D-Day Festival Normandy
Celebrations of the anniversary of the Landings on the Normandy beaches
About D-Day Festival
The D-Day Festival Normandy is a festive and commemorative program organized every year in early June for the anniversary of the Allied landings of June 6, 1944. Created in 2007 by the Bayeux Tourist Office, it extends from the D-Day landing beaches of Sainte-Mère-Église to the Côte de Nacre. For two weeks, historical reenactments, parachute drops, parades, concerts, and fireworks bring together visitors from all over the world to commemorate the Liberation and celebrate peace.
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D-Day Festival Normandy: 20 years of celebrating Freedom
Since 2007, the D-Day Festival Normandy has become the unmissable event for the commemorations of the Landings in Normandy. Every year, around June 6, the historic D-Day beaches are transformed into a vast space for remembrance, celebration, and sharing, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world.
A festival born from the desire to celebrate peace
The idea for the D-Day Festival was born in 2007 on the initiative of the Bayeux Tourist Office, with the ambition of combining solemnity and celebration around the anniversary of the June 6, 1944 landings. The concept quickly united the tourist offices of the D-Day landing beaches, from Sainte-Mère-Église in the Cotentin to the Côte de Nacre in Calvados, creating an event of regional and international scope.
Spectacular events
The festival offers between 100 and 150 events spread over two weeks. Among the most emblematic highlights:
- Parachute drops in Sainte-Mère-Église: dozens of reenactors jump in period costume from C-47 aircraft, replicating the drops of the 82nd Airborne Division.
- Parades and convoys of vintage military vehicles through Norman villages.
- Reenactments of military camps with bivouacs, equipment, and activities.
- Concerts and dances with 1940s sounds.
- Fireworks launched from the D-Day landing beaches.
- Official ceremonies in the presence of veterans and international dignitaries.
International reach
The D-Day Festival Normandy generates nearly 9 million euros in direct economic benefits for the Norman coast and attracts visitors of all nationalities. In 20 editions, the festival has offered more than 2,000 cumulative events and welcomed millions of people who came to celebrate the memory of the liberators and peace.
Sainte-Mère-Église, the beating heart of the festival
Sainte-Mère-Église, the first French commune liberated by American paratroopers on the night of June 5-6, 1944, holds a central place in the festival. Its famous bell tower, immortalized by paratrooper John Steele, and its Airborne Museum make it a place of pilgrimage for history enthusiasts from around the world.
D-Day Festival — edition 2026
The 20th edition of the D-Day Festival Normandy will be held from May 30 to June 14, 2026, celebrating the 82nd anniversary of the Landings and the festival's 20th anniversary. From June 1 to 9, Normandy celebrates two decades of festive commemorations with over 100 events on the D-Day landing beaches.
20th edition - 82nd anniversary of the Landings
In 2026, the D-Day Festival Normandy celebrates a double anniversary: the 82nd anniversary of the Landings and the festival's 20th anniversary. From May 30 to June 14, over 100 popular, cultural, and festive events will unfold from the Cotentin to the Côte de Nacre. In 20 editions, the festival has offered more than 2,000 cumulative events and welcomed millions of visitors from around the world.
Highlights D-Day Festival 2026
2026 Highlights
- 20th edition of the D-Day Festival Normandy
- From May 30 to June 14, 2026
- Over 100 events on the D-Day landing beaches
- Parachute drops in Sainte-Mère-Église
- Reenactments, parades, concerts, and fireworks
Prices D-Day Festival 2026
Practical information — D-Day Festival
Practical Information
Access
By car: Sainte-Mère-Église is accessible via the N13 (Sainte-Mère-Église exit). Events take place on all the D-Day landing beaches, from Sainte-Mère-Église to Ouistreham.
By train: Carentan, Bayeux, and Caen stations. Shuttles and bus lines connect the main sites during the festival.
Prices
The majority of events are free and open to all. Some activities or visits may be subject to a fee.
Accommodation
It is strongly recommended to book well in advance, as the June 6 period is the most in-demand in Normandy. Hotels, campsites, gîtes, and bed and breakfasts are available throughout the region.
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — D-Day Festival
Plages du Débarquement - Sainte-Mère-Église et communes du littoral
Place de l'Église, 50480 Sainte-Mère-Église