Béthune Rétro
The largest rockabilly festival north of Paris, between concerts, pin-ups and vintage cars
2026
About Béthune Rétro
Béthune Rétro — edition 2026
Béthune Rétro returns from August 28 to 30, 2026 for a new rockabilly and vintage weekend in the heart of Béthune. For three days, the city center transforms into a 1950s-1960s setting with numerous free concerts, exhibitions of classic and American cars, a vintage market, and retro entertainment for the whole family. Admission is free.
Béthune Rétro 2026
From August 28 to 30, 2026, Béthune Rétro takes over the city center for three days of rock'n'roll, classic machinery, and fifties vibes. Known as the largest rockabilly festival north of Paris, the event features six main stages—Grand'Place, Place Foch, Place du 73e, Place Marmottan, Place Lamartine, and Place de la République—along with additional venues at Place Saint-Vaast, Place Rabin, Place du 4 Septembre, La Charité, and the Le Poche theater.
Over forty free concerts
The 2026 lineup brings together over forty bands from the United States, the UK, Italy, Mexico, Denmark, and France. Headliners include Jay Ernest & Don Diego Trio, performing three distinct shows ("American Recording" on Friday, "Sun Session" on Saturday, and "Folsom Blues" on Sunday), Noelle Vaughn & The Jive Aces, Deke Dickerson & The Don Diego Trio, Vito Picone & The Elegants, Dylan Kirk & The Savoys, Mitch Polzak & The Don Diego Trio, The Courettes, The Lovesick Duo, Los Moustros, and Lucas & The Dynamos. They will be joined by Jake Calypso & The Red Hot, Les Atlantides, An Diaz & The Yokatta Brothers, Lou Cifer & The Brimstones, Kathleen Winters, Sylvia Sands Quartet, The Hoodoo Tones, Roy P-Cat and the V8 Daddies, The Hill Brothers, Memphis Cats, and The Capitol's.
Vintage cars, Rétro Market, and dance floor
The festival also hosts exhibitions of vintage and American cars, hot rod gatherings, a concours d'elegance, and a historical parade through the Béthune region. The Rétro Market will be set up on the Grand'Place (Place du Beffroi), offering period clothing, pin-up accessories, vinyl records, and 1940s-1950s decor. There will also be a pinball exhibition, a large dance floor, DJ sets, and the Béthune Car Show. Food stands and food trucks will be available throughout the weekend.
Free admission and practical info
Admission is completely free for all concerts, exhibitions, and activities. The festival area will be closed to traffic from 9:00 AM on Friday until 6:00 AM on Monday. Free parking is signposted on the outskirts, and a campsite is available for festival-goers at 286 rue Fernand Bar, at a flat rate of €10 per person for the three days (limited spots).
Highlights Béthune Rétro 2026
- Over forty free concerts on six city-center stages, from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30, 2026
- Jay Ernest & Don Diego Trio as a recurring highlight with three different shows: "American Recording" Friday 8:00 PM Grand'Place, "Sun Session" Saturday 3:00 PM Place Lamartine, "Folsom Blues" Sunday 1:00 PM Place de la République
- Noelle Vaughn & The Jive Aces closing the Saturday night at 11:00 PM on the Grand'Place
- Deke Dickerson & The Don Diego Trio Saturday 7:00 PM Place de la République, followed by Lou Cifer & The Brimstones at 10:00 PM
- Sunday on the Grand'Place: Vito Picone & The Elegants (12:30 PM), Dylan Kirk & The Savoys (4:30 PM), and Mitch Polzak & The Don Diego Trio (6:00 PM)
- The Courettes Sunday 5:00 PM Place Marmottan, The Lovesick Duo at 3:30 PM Place Lamartine
- Rétro Market on the Grand'Place, vintage and American car exhibitions, hot rods, pinball display, dance floor, and Car Show
- Free admission; festival campsite at €10 per person for the three days, 286 rue Fernand Bar
Programme Béthune Rétro 2026
Over forty free concerts will take place from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon across six stages in the city center: Grand'Place, Place Foch, Place du 73e, Place Marmottan, Place Lamartine, and Place de la République.
