Catalpa Festival
Auxerre's big free contemporary music festival
About Catalpa
The festival that makes Auxerre vibrate since 2012
Born in 2012 from the imagination and ambition of the association Service Compris, supported by Le Silex — Auxerre's contemporary music venue —, the Catalpa Festival took over from Nuits Métisses (2011) and Festival aux Zarbs (2010) to establish itself as the reference festival in the Yonne and the entire Burgundy region. Its name is directly inspired by the catalpa trees, those large trees with generous foliage that populate the Parc de l'Arbre Sec, the green space in the heart of Auxerre where the festival's main stage resonates every summer.
From its very first edition, Catalpa brought together over 22,000 spectators over two evenings, immediately laying the foundations for a popular, open, and demanding event. Its uniqueness? Completely free entry, funding supported by 60% by the City of Auxerre and local authorities, and the rest by private partners, refreshment stands, and the event's own revenue. The festival demonstrates that it is possible to offer a high-level program without making the ticket price a condition for accessing culture.
An eclectic and demanding program
Catalpa Festival's artistic direction is distinguished by its deliberate eclecticism: each evening explores a different musical territory, mixing without complex rap, reggae, rock, metal, electro, pop, and world music. Over the years, the festival has hosted artists as diverse as Tiken Jah Fakoly, Asian Dub Foundation, Wax Tailor, Négresses Vertes, General Elektriks, Groundation, and also FFF, Mass Hysteria, and Mosimann.
This assumed diversity reflects the philosophy of Sylvain Briand, the festival's programmer, for whom artistic ambition is not incompatible with free access: "Family-friendly, free, but musically demanding", this is how he summarizes Catalpa's identity. The main stage thus hosts national and international headliners, while the Fayyar stage offers electronic DJ sets to close each evening.
The Off Festival: the city as a stage
Beyond the Parc de l'Arbre Sec, the Catalpa Festival Off extends into the streets and spaces of Auxerre's city center. Regional and emerging artists take over bars, squares, and unusual venues to offer intimate concerts and musical parades. This Off component is a valuable showcase for Burgundy's local music scenes and reinforces the festival's deep territorial roots in the life of the city.
A pause to better bounce back
In 2024, facing rising production costs and competition from the Olympic calendar, organizers made the difficult decision not to hold an edition. An assumed and courageous pause, summarized in a phrase: "Taking a break to reinvent ourselves in 2025". The gamble paid off: the 12th edition, condensed into two evenings instead of the usual three, returns with force on June 27 and 28, 2025, welcoming nearly 20,000 spectators per evening with a lineup mixing 47Ter, FFF/Fonck, Mosimann, Broken Back, The Inspector Cluzo, Mass Hysteria, and Feder.
Towards an even more ambitious 2026 edition
Building on this rebound, Catalpa Festival is preparing its 2026 edition with high-profile confirmations. Étienne de Crécy, a monument of French Touch, is preparing a spectacular live show designed specifically for festivals. Lilly Wood and the Prick, a French folk-pop duo singing in English, will be among the first festivals to host their new tour. Théa, a young female artist mixing pop, rock, metal, and electronic music, and MPL (Ma Pauvre Lucette), a French chanson collective from Grenoble, complete an already highly anticipated lineup.
Practical Information
- Completely free entry for all festival-goers
- Main stage at Parc de l'Arbre Sec, Avenue Yver, Auxerre
- Off concerts in the city center of Auxerre
- Refreshment stands, food, and entertainment on site
- Entry/exit access only via Avenue Yver, next to the Stade Nautique
Catalpa — edition 2026
The 13th edition of the Catalpa Festival takes place on June 26 and 27, 2026, at Parc de l'Arbre Sec in Auxerre, true to its format of two evenings of entirely free concerts. On the lineup: Étienne de Crécy, a monument of French Touch, the Dutch psychedelic quintet Altın Gün, the folk-pop duo Lilly Wood and the Prick, emerging artist Théa, MPL (Ma Pauvre Lucette) with French songs, as well as rappers Aupinard and James Loup. The evenings continue with DJ sets from Club Platinium.
2026 Edition — June 26 and 27 at Parc de l'Arbre Sec
The Catalpa Festival returns for its 13th edition on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2026, true to its identity: «family-friendly, free, but musically demanding». Two evenings of 100% free concerts take over Parc de l'Arbre Sec, in the heart of Auxerre, with an eclectic program mixing rap, pop, hyperpop, folk, world, and electro.
