Bebop Festival

The Bebop Festival: forty years of contemporary music in Le Mans

Since 1987, the Bebop association has passionately presented a contemporary music festival that has grown and evolved while remaining true to its founding values: accessibility, discovery, and sharing. What was initially just a modest musical gathering has become one of the major cultural events in Sarthe and Pays de la Loire.

An eclectic and generous program

The strength of the Bebop Festival lies in its ability to offer an eclectic program that happily blends established artists and rising young talents. From rock to French chanson, from electro to folk, from hip-hop to world music, Bebop embraces the full diversity of contemporary music with a keen eye for spotting tomorrow's artists.

Names that matter

Over its nearly forty editions, the Bebop Festival has hosted artists who have become essential figures on the French and international scene. The 2025 edition notably featured Last Train, Feu! Chatterton, Peter Doherty, La Mano 1.9, Miel de Montagne, and Alo Wala. The 2026 edition, celebrating the festival's 40th anniversary, already announces Gaëtan Roussel, Suzane, Skip the Use, The Inspector Cluzo, and Sam Sauvage.

The Parc des Expositions du Mans: a showcase for contemporary music

Every November, the festival takes over the Parc des Expositions du Mans, a vast modular space that can accommodate several thousand spectators with quality technical and acoustic conditions. Several stages coexist, offering a variety of formats and atmospheres, from intimate concerts to large dance parties.

Bebop Master Class: a springboard for young artists

The festival also stands out for its master class program, which offers young musicians from the region the opportunity to train with professional artists and perform on the festival stage. This dimension of transmission and support for emerging artists is at the heart of the Bebop association's project.

A touring festival in Sarthe

While the Parc des Expositions du Mans is the heart of the festival, Bebop also extends its reach to other towns in Sarthe: La Ferté-Bernard, Allonnes, and La Flèche regularly host concerts as part of the festival, contributing to the dissemination of quality contemporary music throughout the Sarthe region.