Festiv'Azul
Traveling festival of world music and voices in Lot-et-Garonne
About Festiv'Azul
A musical journey between Gascony and world cultures
Born in 2015 at the initiative of the lyrical company Opér'Azul, founded by Colombian mezzo-soprano Catalina Skinner and French baritone Pierre-Yves Binard, Festiv'Azul is a traveling festival that weaves musical confluences between Gascony, Occitania and world cultures. Supported by the association Grupo Azul, created in 1997, the festival has established itself as an unmissable summer event in Lot-et-Garonne.
Three weeks of musical touring
Each summer, Festiv'Azul unfolds its program over three weeks, from mid-July to early August. The festival offers more than a dozen concerts and shows in remarkable locations in the Grand Villeneuvois: churches, chapels, bastide squares, and natural sites. Voices from around the world resonate in the Saint-Étienne church of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, the Notre-Dame church of Bias, the Place des Arcades of Monflanquin, and the lake of Cancon.
An eclectic and sunny program
Festiv'Azul's program explores a palette of great musical richness, at the crossroads of traditions and contemporary creations:
- Lyrical music and opera: opera arias, singing recitals, lyrical creations by the Opér'Azul company
- Baroque and medieval music: concerts of early music with renowned ensembles like Les Sacqueboutiers
- Voices of Africa: griots from Mali, Mandingo music, and West African rhythms
- Latin music: sounds from Latin America and the Indian Ocean
- Mediterranean music: klezmer, Occitan songs, and Eastern European repertoires
- Contemporary music: reggae, world fusion, and mixed creations
Festive evenings at the lake of Cancon
The highlight of the festival takes place at the lake of Cancon, a natural and friendly site nestled between lake and forest. Voices from around the world converge at this location for two major festive evenings with an eclectic and sunny program. Concerts, shows, DJs, catering from local and organic producers, games and activities for children, artisan and creator stalls, bar, and camping on site make up these moments of shared celebration in the heart of nature.
Music practice workshops
Festiv'Azul is not limited to concerts: the festival offers music practice workshops open to all, children and adults alike. Singing, percussion, instrument making... These participatory sessions allow the public to discover world music and experience the festival from the inside, in a spirit of sharing and conviviality.
Heritage in music
In partnership with the Pays d'Art et d'Histoire, Festiv'Azul offers "Heritage in Music" tours, free walks to discover the architectural and historical heritage of the Villeneuvois region, punctuated by musical interludes. These walks combine culture, history, and music in an original and accessible approach for all audiences.
A festival rooted in its territory
Festiv'Azul is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Lot-et-Garonne. By investing in remarkable heritage sites and promoting local producers and artisans, the festival contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of the Grand Villeneuvois. Local and organic gastronomy plays an important role during the evenings at the lake of Cancon, with stalls from regional producers.
Festiv'Azul — edition 2026
The 12th edition of Festiv'Azul takes place from July 23rd to August 1st, 2026, in the Grand Villeneuvois, Lot-et-Garonne. An itinerant festival of world music and voices, it invites listeners to lend an ear to the sounds of the world — voices, flutes, and instruments that span centuries and continents. More than a dozen concerts bring together some fifty artists of ten nationalities in the most beautiful bastide sites of the Grand Villeneuvois, before two grand festive closing evenings.
For its 12th edition, from July 23rd to August 1st, 2026, Festiv'Azul unfolds its program of world voices and music in remarkable heritage sites of Lot-et-Garonne: the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs and Musée de Gajac in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Église Saint-Nicolas and the medieval city of Pujols, Château de Ferrassou in Saint-Sylvestre-sur-Lot, Maison Carlane and the medieval city of Penne d'Agenais, Place des Arcades in Monflanquin.
This edition features a dialogue between Mediterranean chants, French and Brazilian melodies, Latin American and pre-Columbian music, medieval music, lyrical creations, and world dances. It is presented by the Opér'Azul company (Catalina Skinner, Pierre-Yves Binard) and welcomes guests such as flutist Pierre Hamon, the duo Grégory Daltin – Michel Godard, and the Brazilian duo Caviúna. Free events punctuate the festival, including the "Heritage in Music" walk in the medieval city of Pujols.
