Cabaret Vert

A festival born from Ardennes passion

Cabaret Vert was born in 2005 from the desire of a group of Ardennes residents, united within the FLaP association, created in 2003, to promote and revitalize the Ardennes department. Its name is a direct tribute to the poem Au Cabaret-Vert by Arthur Rimbaud, a poet born in Charleville-Mézières. From its very first edition, the festival attracted over 10,000 festival-goers and laid the foundations for its identity: an ambitious musical program in an eco-responsible setting.

Square Bayard: a natural setting on the banks of the Meuse

The festival takes place every summer at Square Bayard, a historic 10-hectare site bordered by the Meuse river, located just a ten-minute walk from the train station. This green space in the city center offers a unique setting, blending nature and urbanity, which contributes to the unique atmosphere of Cabaret Vert. The stages are spread throughout the park, allowing festival-goers to move between concerts, food areas, and relaxation zones by the water.

An eclectic and ambitious program

Cabaret Vert stands out for the eclecticism of its programming, mixing rock, rap, electro, metal, pop, reggae, blues, and French chanson. The 2024 edition (August 15-18) hosted Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Korn, 21 Savage, SCH, Shaka Ponk, Macklemore, Fontaines D.C., Louis Tomlinson, and Mass Hysteria. The 2025 edition (August 14-17) featured DJ Snake, Booba, Queens of the Stone Age, Will Smith, Zaho de Sagazan, and Julien Doré.

The pioneering eco-festival

Cabaret Vert is a pioneer of eco-responsibility in the festival world. From its very first edition in 2005, it signed an environmental charter. Today, the festival continues an ambitious policy: waste sorting and recycling, local and organic food, reusable cups, dry toilets, festival-goer awareness, and carbon footprint reduction. The Square Bayard site, accessible on foot and by public transport, naturally limits car usage.

National and European reach

With over 125,000 festival-goers per edition, Cabaret Vert has established itself as one of the largest festivals in France and a major event on the European contemporary music festival circuit. It generates considerable economic benefits for the Ardennes region and contributes to the cultural influence of Charleville-Mézières far beyond its borders.