Féria de Saint-Sever
The Saint-Jean Festival, first fair of the Landes summer
2026
About Fêtes de Saint-Sever
Fêtes de Saint-Sever — edition 2026
The Saint-Jean de Saint-Sever 2026 Festival will take place from Friday, June 26 to Tuesday, June 30, 2026, opening the season of Landes ferias. Five days of festivities in red and white, with the grand bullfight on Sunday (Sébastien Castella, Juan Ortega and Tristan Barroso facing El Pilar bulls), the Saint-Jean Trail, the encierros, the Landes competition, the parade of flower-decorated floats, the bandas and the pyro-symphonic show on Monday.
Saint-Jean Festival 2026 — June 26 to 30
The Saint-Sever Festival Association is organizing from Friday, June 26 to Tuesday, June 30, 2026 the new edition of the Saint-Jean Festival, which, as every year, opens the season of Landes ferias in the heart of Chalosse.
A prestigious bullfight on Sunday, June 28
The highlight of the 2026 edition will be the grand bullfight on Sunday, June 28 at 6:00 PM at the Arènes Henri Capdeville. The lineup unveiled by the association brings together three matadors facing six bulls from the El Pilar ranch:
- Sébastien Castella — French figure, 5th in the bullfighting ranking, patron of the ceremony
- Juan Ortega — classic Sevillian bullfighter, presented as one of the possible successors to Morante de la Puebla
- Tristan Barroso — young French bullfighter who will take the alternative in Arles in April 2025, first appearance in Saint-Sever
A five-day festive program
Beyond the bullfight, the festivities feature a series of traditional and popular events: Saint-Jean Trail (11th edition), parade of flower-decorated floats, concert by the Harmonie du Cap de Gascogne, street entertainment and bandas, market, Landes farm poultry ballotine competition (11th edition) in Morlanne, pétanque and quilles de 6 competitions, encierros, free children's day, dads' ball, scooter race, chefs' race, pyro-symphonic show, 'journée coursayre' with meal and Grand Concours Landais with 5 herds.
A feria with a Gascon character
Festayres in red and white attire, bodegas in the streets, Chalosse gastronomy, bullfighting fervor and Gascon conviviality: the Saint-Sever Festivals in 2026 retain their identity as an authentic feria, halfway between the great Spanish tradition and the popular soul of the Landes.
Highlights Fêtes de Saint-Sever 2026
- First Landes feria of the summer, opening of the feria season
- Grand bullfight on Sunday, June 28 with Castella, Ortega and Barroso facing El Pilar bulls
- Five days of festivities in red and white in the heart of Chalosse
- 11th edition of the Saint-Jean Trail and 11th poultry ballotine competition
- Pyro-symphonic show on Monday evening
- Grand Concours Landais with 5 herds to close the feria
Programme Fêtes de Saint-Sever 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026 — Feria Opening
- Morning — 11th edition of the Saint-Jean Trail (foot race)
- Day — Concert by the Harmonie du Cap de Gascogne
- Evening — Parade of flower-decorated floats in the city center streets
- Evening — Official opening of festivities and key handover to the class of 2028
Saturday, June 27, 2026 — Gascon Day and Children's Day
- All day — Street entertainment with bandas, market in the city center
- In Morlanne — 11th Landes farm poultry ballotine competition
- Day — Pétanque and quilles de 6 competitions
- Day — Free children's day with numerous games and activities
- Late afternoon — Encierro (cow release) in the streets
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — Grand Bullfight
- 6:00 PM — Arènes Henri Capdeville — Grand Bullfight (paid): Sébastien Castella, Juan Ortega, Tristan Barroso facing 6 bulls from the El Pilar ranch
Monday, June 29, 2026 — Pyro-symphonic Show
- Day — Dads' Ball
- Day — Scooter Race
- Day — Chefs' Race
- Evening — Pyro-symphonic show (fireworks synchronized to music)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 — Coursayre Day and Closing
- Noon — Coursayre Day with meal
- Afternoon/Evening — Grand Concours Landais with 5 herds (closing of bullfighting festivities)
Prices Fêtes de Saint-Sever 2026
Bullfight on Sunday, June 28: prices starting from €15 (different categories depending on seating at Arènes Henri Capdeville).
50% reduction for under 18s in certain sectors.
Promotional pre-sale offer (until January 20, 2026): for one bullfight ticket purchased online, two free entries for the morning 'fiesta campera'.
Access to street entertainment, concerts, bandas, parade, children's day: free.
Fêtes de Saint-Sever — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 26 June to 30 June 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Fêtes de Saint-Sever
Access to Saint-Sever
By Car
Saint-Sever is located 18 km south of Mont-de-Marsan, accessible via the D933 and D924. Free parking is available on the outskirts of the town center, particularly on the allées de Morlanne and at the parking de la Poste. During the festival, some town center streets are closed to traffic, and a special parking plan is implemented.
By Public Transport
The XL'R network serves Saint-Sever from Mont-de-Marsan and neighboring towns. Additional shuttle services may be provided during the festival. Information available from the XL'R network at 09 70 87 04 00.
Festival Locations
The festivities take place in the historic town center of Saint-Sever, with bullfighting spectacles at the Arènes Henri Capdeville (Place de Morlanne). The 'bodegas' and 'estanquets' (food and drink stalls) are set up in the streets and squares of the center, notably around Place du Tour du Sol and Place de Verdun. The UNESCO-listed Romanesque abbey provides an exceptional heritage setting for the traditional festival mass.
Schedule
Activities begin in the late morning and continue late into the night. The bullfight takes place on Sunday evening at the arena. The Landes race competition is held on Tuesday evening at 9:30 PM. Morning 'encierros' liven up the streets early in the day. Main concerts are held in the evening in the central square.
Prices
Access to street entertainment, concerts, bands, and the parade is free. Bullfighting spectacles at the Arènes Henri Capdeville are paid. Tickets are available at tourist offices, online at billetweb.fr, and at the arena ticket offices on the day of the shows.
Dress Code
The traditional attire is red and white, as for most Landes fairs. Wearing a red scarf tied around the neck is strongly encouraged.
Food and Drink
The 'bodegas' and 'estanquets' run by local associations offer a variety of food based on products from Chalosse: foie gras, duck breast, confit, sheep cheese, and Tursan wines. Popular meals are organized during the festival, offering an opportunity to taste local gastronomic specialties in a friendly atmosphere.
Safety and Recommendations
- A first aid station is set up within the festival area
- Water fountains are available for cooling off
- Remember to protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated regularly
- Pets are not allowed in the performance areas
Contact
Association des Fêtes de Saint-Sever
Place de Morlanne, 40500 Saint-Sever
Official website: www.saint-sever.fr
The Fêtes de Saint-Sever: First Fair of the Summer
The Fêtes de Saint-Sever, traditionally called the Fêtes de la Saint-Jean, have the honor of opening the Landes fair season each year, around the summer solstice, at the end of June. This position in the festive calendar gives Saint-Sever a special role: it is here that the summer of celebration truly begins in the Landes.
The Town of Cap de Gascogne Celebrates
Saint-Sever, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Romanesque abbey on the Way of St. James, is also a land of bullfighting and festive traditions. Located in the heart of Chalosse, the town has lived to the rhythm of its festivals for generations, blending popular fervor, bullfighting culture, and Gascon conviviality.
Bullfighting Spectacles at the Arènes Henri Capdeville
The Arènes Henri Capdeville, built in 1932 on the Morlanne hill by architect Pomade, are the beating heart of the festivities. Oval in shape, suitable for both Landes races and bullfights, they host a quality bullfighting program each year: a prestigious bullfight on Sunday evening with renowned matadors, a Landes race competition with the best 'écarteurs' and 'sauteurs', and formal Landes races. The 'encierros' (cow runs) in the town streets add a touch of adrenaline to the festivities.
Five Days of Celebration in Red and White
The Fêtes de Saint-Sever program unfolds over five days:
- Free open-air concerts in the evening
- Parade of decorated floats through the town streets
- Bands and Gascon groups animating the streets
- Gastronomic competitions and popular meals
- Children's entertainment with scooter races and games
- Traditional mass at the abbey
- Ballroom dancing and evening parties
- Fireworks to close the event
A Living Heritage
The Fêtes de Saint-Sever embody the vitality of Gascon and Landes culture. They bring together thousands of people, dressed in red and white, who parade through the streets for the joy of the fiesta. Alongside the more media-hyped fairs of Mont-de-Marsan and Dax, the Saint-Sever festival remains an authentic and warm gathering, rooted in the history and heart of Chalosse.
Where does it take place — Fêtes de Saint-Sever
Fêtes de Saint-Sever in brief
History of Fêtes de Saint-Sever
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Other festivals near Saint-Sever
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)