Festival de la Camargue et du Delta du Rhône
Nature, ecology and heritage festival in the Camargue, organized by the Regional Natural Park
About Festival de la Camargue
The Camargue Celebrated in All Its Diversity
The Festival de la Camargue et du Delta du Rhône is a unique event that celebrates the natural, cultural, and heritage richness of the Rhône delta every year in May. Organized by the Parc naturel régional de Camargue, this festival spans five days across the entire Camargue territory — from Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, including Arles and the Gardian Camargue — offering a total immersion in one of Europe's most beautiful ecosystems.
Over 100 Nature Outings
The heart of the festival lies in its nature outings, with over a hundred offered over the five days. Participants can discover the Camargue on foot, on horseback, by canoe, by bike, or by boat, accompanied by naturalist guides, locals, and partners of the Regional Natural Park. These outings allow for the observation of the exceptional fauna of the Camargue — pink flamingos, white horses, black bulls, herons, egrets, birds of prey — and the discovery of its unique landscapes: ponds, marshes, salt flats, rice paddies, vineyards, and riparian forests.
Screenings, Conferences, and Exhibitions
Beyond field trips, the festival offers a rich program of documentary film screenings, masterclasses, conferences, and radio shows addressing various themes: climate change, biodiversity, offshore wind power, the return of the otter in Camargue, and the evolution of deltas worldwide. Photographic exhibitions by renowned nature photographers mark each edition, offering an artistic perspective on the Camargue's nature.
The Village de l'Oiseau
The Village de l'Oiseau (Bird Village), located in the gardens of the Tour in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, is the beating heart of the festival. It brings together exhibitions, activities, workshops, and information stands focused on biodiversity and environmental protection. Environmental associations, research organizations, and local stakeholders gather there to share their knowledge and raise public awareness about the ecological challenges of the Camargue.
A Festival Rooted in Its Territory
Created in 2008 (the first edition titled "Festival de la Camargue" dates back to 2009), the festival celebrated the 120th anniversary of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône and the 20th anniversary of the association that organizes it during its 2024 edition. The patrons of each edition — scientists, athletes, writers — reflect the diverse links between humans and nature in the Camargue. The festival is supported by the Métropole Aix-Marseille-Provence, the Département des Bouches-du-Rhône, and the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Festival de la Camargue — edition 2026
The 18th edition of the Festival de la Camargue et du Delta du Rhône was held from May 13 to 17, 2026, in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône and throughout the Camargue territory, with photographer Hans Silvester as patron. The edition honored wetlands and the cooperation between the Camargue Biosphere Reserve and the Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve in Cuba.
The 18th edition — May 13 to 17, 2026
The 18th edition of the Festival de la Camargue et du Delta du Rhône was held from Wednesday, May 13 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, with Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône as its epicenter and activities spread throughout the Camargue territory — Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Arles, Camargue gardoise.
Hans Silvester, patron of the edition
Photographer Hans Silvester was the patron of this edition, sharing a poetic and unique perspective on the Camargue, which he has been photographing for over 60 years. A retrospective exhibition marked the festival, located at the Village de l'Oiseau.
Wetlands and cooperation with Cuba
The 2026 edition honored wetlands as biodiversity sanctuaries, particularly highlighting the recently initiated cooperation between the Camargue Biosphere Reserve and the Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve in Cuba. Conferences, debates ("From Camargue to Cuba"), and screenings punctuated the five days around this theme.
Over 100 nature outings
More than a hundred nature outings were offered: walks, horseback rides, boat trips, or bike rides, visits to the Tour du Valat Nature Reserve, agro-ecological excursions, participatory workshops at the Marais du Verdier, a flamingo photo workshop at sunrise, workshops on Camargue snakes, discovery of the Camargue horse at Mas de la Cure, twilight cruises. Several institutional partners — Tour du Valat, Office Français de la Biodiversité, ZACAM (CNRS) — participated in the programming.
Conferences, debates, and exhibitions
The festival also offered a rich program of conferences ("Camargue Land of Wonders", "Alaska", elephants and panthers, Bajau Laut people, scientific research), debates (Camargue bull race, "Women Behind the Camera"), and photographic exhibitions. A photo contest dedicated to middle school students completed this educational program.
Highlights Festival de la Camargue 2026
- 18th edition — 5 days from May 13 to 17, 2026
- Patron: Hans Silvester, photographer of the Camargue for 60 years
- Theme: wetlands + cooperation Camargue / Ciénaga de Zapata (Cuba)
- 100+ nature outings in Camargue, partnerships with Tour du Valat and OFB
- Village de l'Oiseau in Port-Saint-Louis: exhibitions, workshops, stands
- Gastronomy, wine program, and producers' market on the closing Sunday
Prices Festival de la Camargue 2026
Practical information — Festival de la Camargue
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place in several municipalities within the Camargue region, with the Village de l'Oiseau in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône (13230) as the central location, and events in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Arles, and the Gardian Camargue.
- By car: From Arles via the D35 (Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, 50 km). From Marseille via the A55 then the D268.
- Program and registration: Nature outings require registration on the festival website.
Prices
- Village de l'Oiseau: Free access
- Nature outings: Some free, others paid (modest fees)
- Screenings and conferences: Free access
Contact
- Parc naturel régional de Camargue
- Website: festival-camargue.fr
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Festival de la Camargue
Territoire de la Camargue (Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, Arles)
Mas du Pont de Rousty, 13460 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer