Cabaret Frappé
The free contemporary music festival at Jardin de Ville in Grenoble
2026
About Cabaret Frappé
Cabaret Frappé — edition 2026
Cabaret Frappé returns to the Jardin de Ville in Grenoble from Wednesday, July 15th to Sunday, July 19th, 2026: five evenings of 100% free open-air concerts, shaded by century-old plane trees. Eighteen bands are on the bill, including six local Grenoble acts, spanning world music, chanson, rock, pop, electro, and rap. The lineup features: Jupiter & Okwess (Wednesday, 10:00 PM), Yvnnis (Thursday, 10:10 PM), Mélissa Laveaux (Friday, 8:20 PM) and the brass band Gallowstreet (10:05 PM), Piche (Saturday, 9:00 PM) followed by a DJ set from Barbara Butch (10:20 PM), and an earlier start on Sunday at 5:40 PM with Les Mécanos and Dead Chic. Concerts run from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM, with entertainment, food, and drinks available from 6:00 PM. Nearly 10,000 spectators are expected each night.
Five free evenings from July 15th to 19th, 2026, at the Jardin de Ville
Cabaret Frappé is back from Wednesday, July 15th to Sunday, July 19th, 2026, at the Jardin de Ville in Grenoble. Organized by the City of Grenoble and programmed by the association Retour de Scène, this contemporary music festival has been 100% free since 2016. It has established itself as a highlight of the Grenoble summer, set within the Jardin de Ville under the shade of century-old plane trees. The City of Grenoble continues its financial support with a budget of 325,000 euros, identical to the previous edition, to ensure the concerts remain free for all.
Eighteen bands, including six from Grenoble
For this edition, 18 bands have been invited, including six local groups, thirteen French acts, and six international artists, bringing together nearly one hundred performers and technicians. The programming, true to the festival's pioneering spirit and commitment to gender parity, blends world music, French chanson, soul, rock, pop, electro, rap, and hip-hop, with a strong focus on discovering emerging talent. Each evening kicks off with a local Grenoble band before moving on to three or four more performances.
Evening highlights
Wednesday, July 15th sets the tone with a world music night: Marthe X Pilani Bubu, a duo featuring Grenoble's own Marthe and South African singer Pilani Bubu, Guatemalan artist Sara Curruchich, and the Congolese group Jupiter & Okwess. Thursday, July 16th is dedicated to pop and rap, headlined by rapper Yvnnis. Friday, July 17th showcases the Creole folk-soul of Mélissa Laveaux and the Amsterdam-based electro brass band Gallowstreet. Saturday, July 18th features the rap of Piche followed by a house DJ set from Barbara Butch, who performed at the Paris Olympic opening ceremony. Sunday, July 19th closes the festival with the polyphonies and percussion of Les Mécanos and the rock sounds of Dead Chic.
Schedule and atmosphere
Concerts take place from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM from Wednesday to Saturday, and start as early as 5:40 PM on Sunday. Entertainment, food stalls, and the bar—offering mostly organic, local, and short-supply-chain products—open at 6:00 PM. The City of Grenoble expects nearly 10,000 people each night. The festival continues its eco-friendly commitment: no plastic water bottles are sold on-site, with reusable tableware, composting for organic waste, and extensive facilities for cyclists.
Highlights Cabaret Frappé 2026
- Five nights of 100% free concerts from Wednesday, July 15th to Sunday, July 19th, 2026, at the Jardin de Ville in the heart of Grenoble
- 18 bands on the bill, including six local Grenoble acts, thirteen French groups, and six international artists — nearly 10,000 spectators expected each night
- Wednesday, July 15th, World Music Night: Marthe X Pilani Bubu (7:00 PM), Sara Curruchich (8:20 PM), and Jupiter & Okwess (10:00 PM)
- Thursday, July 16th: Fav (7:00 PM), TeddyBear (7:55 PM), Asfar Shamsi (9:00 PM), and rapper Yvnnis closing the show (10:10 PM)
- Friday, July 17th: Mélissa Laveaux (8:20 PM) and electro brass band Gallowstreet (10:05 PM)
- Saturday, July 18th: Piche (9:00 PM) followed by a DJ set from Barbara Butch, DJ of the Paris Olympic opening ceremony (10:20 PM)
- Sunday, July 19th: Early start at 5:40 PM, featuring Les Mécanos (7:50 PM) and Dead Chic (9:30 PM)
- Concerts from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM; entertainment, organic/local food and drinks from 6:00 PM
- Eco-friendly approach: no plastic bottles sold, reusable tableware, organic waste composting, water fountains, and expanded bike parking
- 325,000 euro budget from the City of Grenoble to keep the festival free, with a program committed to gender parity
Programme Cabaret Frappé 2026
Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 — World Music Night
- 7:00 PM — Marthe X Pilani Bubu · Afro-oriental (Grenoble / South Africa)
- 8:20 PM — Sara Curruchich · Folk cumbia (Guatemala)
- 10:00 PM — Jupiter & Okwess · Funk rock (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Thursday, July 16th, 2026 — Pop and Rap
- 7:00 PM — Fav · Pop (Grenoble)
- 7:55 PM — TeddyBear · Pop
- 9:00 PM — Asfar Shamsi · Pop
- 10:10 PM — Yvnnis · Rap
Friday, July 17th, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Los Burritos Santos · Cumbia (Grenoble)
- 8:20 PM — Mélissa Laveaux · Creole folk soul
- 10:05 PM — Gallowstreet · Electro brass band (Amsterdam)
Saturday, July 18th, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Verdée · Chanson (Grenoble)
- 7:50 PM — Ditter · Electro rock
- 9:00 PM — Piche · Rap
- 10:20 PM — Barbara Butch · House DJ set
Sunday, July 19th, 2026 — Early start
- 5:40 PM — Naphasso · Soul (Grenoble)
- 6:45 PM — Soalo · Hip-hop (Grenoble)
- 7:50 PM — Les Mécanos · Polyphonies and percussion
- 9:30 PM — Dead Chic · Rock
Daily
- Entertainment, food, and drinks from 6:00 PM
- Concerts from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM (Wed–Sat), from 5:40 PM on Sunday
- Completely free access, no tickets or reservations required
Prices Cabaret Frappé 2026
Free access to concerts at the Jardin de Ville, from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM (Wednesday to Saturday) and from 5:40 PM on Sunday.
