Escale à Port-Vendres
The maritime festival of Port-Vendres celebrating naval heritage and sea culture
About Escale à Port-Vendres
Escale à Port-Vendres is a maritime festival organized in the natural harbor of Port-Vendres, in the heart of the Côte Vermeille. Created in 2024, this biennial event brings together heritage ships, traditional sailboats, and exceptional tall ships in a program combining concerts, street performances, exhibitions, a sea market, maritime film screenings, workshops, and sea trips. Supported by the association Souris à la Vie and over 150 passionate volunteers, the festival celebrates the maritime history of Port-Vendres and highlights Mediterranean and Catalan naval heritage.
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An exceptional maritime festival on the Côte Vermeille
Escale à Port-Vendres was born in 2024 from the desire to celebrate the rich maritime heritage of Port-Vendres, the only deep-water natural harbor on the Roussillon coast. This biennial festival transforms the port's quays into a festive and cultural space where tall ships, heritage boats, and traditional Latin sails meet.
Exceptional ships
The festival hosts a remarkable fleet of heritage ships from all over the Mediterranean and beyond. The 2026 edition will feature the Belem, one of the most prestigious French three-masted ships still sailing, as well as other iconic vessels such as the Phoenix, the Vera Cruz, and the Santa Eulalia. About forty local Latin sails will complete this exceptional fleet.
A rich and varied program
For four days, the festival offers a abundant program:
- Concerts and street performances on the renovated quays
- Exhibitions dedicated to maritime history and naval heritage
- Sea market with local producers and artisans
- Maritime film screenings
- Educational workshops on maritime trades and know-how
- Sea trips aboard heritage ships
- Round tables and conferences on naval heritage
A strong associative commitment
The festival is driven by the association Souris à la Vie and relies on over 150 passionate volunteers. The first edition in 2024 attracted over 20,000 visitors, confirming the public's enthusiasm for this event that highlights Port-Vendres' centuries-old maritime vocation.
Escale à Port-Vendres — edition 2026
2nd edition of Escale à Port-Vendres, a maritime festival featuring the Belem. Four days of festivities on the port quays with heritage ships, concerts, street performances, exhibitions, a sea market, and sea trips.
2nd edition - The Belem featured
The second edition of Escale à Port-Vendres will take place from April 17 to 20, 2026 with an even more ambitious program than the first edition. The star vessel of this edition will be the Belem, one of the most prestigious French three-masted ships still sailing.
The festival area will be almost doubled compared to 2024, with renovated quays hosting concerts, street performances, exhibitions, a sea market, educational workshops, maritime film screenings, and demonstrations of maritime know-how. Sea trips aboard heritage ships will also be offered.
Among the confirmed ships are also the Phoenix, the Vera Cruz, and the Santa Eulalia, as well as about forty local Latin sails. On Monday, April 20, a departure parade of the ships will conclude the festival.
Highlights Escale à Port-Vendres 2026
- The Belem, an exceptional three-master, featured
- Festival area doubled compared to 2024
- Over 150 volunteers mobilized
- Concerts, street performances, and exhibitions
- Sea market and maritime workshops
- Sea trips on heritage ships
- Departure parade of ships on Monday
Prices Escale à Port-Vendres 2026
Practical information — Escale à Port-Vendres
Practical information
Access
By car: Port-Vendres is accessible via the D914 from Perpignan (approx. 35 minutes) or from Collioure (5 minutes). Parking available in town with shuttles to the port.
By train: Port-Vendres SNCF station, served by TER Occitanie from Perpignan.
Festival location
The festival takes place on the quays of the port of Port-Vendres, with event areas spread along the waterfront.
Ticketing
Online ticketing available on the Tourisme Pyrénées Méditerranée website. Some events are free to access.
Contact
Website: escale-port-vendres.com
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Escale à Port-Vendres
Port de Port-Vendres
Port de Port-Vendres, 66660 Port-Vendres