ChartrEstivales
Chartres' free summer evenings
2026
About ChartrEstivales
ChartrEstivales — edition 2026
The 34th edition of ChartrEstivales takes place from July 3rd to August 22nd, 2026. As every summer, more than 40 entirely free shows are offered from Monday to Saturday at 9 PM in the squares of Chartres city center: concerts of all styles, theater, shows for young audiences, and concerts at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The opening night is provided by Bloody Mary on July 3rd at Place des Halles, and the edition concludes on August 22nd at Place Châtelet with the Orchestre Oasis.
34th edition — Summer 2026
The ChartrEstivales return for their 34th edition, from July 3 to August 22, 2026. From Monday to Saturday, at 9:00 PM, the squares in Chartres city center host concerts, children's shows, and organ recitals, all free and outdoors.
Three squares and a cathedral
The program follows a steady rhythm. Place des Halles hosts most of the weekday concerts, featuring a world tour of styles: French chanson, Celtic music, country, New Orleans jazz, cumbia, soul and disco, folk, ska rock, funk-rock, rockabilly, and Italian and American music. Place Châtelet is reserved for the big Saturday nights, including the summer's five tribute shows (Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, France Gall, Elton John, Johnny Hallyday). Place Billard is dedicated to young audiences — musicals, children's dances, magic, and music-hall. Finally, on Thursdays, the cathédrale Notre-Dame hosts duo recitals centered around the grand organ: violin and organ, flute and organ, and oboe and organ.
The final stretch
The closing week opens on Monday, August 17 with “On va sauver la planète” at place Billard, continues with Celtic Seven (August 18) and Viviane & The Woodpeckers (August 19) at place des Halles, then the pop-up choir C'Chartres en Chœur at the South portal of the cathedral on Thursday, August 20, and The Froggyz on Friday, August 21. On Saturday, August 22 at place Châtelet, Orchestre Oasis closes the summer with a grand variety show: thirteen artists on stage, choreography, lighting techniques, and immersive video, performing funk, pop, rock, Latin, and R&B standards following an opening act titled “Prime-Time Le Musical.”
Good to know
The “theater” evenings are cancelled for the 2026 season: the events on July 27 and August 10 at place Billard will not take place. The voice and organ concert scheduled for July 16 at the cathedral is also cancelled. Other performances at place Billard are subject to the availability of the square.
Highlights ChartrEstivales 2026
- 34th edition of the Chartres summer evenings, from July 3 to August 22, 2026 — over 35 completely free shows, at 9:00 PM, Monday through Saturday
- Closing night on Saturday, August 22, place Châtelet: Orchestre Oasis brings together thirteen artists on stage (singers, dancers, musicians), preceded by “Prime-Time Le Musical,” a musical journey through TV show theme songs from the 70s to today
- Thursday, August 20, South portal of the cathedral: return of the pop-up choir C'Chartres en Chœur — participation open to all, with prior online registration via the association's website
- Five tribute nights at place Châtelet: Bruce Springsteen by The Rising Band (July 11), Dire Straits by Telegraph Road (July 18), France Gall by Autour de France (July 25), Elton John by The Elton Tribute (August 8), Johnny Hallyday by Phoenix 66 (August 15)
- Thursdays at the cathédrale Notre-Dame: organ duo recitals — violin and organ (July 23 and August 6), flute and organ (July 30), oboe and organ (August 13)
- Three open-air venues in the heart of the city: place des Halles on weekdays, place Châtelet on Saturdays, place Billard for young audiences
- Free admission for all shows, no tickets or reservations required
Programme ChartrEstivales 2026
All performances are free and begin at 9:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.
July 2026
- Fri. July 3 — 9:00 PM — Bloody Mary · cover songs · place des Halles (opening night)
- Sat. July 4 — 9:00 PM — The Crook & The Dylan's · Celtic music · place Châtelet
- Mon. July 6 — 9:00 PM — Mieux vaut star que jamais · musical · place Billard
- Tue. July 7 — 9:00 PM — Petit Jérémy et les Grands · French chanson · place des Halles
- Wed. July 8 — 9:00 PM — Gaviny · Celtic music · place des Halles
- Thu. July 9 — no performance at the cathedral
- Fri. July 10 — 9:00 PM — Gipsy Band · Gipsy music · place des Halles
- Sat. July 11 — 9:00 PM — The Rising Band · Bruce Springsteen tribute · place Châtelet
- Mon. July 13 — no performance
- Tue. July 14 — no performance, free evening for the July 14th fireworks
- Wed. July 15 — 9:00 PM — Martha Fields · country · place des Halles
- Thu. July 16 — voice and organ (Louis Serre and Patrick Delabre), cathedral — concert cancelled
- Fri. July 17 — 9:00 PM — Le Grand Pop · cosmopolitan dance · place des Halles
- Sat. July 18 — 9:00 PM — Telegraph Road · Dire Straits tribute · place Châtelet
- Mon. July 20 — 9:00 PM — L'Empire des chaussettes trouées · children's dance · place Billard
- Tue. July 21 — 9:00 PM — Kalffa · Celtic rock · place des Halles
- Wed. July 22 — 9:00 PM — Unicorn · pop rock covers · place des Halles
- Thu. July 23 — 9:00 PM — Violin and organ, by Gilles Lefèvre and Patrick Delabre · cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Fri. July 24 — 9:00 PM — The Sassy Swingers · New Orleans jazz · place des Halles
- Sat. July 25 — 9:00 PM — Autour de France · France Gall tribute · place Châtelet
- Mon. July 27 — “Mes applis, mes amours, mes emmerdes”, theater, place Billard — evening cancelled
- Tue. July 28 — 9:00 PM — La Chimba · cumbia · place des Halles
- Wed. July 29 — 9:00 PM — Au tour du temps · French chanson · place des Halles