The main stage hosts an international headliner each evening as a closing act: on Friday with LB aka Labat and on Saturday with Étienne de Crécy, a seminal figure of French Touch alongside Daft Punk and Cassius, who presents a spectacular live show designed for large festival stages.
For discoveries, Saturday features the Dutch quintet Altın Gün, who revisit 1970s Anatolian psychedelic rock, and the French folk-pop duo Lilly Wood and the Prick, led by Nili Hadida's voice, on tour for their new album. On Friday, young artist Théa blends pop, rock, metal, and electronic music, while MPL (Ma Pauvre Lucette), a French song collective from Grenoble, brings poetry and quirky humor. Rappers Aupinard (Friday) and James Loup (Saturday) open each evening.
Between and after the concerts, the Club Platinium takes over with 100% female DJ sets (Nouchine, Crime Kardachian, Petunia Killer, Suziz Blue). A lively village, refreshment stands, and food options complete the experience throughout both evenings.
Programme Catalpa 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Aupinard (rap)
- 8:15 PM — MPL — Ma Pauvre Lucette (pop / French song, Grenoble)
- 10:15 PM — Théa (hyperpop / pop-rock-metal-electro)
- 12:00 AM — LB aka Labat (electro)
- Club Platinium #1 — 100% female DJ sets (Nouchine, Crime Kardachian, Petunia Killer, Suziz Blue)
Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 6:30 PM — James Loup (rap)
- 8:15 PM — Altın Gün (pop-folk / Anatolian psychedelic rock, Netherlands)
- 10:15 PM — Lilly Wood and the Prick (folk-pop)
- 12:00 AM — Étienne de Crécy (electro / French Touch — exclusive live show)
- Club Platinium #2 — 100% female DJ sets (Nouchine, Crime Kardachian, Petunia Killer, Suziz Blue)
Times are indicative, provided by the organizer. Doors open at 6:30 PM each evening. Free concerts, no ticket or reservation required.
Highlights Catalpa 2026
- 13th edition on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2026
- 100% free entry, no ticket or reservation required
- Étienne de Crécy (French Touch) closing on Saturday, with an exclusive live show
- Altın Gün, Dutch psychedelic quintet, and Lilly Wood and the Prick on Saturday
- Théa, MPL (Ma Pauvre Lucette), Aupinard, and James Loup on the lineup
- 100% female DJ sets from Club Platinium each evening
- At Parc de l'Arbre Sec, in the heart of Auxerre
Prices Catalpa 2026
Practical information — Catalpa
Practical Information — Catalpa Festival
Location
The festival takes place at the Parc de l'Arbre Sec, Avenue Yver, 89000 Auxerre. The single entrance for festival-goers is on Avenue Yver, near the Stade Nautique.
Access
- By car: Auxerre is accessible via the A6 motorway (exit Auxerre Nord or Auxerre Sud). Parking is available near the park.
- By train: Auxerre-Saint-Gervais SNCF station, served by TER from Paris-Bercy (approx. 1h30), Dijon, and Sens. The park is within walking distance of the station (approx. 20 minutes) or accessible by shuttle.
- By bus: AUB'BUS urban bus lines serve the city center of Auxerre.
Prices
Entry to Catalpa Festival is completely free. No ticket or reservation is required to access the concerts.
Schedules
- Gates open: 6:00 PM
- Site closes: 1:30 AM
- Concerts start from 7:00 PM
Food and Drink
Food stalls (food trucks, snacks) and refreshment stands are available on site throughout the evenings. Payment by cash and credit card is possible.
Festival-goer Tips
- Arrive early to avoid queues at the entrance
- Bring warm clothing for the evenings (the festival is held outdoors)
- Bringing outside food, drinks, and alcohol is prohibited on site
- Children are welcome (family-friendly festival)
Organizer Contact
- Official website: www.catalpa-festival.fr
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone Le Silex: 03 86 40 95 40
- Address Le Silex: 7 rue de l'île aux Plaisirs, 89000 Auxerre
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Where does it take place — Catalpa
Parc de l'Arbre Sec
Avenue Yver, 89000 Auxerre