Entertainment, food stalls, and the bar open from 6:00 PM, offering mostly organic, local, and short-supply-chain products with reusable tableware.
Payment in Cairn, the local Grenoble currency, is accepted at the stalls.
No plastic water bottles are sold on-site: water fountains are available, so remember to bring your own reusable bottle.
Cabaret Frappé — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 15 July to 19 July 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Cabaret Frappé
Getting to the Jardin de Ville
By tram and bus
The Jardin de Ville is served by tram lines A, B, and D, stopping at Hubert Dubedout - Maison du Tourisme and Victor-Hugo, as well as bus lines C1, C3, C4, and C8 (Victor-Hugo stop). The garden is less than a two-minute walk from these stops.
By bike
Additional bike parking is available during the festival at Place de Gordes, Place Grenette, and the Parvis Philippeville. Métrovélo stations are also located nearby. The City of Grenoble strongly encourages cycling to the site.
By car
The Jardin de Ville is located in a pedestrian zone in the heart of Grenoble. The nearest parking garages are Philippeville and Lafayette. From Lyon, take the A43 then the A48 and exit at Bastille; from Chambéry, take the A43 then the A41 and the RN90. Carpooling is highly encouraged.
By train
From the Grenoble train station, the Jardin de Ville is about a 15-minute walk away, or just a few minutes by tram.
Opening Hours
Activities, food stalls, and the bar open at 6:00 PM. Concerts take place from 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM, Wednesday through Saturday. On Sunday, the schedule starts earlier, beginning at 5:40 PM.
Admission
Cabaret Frappé has been a 100% free festival since 2016. All concerts and activities are open to the public with no tickets or reservations required. At the stalls, payment in Cairn, the local Grenoble currency, is accepted.
Food and Eco-friendly Practices
A food court and bar are open on-site from 6:00 PM, featuring mostly organic, local, and short-supply-chain products. Tableware is reusable, no plastic water bottles are sold on-site, and organic waste is composted. Water fountains are available for the public: remember to bring your reusable water bottle.
Accessibility and Comfort
A raised platform is installed in front of the stage for people with disabilities and their companions. Earplugs are distributed on-site, and noise-canceling headphones are available for children to borrow.
Good to know
- The festival is held outdoors: remember to protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated.
- Each evening features three to four concerts, starting with a local band from Grenoble.
Contact
Jardin de Ville, 38000 Grenoble.
Festival organized by the City of Grenoble and programmed by the association Retour de Scène.
Official website: www.cabaret-frappe.com
Email: [email protected]
Cabaret Frappé: Grenoble's Summer Free Festival
Cabaret Frappé is the emblematic contemporary music festival of the city of Grenoble. Created in 1999, it has established itself over the years as a flagship summer event in Isère and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, attracting around 50,000 festival-goers each year to the heart of the Jardin de Ville, under the shade of century-old plane trees.
A Trailblazing Festival That Discovers Talent
Cabaret Frappé stands out for its eclectic and bold programming, blending local artists in the process of professionalization with headliners from the national and international scene. The musical genres represented cover a wide spectrum: world music, jazz, soul, funk, rap, French chanson, pop, electro, afrobeat, flamenco, dub, bossa nova, and many others. Each edition features seven local Grenoble groups, seven artists from all over France, and four international bands, offering a true opening to world music.
A Unique Venue in the Heart of Grenoble
The festival takes place in the Jardin de Ville, a green space located in the pedestrianized hyper-center of Grenoble. This historic garden, adjacent to the former Hôtel du Duc de Lesdiguières, offers an intimate and friendly setting where spectators enjoy open-air concerts in a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere. Two stages alternate: the local stage, which hosts Grenoble groups from 7 PM, and the main stage, where national and international artists perform from 8:30 PM.
100% Free Since 2016
Since 2016, Cabaret Frappé has become an entirely free festival, true to its public service mission by promoting discovery and access to culture for everyone. This complete freeness, supported by the City of Grenoble, makes Cabaret Frappé a unique model among French summer festivals.
An Eco-Responsible and Civic Commitment
Cabaret Frappé is committed to an ambitious eco-responsible approach. Catering favors short supply chains, organic and local products, with reusable or washable dishes. The festival implements selective sorting, a composting area, and dry toilets. Stage decorations are made from materials sourced from local reuse centers. Cabaret Frappé is also committed to gender-balanced programming, with an equal mix of female and male artists.
Through the Editions
Since its creation, Cabaret Frappé has hosted renowned artists such as Orchestra Baobab, Tony Allen, Tricky, Neneh Cherry, Seun Kuti, Caravan Palace, Charlotte Cardin, Féfé, Solann, Brooklyn Funk Essentials, and many others. Alongside the musical program, various activities enrich the experience: readings, world games, street arts, screen printing, and participatory workshops.
Where does it take place — Cabaret Frappé
Cabaret Frappé in brief
History of Cabaret Frappé
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Grenoble
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