Festival de Carcassonne

A major festival in the heart of the medieval City

Since 2006, the Festival de Carcassonne has established itself as one of the major cultural events in the south of France. Every summer, throughout the month of July, the medieval City of Carcassonne transforms into a vast open-air performance venue. The Théâtre Jean-Deschamps, a 3,000-seat amphitheater nestled in the heart of the ramparts, hosts the biggest national and international artists in an absolutely unique setting. In 2025, the festival celebrated its 20th edition with over 13 sold-out IN Festival shows.

An eclectic and ambitious program

The strength of the Festival de Carcassonne lies in the diversity of its programming. The Festival IN offers about fifteen paid concerts at the Théâtre Jean-Deschamps and in the main courtyard of the Château Comtal: French pop, international rock, classical music, opera, dance, and theater. In 2025, artists such as Gojira, Judas Priest, Alanis Morissette, Julien Doré, Robert Plant, and Eddy Mitchell graced the stage. In 2026, the lineup includes Franz Ferdinand, Christophe Maé, Chris Isaak, Zaz, Booba, Kool and The Gang, and the Sex Pistols feat. Frank Carter.

The Festival OFF: culture for everyone

Alongside the Festival IN, the Festival OFF offers over 80 completely free shows in the Bastide Saint-Louis. The squares and plazas of the lower town — Place Carnot, Square André-Chénier, Hôtel de Rolland, Église Saint-Vincent — transform into open stages hosting local and national artists in all genres: jazz, rock, French chanson, rap, world music, street arts, and shows for young audiences. The OFF embodies the popular and festive dimension of the festival, accessible to all without condition.

An exceptional heritage setting

The Festival de Carcassonne benefits from an incomparable setting: the medieval City, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, with its 52 towers and double ramparts. The Théâtre Jean-Deschamps, inaugurated in 1908 for the first theatrical performance in the City (La Fille de Roland), offers remarkable acoustics and a breathtaking view of the illuminated ramparts. This marriage of ancient heritage and contemporary creation makes the Festival de Carcassonne a unique artistic and sensory experience in France.