D-Day Festival Normandy
Celebrate the regained freedom on the D-Day landing beaches
About D-Day Festival
Celebrating Regained Freedom
Since 2007, the D-Day Festival Normandy has offered a program of festive events every June to mark the anniversary of the Allied landings of June 6, 1944. The festival spans nearly two to three weeks, from late May to mid-June, along the entire D-Day coastline, from Pegasus Bridge to Sainte-Mère-Église, including the five historic beaches: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach, and Sword Beach.
A Rich and Varied Program
The D-Day Festival offers nearly 100 events that are popular, cultural, and festive: official commemoration ceremonies, historical reenactments, parades of vintage military and civilian vehicles, parachute jumps, concerts, swing dances, fireworks, exhibitions, open-air film screenings, guided tours in the footsteps of the Allies, and book fairs. Most events are free and open to all.
The 80th Anniversary in 2024
The 2024 edition marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, with an exceptional program from June 1st to 16th. The official international ceremony was held on June 6, 2024, on Omaha Beach, in the presence of heads of state, veterans, and official personalities. This historic edition attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world.
A Festival Coordinated by Tourist Offices
The D-Day Festival Normandy is coordinated by the tourist offices of the D-Day and Battle of Normandy coastline, with the support of Caen la mer Tourisme, the Normandy Region, and local authorities. Each tourist office contributes to the programming with events tailored to its area.
D-Day Festival — edition 2026
The D-Day Festival Normandy 2026 celebrates the 82nd anniversary of the Allied Landings, from May 30 to June 14, 2026, for its 20th edition. Nearly 100 events — ceremonies, reenactments, parachute drops, parades of vintage vehicles, concerts, swing dances, fireworks, and exhibitions — will take place along the entire D-Day landing coast, from Pegasus Bridge to Sainte-Mère-Église.
D-Day Festival 2026 — 20th Edition, 82nd Anniversary of the Landings
For its 20th anniversary, the D-Day Festival Normandy takes place from May 30 to June 14, 2026 and commemorates the 82nd anniversary of the Allied Landings of June 6, 1944. More than 100 events — ceremonies, historical reenactments, parachute drops, parades of vintage military vehicles, concerts, 1940s dances, fireworks, and exhibitions — will take place along the entire D-Day landing coast, from Pegasus Bridge (Ouistreham) to Sainte-Mère-Église, passing through Caen, Bayeux, Arromanches, Pointe du Hoc, and the five historic beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach.
The International Ceremony on June 6
The 82nd anniversary of the Landings will be marked by the official international ceremony, scheduled for June 6, 2026 in Langrune-sur-Mer (Sword Beach sector), in the presence of French and Allied authorities, veterans, and their families.
A Program Across the Entire Coastline
The festival brings together contributions from the tourist offices of the D-Day landing coast and the Battle of Normandy, coordinated by Caen la mer Tourisme and Normandie Tourisme. Each area offers its highlights: reenactment camps, parades, commemorative marches, book fairs, Freedom Marathons, parachute jumps, and popular dances.
Programme D-Day Festival 2026
More than 100 events spread across the entire coastline between May 30 and June 14, 2026. Selection of announced highlights (full program available on the tourist office websites):
Saturday, May 30, 2026
- 10:30 AM — International March for Peace · departure Quinéville / route through the historic D-Day landing sites
- Book fair Les Pages du Débarquement · Arromanches-les-Bains
Sunday, May 31, 2026
- Cyclo'Scenic Day · cycling circuit on the beaches
- History and Memories Book Fair · Sainte-Mère-Église
May 31 to June 9
- Bloody Gulch · immersive show with reenactors and vintage vehicles · Méautis · performances at 5:00 PM and 10:45 PM
June 1 to 8
- Camp Texas · 400 tons of Allied military equipment on display · Batterie de Crasville (Val de Saire)
June 1 to 4
- The Castle by HQ Project · command post reenactment · Carentan-les-Marais · 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
- Ceremony of the Three Cemeteries
- Ceremony at the 9th Air Force Monument
- 5:00 PM–8:00 PM — Parachute drop · Gonneville-en-Auge
June 2 to 7
- Camp Crisbecq D-Day · reenactment camp
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Camp Geronimo and Camp Hillman Ceremonies · tribute to Eisenhower · parachute demonstrations
Thursday, June 4, 2026
- Overlord Historical Days · Colleville-sur-Mer
- Tribute to General Gavin · medical post reenactment at Château de la Colombière
- Opening of Camp Hillman · vehicle parades
- 7:00 PM — USS Nevada Conference · Carentan
June 4 to 7
- 26th edition of Camp Hillman · exhibition and reenactment · Colleville-Montgomery
Friday, June 5, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Grand parade of 150 vintage military and civilian vehicles · from Sword Beach to Gold Beach via Juno Beach
- 7:00 PM — Franco-American football match · Saint-Hilaire-Petitville
June 5 to 9
- Camp Geronimo · 101st Airborne camp · near Sainte-Mère-Église
Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Anniversary Day
- Official international ceremony · Langrune-sur-Mer (Sword Beach)
- C-47 parachute drops · Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
- Parachute drops and jeep gathering · Carentan
- La Berniéraise · large gathering of sailboats and rowing boats in front of the Maison des Canadiens · Bernières-sur-Mer
- 7:30 PM — Picnic and fireworks · Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer
- Concert and Liberation Ball · Sainte-Mère-Église
- 10:30 PM — Lantern release · Pont de la Barquette
Sunday, June 7, 2026
- Large parachute drop · La Fière marshes (Sainte-Mère-Église) — commemoration highlight
- 8:40 AM — Freedom Marathon · departure Caen
- 10:30 AM — D-Day Parade · Ouistreham
June 7 and 8
- Military equipment fairs · Carentan and Picauville
June 8 to 14
- The festival continues into the second week with reduced attendance: reenactments still in place, exhibitions, guided tours, screenings
Sunday, June 14, 2026
- 11:00 AM — D-Day Cross Triathlon · Arromanches
Full program, day by day and site by site, in the official program downloadable from normandie-tourisme.fr and caenlamer-tourisme.com.
Highlights D-Day Festival 2026
- 20th edition of the D-Day Festival Normandy
- 82nd anniversary of the Allied Landings (June 6, 1944)
- Official international ceremony on June 6 in Langrune-sur-Mer (Sword Beach)
- Over 100 events over 16 days, from May 30 to June 14
- Grand parade of 150 military and civilian vehicles on June 5 (Sword → Gold via Juno)
- Large parachute drop on June 7 at La Fière (Sainte-Mère-Église)
- Most events are free
Prices D-Day Festival 2026
Practical information — D-Day Festival
Practical Information
Location
Normandy D-Day coastline: from Pegasus Bridge (Ouistreham) to Sainte-Mère-Église, including Caen, Arromanches, Bayeux, Pointe du Hoc, and the historic beaches.
Access
- By car: A13 from Paris towards Caen (2h30), then coastal roads to the D-Day landing beaches.
- By train: Caen or Bayeux SNCF station, then bus or car to the commemoration sites.
Prices
- Most events are free
- Some guided tours or exhibitions may be paid
Ticketing
Full program on caenlamer-tourisme.fr and normandie-tourisme.fr.
Contact
- Website: caenlamer-tourisme.fr
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Where does it take place — D-Day Festival
Plages du Débarquement et sites historiques
Plages du Débarquement, 14000 Caen