EHZ - Euskal Herria Zuzenean

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.