Programme Festiv'Azul 2026
Pre-festival
- Fri. July 10 · 7 PM — Impressions Sonores · Byeongju Yu (piano) · Musée de Gajac, Villeneuve-sur-Lot
- Thu. July 16 · 7 PM — Stella d'Oriente · medieval and Mediterranean music · Prieuré Notre-Dame, Moirax
Thursday, July 23 — Opening Night
- 9 PM — Samanûr · Mediterranean chants (Milena Jeliazkova, Georges Camil Abdallah, Iyad Haimour, Amin Al Aiedy, Michel Wolkowitski) · Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Friday, July 24
- 6 PM — "Heritage in Music" Walk · Cité médiévale, Pujols · free
- 8 PM — Lisa Chaib-Auriol (soprano) · French and Brazilian melodies, with Anna Killy Morin (flute) and Hyunji Kim (piano) · Église Saint-Nicolas, Pujols
Saturday, July 25
- 11 AM — Filles d'Elle · choreographic creation (Cie Sohan, directed by Laurie Billotet) · Musée de Gajac, Villeneuve-sur-Lot
- 9 PM — Les Bouillants · world dance (Paul-Antoine Roubet, Fabio Binard, Ugo Guari, DJ Soka) · Cité médiévale, Penne d'Agenais · food available from 7 PM
Sunday, July 26
- 8:30 PM — Duo Caviúna · popular Brazilian music (André Da Silva and Lucas Madi, 7-string guitars) · Balades Féériques, Saint-Eutrope-de-Born
Tuesday, July 28
- 7 PM — La Lumière du Temps · duo Grégory Daltin (accordion/bandoneon) – Michel Godard (tuba/serpent) & Cie Opér'Azul (Catalina Skinner, Pierre-Yves Binard) · Château de Ferrassou, Saint-Sylvestre-sur-Lot
Thursday, July 30
- 9 PM — Los Pasos Perdidos with Pierre Hamon (flutes) and Pierre-Yves Binard (vocals/percussion) · Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Friday, July 31
- 7 PM — Catalina & Azul Combo invite Pierre Hamon · Latin American and pre-Columbian music (Pierre Hamon, Catalina Skinner, Pierre-Yves Binard, André Da Silva, Carlos Betancourt) · Maison Carlane, Penne d'Agenais
Saturday, August 1 — Closing Night
- 9 PM — Catalina & Azul Combo + Space Fever (Ugo Guari, Fabien Binard, Simon Chouffot, Kevin Balzan) · Place des Arcades, Monflanquin
Prices Festiv'Azul 2026
Practical information — Festiv'Azul
Access to the lake of Cancon
Cancon is located in Lot-et-Garonne, about 30 km north of Villeneuve-sur-Lot and 45 km south of Bergerac.
- By car: From Villeneuve-sur-Lot, take the D676 towards Cancon (about 25 minutes). From Bergerac, follow the D933 then the D124 towards Cancon. Signposted parking on festival evenings at the lake of Cancon.
- By train: Nearest station in Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Agen – Périgueux line). Plan for additional transportation to Cancon.
Festival venues
Festiv'Azul is a traveling festival. Concerts and shows take place in several towns in the Grand Villeneuvois:
- Lake of Cancon – festive outdoor closing evenings
- Villeneuve-sur-Lot – Saint-Étienne church, Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs
- Pujols – village listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France
- Bias – Notre-Dame church
- Monflanquin – Place des Arcades
Prices
Prices vary depending on the concerts and venues. Some events are free (Heritage in Music tours). For the evenings at the lake of Cancon, indicative prices are:
- Day pass: €12 in presale, €15 on site
- Youth (12-21 years): €5
- Children (under 12): free
Online ticketing on festivazul.festik.net and on HelloAsso.
Catering and services
During the evenings at the lake of Cancon: catering stalls from local and organic producers, bar, children's area with games and activities, artisan and creator market. On-site camping possible on festival evenings.
Contact
- Association Grupo Azul
- Address: MVA, rue Coquard, 47300 Villeneuve-sur-Lot
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.festivazul.net
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Where does it take place — Festiv'Azul
Lac de Cancon
Lac de Cancon, 47290 Cancon