accommodation
Calais offers a wide choice of hotels and rentals in the city center and on the seafront. Booking is recommended during the festival.
Contact
Ticketing: billetterie.calais.fr
City of Calais: www.calais.fr
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Beautiful Swamp Blues at the best price.
Sponsored link
Where does it take place — Beautiful Swamp Blues
La Halle, Place d'Armes
Place d'Armes, 62100 Calais