- Thu. July 30 — 9:00 PM — Flute and organ, by Lydie Barrancos and Françoise Dornier · cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Fri. July 31 — 9:00 PM — Nora & The Soul Show Band · soul and disco · place des Halles
August 2026
- Sat. August 1 — 9:00 PM — Flash 80's · 80s covers · place Châtelet
- Mon. August 3 — 9:00 PM — Yvan l'Aventurier · magic, for young audiences · place Billard
- Tue. August 4 — 9:00 PM — Canzonieri · Italian music · place des Halles
- Wed. August 5 — 9:00 PM — Atou'Trèfle · festive folk · place des Halles
- Thu. August 6 — 9:00 PM — Violin and organ, by Nicolas Gros and J.-C. Gandrille · cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Fri. August 7 — 9:00 PM — Un p'tit gars du coin · festive ska rock · place des Halles
- Sat. August 8 — 9:00 PM — The Elton Tribute · Elton John tribute · place Châtelet
- Mon. August 10 — “Ado un jour, à dos toujours”, theater, place Billard — evening cancelled
- Tue. August 11 — 9:00 PM — Joséphine · variety band · place des Halles
- Wed. August 12 — 9:00 PM — La Route des Airs · French chanson · place des Halles
- Thu. August 13 — 9:00 PM — Oboe and organ, by Laurent Hacquart and Françoise Dornier · cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Fri. August 14 — 9:00 PM — Rose Tickets · funk-rock · place des Halles
- Sat. August 15 — 9:00 PM — Phoenix 66 · Johnny Hallyday tribute · place Châtelet
- Mon. August 17 — 9:00 PM — On va sauver la planète · music-hall for children · place Billard
- Tue. August 18 — 9:00 PM — Celtic Seven · Belgian Celtic music · place des Halles
- Wed. August 19 — 9:00 PM — Viviane & The Woodpeckers · American music · place des Halles
- Thu. August 20 — 9:00 PM — C'Chartres en Chœur · pop-up choir · South portal of the cathédrale Notre-Dame
- Fri. August 21 — 9:00 PM — The Froggyz · rockabilly and swing · place des Halles
- Sat. August 22 — 9:00 PM — Orchestre Oasis · grand variety show · place Châtelet (closing night)
Please note: the “theater” evenings are cancelled for the 2026 season (announced by the association on July 25). Performances scheduled at place Billard remain subject to the availability of the square.
Prices ChartrEstivales 2026
Practical information — ChartrEstivales
Practical Information
Schedule
Performances take place Monday through Saturday at 9:00 PM, from early July to late August. There are no shows on Sundays or on specific dates announced by the association (notably around July 14th, which is kept free for the fireworks display).
Admission
All performances are completely free, held outdoors, and open to the public: there is no ticketing or reservation system.
Venues
- Place des Halles — most weekday concerts
- Place Châtelet — major Saturday evening events, including tribute shows
- Place Billard — children's performances (subject to venue availability)
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame — Thursday organ recitals; some events take place outside at the South Portal
All these venues are located in the historic city center of Chartres, just a few minutes' walk from one another.
Getting There
By car: Chartres is accessible via the A11 motorway from Paris. Several parking lots are available near the city center.
By train: Chartres station is served by trains from Paris-Montparnasse. The performance venues are within walking distance of the station.
Tips
- Bring a folding chair or a cushion: performances are held outdoors in public squares where seating is limited.
- Check the evening's schedule on the official website or the association's Facebook page: the program may change during the season (postponements and cancellations are announced online).
- Extend your evening by enjoying the Chartres en Lumières illuminations after the show.
Contact
Association ChartrEstivales — 5 Cloître Notre-Dame, 28000 Chartres
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.chartrestivales.com
ChartrEstivales: Summer in Music and Shows in Chartres
Since 1992, the ChartrEstivales have set the rhythm for Chartres' summer with a rich and varied program, entirely free. Every evening of the week (Monday to Saturday) at 9 PM, the squares and emblematic locations of Chartres' city center host concerts, plays, shows for young audiences, choirs, and recitals at Notre-Dame Cathedral.
An Eclectic and Popular Program
The ChartrEstivales program reflects great artistic diversity: rock, pop, French chanson, jazz, classical music, swing, world music, but also theater, comedy, and shows for children. Every summer, over 40 shows are offered, allowing everyone to find something they enjoy throughout the summer evenings.
The shows take place outdoors, on the historic squares of Chartres' city center, offering an exceptional setting between architectural heritage and a friendly atmosphere. The concerts at Notre-Dame Cathedral are special moments, blending sacred music and classical repertoire in a venue with remarkable acoustics.
An Association Serving Culture
The ChartrEstivales association, created in 2007, took over the organization of the summer evenings initiated by the City of Chartres in 1992. Driven by a team of passionate volunteers, it works to liven up Chartres' summer cultural life and offer everyone free access to quality shows. The association collaborates with the City of Chartres and city center merchants to make each evening a moment of sharing and conviviality.
An Unmissable Summer Event
The ChartrEstivales attract thousands of spectators every summer, including residents of Chartres and its surrounding area, passing tourists, and festival-goers coming to enjoy the Chartres en Lumières illuminations. The evenings offer an ideal opportunity to discover the lively city center, stroll through the pedestrian streets, and enjoy the Chartres summer atmosphere.
Where does it take place — ChartrEstivales
ChartrEstivales in brief
Other festivals near Chartres
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