EHZ - Euskal Herria Zuzenean
The great Basque music and culture festival
About EHZ
EHZ: thirty years of Basque celebration and culture
Created in 1996 in Arrossa (Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa), the Euskal Herria Zuzenean festival was born from the desire to bring Basque youth together around a festive and committed event, mixing music, debates, and conviviality. Since its creation, EHZ has established itself as the largest festival of music and culture in the Basque language, attracting more than 20,000 participants each year from both sides of the border.
A traveling festival
True to its spirit of openness, EHZ has traveled through several towns in the Basque Country over the years: Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa (1996-2003), Idaux-Mendy in Soule (2004-2008), Hélette (2009-2012), Mendionde (2013-2016), then Irissarry (2019-2023) after a break in 2017-2018. Since 2024, the festival has set up in Arbérats-Sillègue (Arberatze), in Amikuze, where it will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Three days of self-managed popular celebration
The festival takes place over three days, the weekend closest to July 1st. The musical program, rich and eclectic, features Basque rock, punk, electro, and world music, while also welcoming artists from various backgrounds. In 2025, the lineup included Maskak, Radio Byzance, W!zard, and Queer Falafel.
During the day, the village square opens to the public with numerous free activities: circus, acoustic concerts, children's area, theater, dance, craft market, and food stalls. Conferences, workshops, and round tables are organized around various themes related to the future of the Basque Country, the Basque language, ecology, and social issues.
A space for cultural resistance
EHZ is much more than just a music festival. It is a space for cultural resistance where activists, artists, families, and festival-goers meet in a spirit of self-management. The festival is entirely organized by volunteers, without public funding, driven by the commitment of hundreds of volunteers. It represents a significant moment in the cultural and social life of the Basque Country, where people come to listen to concerts but also to discuss the collective future.
Zikiro, EHZ's culinary tradition
The zikiro, a traditional peasant meal of lamb grilled outdoors, is an emblematic moment of the festival. This collective meal, organized on Sundays, brings together hundreds of guests in a warm and fraternal atmosphere, embodying the values of sharing and conviviality that are at the heart of EHZ.
EHZ — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of EHZ celebrates the festival's 30th anniversary under the slogan « 30 urte zuzenean » and the theme « Geroaren lehen notak » (The first notes of the future). From June 26 to 28, 2026 in Arbérats-Sillègue (Arberatze), three days of concerts, debates, workshops, and conviviality to celebrate three decades of self-managed Basque culture, with a poster unveiled on December 10, 2025 in Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa, where it all began in 1996.
EHZ 2026 — 30 urte zuzenean, the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary
The Euskal Herria Zuzenean festival celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 with a special edition under the theme « Geroaren lehen notak » (The first notes of the future) and the slogan « 30 urte zuzenean » (30 years live). From Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, 2026, the festival once again sets up in Arbérats-Sillègue (Arberatze), in Amikuze, for three days of popular celebration, music, and Basque cultural commitment.
A poster unveiled where it all began
To mark the occasion, the organizers unveiled the anniversary edition's poster on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 in Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa (Arrosa), in the field that hosted the very first edition of EHZ in 1996. A symbolic staging to complete the circle, while ticketing opened on December 15, 2025 with a 3-day pass on presale for 35 €.
2026 Program
The musical lineup unveiled to date mixes, true to the EHZ spirit, Basque rock, electro, punk, reggae, world music, and local creations. Among the artists announced for the anniversary edition:
- Imarhan — Tuareg rock from the Algerian Sahara
- Moonlight Benjamin — Haitian voodoo blues
- Snapped Ankles — London electronic post-punk
- Olaya Sound System — dub / reggae
- Bonnie Spacey
- Matah
- Jean Paul Groove
- Niko Etxart — pioneer of Basque rock
- Bele
- Ztah
- Bilaka — contemporary Basque dance
- Silitia
- Dam
- Heroiaren Mina
- RTZ Kolektiboa — Basque rap collective
- Merina Gris
- Jonkass
Details of the daily, stage, and time breakdown will be completed on the official website ehz.eus/programme closer to the festival.
Beyond the concerts
As every year, the festival offers, in parallel with the musical program: participatory workshops, morning conferences on five major contemporary themes (Basque language, ecology, feminism, internationalism, anti-capitalism), round tables, a children's area (theater, circus, dance, manual workshops), theater, circus, and contemporary dance performances. The traditional zikiro, a peasant meal based on grilled lamb in the open air, is organized on Sunday.
An anniversary in several stages
To celebrate its three decades, the EHZ association accompanies the festival with a book, a series of podcasts, and a documentary tracing the history of the festival, its highlights, and its « B-side », through numerous testimonies from protagonists and photographs.
Highlights EHZ 2026
- 30th anniversary of the EHZ festival, created in 1996 in Saint-Martin-d'Arrossa
- Slogan « 30 urte zuzenean » and theme « Geroaren lehen notak » (The first notes of the future)
- From June 26 to 28, 2026 in Arbérats-Sillègue (Arberatze)
- International headliners: Imarhan, Moonlight Benjamin, Snapped Ankles, Olaya Sound System
- Presence of Basque rock pioneer Niko Etxart
- 3-day pass for 35 € on presale via HelloAsso
- Self-managed festival, without public subsidies, run by volunteers
- Book, podcasts, and documentary dedicated to the festival's 30th anniversary
Prices EHZ 2026
Practical information — EHZ
Access
The EHZ 2026 festival takes place in Arbérats-Sillègue (Arberatze), in Amikuze (Basse-Navarre), approximately 50 km from Bayonne and 15 km from Saint-Palais.
- By car: from Bayonne, follow the D936 towards Saint-Palais then Arbérats-Sillègue (approximately 45 minutes).
- By bus / shuttles: shuttles are generally organized from the main towns of the Basque Country; consult the practical info section on ehz.eus.
- By train: nearest stations in Saint-Palais or Bayonne.
Ticketing
Tickets available on ehz.eus/billetterie and via the HelloAsso platform. The 3-day pass is offered in pre-sale at 35 € (initial sale on December 15, 2025). Day tickets can also be purchased.
Catering
Food stalls on site, prioritizing Basque and organic producers. Reusable cup system and internal alternative festival currency (ttantto) to limit plastic waste. The zikiro, a traditional peasant meal of lamb grilled outdoors, is organized on Sunday by registration.
Commitment and Values
Festival entirely organized by volunteers, without public subsidies. Promotion of the Basque language (euskara), feminism, anti-capitalism, ecology, sexual freedom, social justice, and internationalism. The Brigade Mauve intervenes at the festival to prevent and respond to sexist and sexual violence.
Contact
Website: ehz.eus
Programming: [email protected]
Facebook: EHZ Festibala
Instagram / TikTok: @ehzfestibala
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Where does it take place — EHZ
Plein air - Arberatze (Arbérats-Sillègue)