Friday, August 28, 2026
- 8:00 PM — Jay Ernest & Don Diego Trio, "American Recording" show · Grand'Place
- 8:00 PM — Red Cobra · Place Marmottan
- 8:30 PM — Black Road · Place Foch
- 9:00 PM — The Hill Brothers · Place Lamartine
- 9:30 PM — Memphis Cats · Place du 73e
- 10:00 PM — The Capitol's · Place de la République
- 11:00 PM — Los Moustros · Grand'Place
Saturday, August 29, 2026
- 12:00 PM — Lonely Jake · Place du 73e
- 1:00 PM — Robbie Dee · Place Lamartine
- 1:00 PM — The Moonlight Sirens · Place Foch
- 2:00 PM — Lord Diabolik · Place Marmottan
- 2:00 PM — Kathleen Winters · Place de la République
- 3:00 PM — Jay Ernest & Don Diego Trio, "Sun Session" show · Place Lamartine
- 3:30 PM — Shake'em and The Jukes · Place du 73e
- 4:00 PM — Roy P-Cat and the V8 Daddies · Grand'Place
- 4:30 PM — Sylvia Sands Quartet · Place de la République
- 5:00 PM — The Hill Brothers · Place Lamartine
- 5:30 PM — Cosmic Chicken · Place Marmottan
- 5:30 PM — Wild May West · Grand'Place
- 6:00 PM — The Hellbounds · Place Foch
- 7:00 PM — Charly Gin & The Tonics · Place Lamartine
- 7:00 PM — Deke Dickerson & The Don Diego Trio · Place de la République
- 7:30 PM — An Diaz & The Yokatta Brothers · Place du 73e
- 8:30 PM — Les Atlantides · Place Marmottan
- 9:00 PM — Lucas & The Dynamos · Place Lamartine
- 9:00 PM — The Hoodoo Tones · Grand'Place
- 10:00 PM — Lou Cifer & The Brimstones · Place de la République
- 10:00 PM — The Swing Daddies · Place Foch
- 11:00 PM — Noelle Vaughn & The Jive Aces · Grand'Place
Sunday, August 30, 2026
- 12:00 PM — Matt Van T · Place du 73e
- 12:30 PM — Vito Picone & The Elegants · Grand'Place
- 12:30 PM — The Tupelo Highshots · Place Lamartine
- 1:00 PM — Primitive Chaos · Place Marmottan
- 1:00 PM — Jay Ernest & Don Diego Trio, "Folsom Blues" show · Place de la République
- 1:30 PM — Blues Woman Experience · Place du 73e
- 2:00 PM — Los Moustros · Place Foch
- 2:30 PM — Nicolle and Dimes · Grand'Place
- 3:00 PM — Los Tecnicos · Place Marmottan
- 3:30 PM — Black Minoo · Place du 73e
- 3:30 PM — The Lovesick Duo · Place Lamartine
- 3:30 PM — Uke A Billy · Place de la République
- 4:30 PM — Dylan Kirk & The Savoys · Grand'Place
- 5:00 PM — The Courettes · Place Marmottan
- 5:00 PM — Jake Calypso & The Red Hot · Place Foch
- 5:30 PM — Little Til & The Gangbusters · Place de la République
- 6:00 PM — Mitch Polzak & The Don Diego Trio · Grand'Place
Alongside the concerts: Rétro Market on the Grand'Place (Place du Beffroi), vintage and American car exhibitions, hot rod gatherings, pinball machine displays, a large dance floor, DJ sets, and the Béthune Car Show.
Prices Béthune Rétro 2026
Practical information — Béthune Rétro
Getting to the Festival
By Car
Béthune is accessible via the A26 and A21 motorways, with the exit located about 3 km from the city center, and via the A1 from Lille (about 35 km). Several free parking lots are available on the outskirts of the center: it is recommended to follow the signage set up for the festival.
By Train
Béthune station is served by TER trains from Lille, Arras, and Paris. The festival squares are within walking distance of the station.
Traffic
Traffic is prohibited within the festival perimeter from Friday at 9:00 AM until Monday at 6:00 AM.
Festival Locations
- Grand'Place (Place du Beffroi) — main stage and Rétro Market
- Place Foch, Place du 73e, Place Marmottan, Place Lamartine, and Place de la République — concert stages
- Place Saint-Vaast, Place Rabin, Place du 4 Septembre, La Charité, and Le Poche theater also host activities
Pricing
Admission is free for all concerts, car exhibitions, and activities. Only purchases from vendors are paid.
Festival Camping
A campsite is available for festival-goers at 286 rue Fernand Bar, 62400 Béthune, at a flat rate of €10 per person for the three days. Spaces are limited.
Rétro Market
The vintage market is located on the Grand'Place (Place du Beffroi), featuring retro clothing, pin-up accessories, vinyl records, and 1940s-1950s inspired decor. It is open throughout the festival.
Dining
Numerous food stands and food trucks are available all weekend on the festival squares, in addition to the restaurants and brasseries in the city center.
Contact
- Official City of Béthune website: www.bethune.fr
- Facebook page: “Béthune Rétro Officiel”
- Béthune-Bruay Tourist Office: www.tourisme-bethune-bruay.fr
Béthune Rétro: The Rockabilly Hub of Northern France
Béthune Rétro is the largest rockabilly and vintage festival north of Paris. On the last weekend of August, the heart of Béthune transforms into a 1950s and 60s wonderland, drawing thousands of retro culture enthusiasts. Since 2002, the festival has kept the city's pulse racing to the beat of rock'n'roll classics and the roar of powerful engines, with a reputation that extends far beyond the region.
Free Concerts Across the City
The City of Béthune hosts over forty free concerts over three days, spread across stages set up in the main town squares: Grand'Place, Place Foch, Place du 73e, Place Marmottan, Place Lamartine, and Place de la République. Rock'n'roll, rockabilly, swing, blues, and retro tunes play non-stop, performed by bands from all over Europe and the United States.
Vintage Cars and Hot Rods
The vehicle exhibition is another festival highlight: cars and motorcycles over thirty-five years old, hot rod gatherings, and classic European and American collector cars take over the city streets and squares. The event also features a concours d'élégance, a historic parade through the Béthune area, and the Béthune Car Show.
A Complete Vintage Experience
Beyond the music and cars, Béthune Rétro hosts its Rétro Market on the Grand'Place (Place du Beffroi), featuring vintage clothing, pin-up accessories, vinyl records, and 1940s-1950s decor. The festival also offers a pinball exhibition, a large dance floor, DJ sets, and activities for the whole family. Locals join in the fun, dressing in 50s and 60s attire amidst sets that make you feel like you've traveled back in time.
A Free and Popular Event
Because all concerts, exhibitions, and activities are free, Béthune Rétro is accessible to everyone—only purchases from vendors are paid—contributing to the cultural and tourist vitality of Béthune and the surrounding mining basin.
Where does it take place — Béthune Rétro
Béthune Rétro in brief
History of Béthune Rétro
Edition 2025 Aug 2025Other festivals near Béthune
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