Samhain Festival
The biggest Celtic and Halloween festival in Normandy
About Samhain Bernay
The Samhain Festival transforms the millennial abbey of Bernay into a fantastic universe each autumn, blending Celtic traditions, witchcraft, and Halloween festivities. With over 27,000 visitors, this unique festival in Normandy offers pagan concerts, fire shows, a witch market with 150 artisans, an autumn carnival, candy hunts, and ancestral ceremonies in a captivating historic setting.
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Samhain Festival: Celtic magic takes over Bernay
The Samhain Festival is the biggest Celtic and Halloween festival in Normandy. Every year, from October 31st to November 2nd, the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bernay and its gardens transform into a fantastic universe where ancient Celtic traditions meet contemporary celebration. Organized by the association Les Trouble-fêtes, the festival attracts over 27,000 visitors passionate about fantasy, esoteric, and Celtic worlds.
An exceptional Witch Market
The heart of the festival beats around the Witch Market, which brings together 150 carefully selected artisans: creators of esoteric jewelry, herbalists, makers of artisanal candles, leather artisans, illuminators, and many more. This unique market offers mystical objects, potions, grimoires, and artisanal creations that will delight lovers of dark, pagan, and medieval-fantasy universes.
Enchanting Concerts and Shows
A real concert stage is set up in the Abbey Garden with an exclusive program of pagan and Celtic music. Artists like Eihwar and Hrafngrímr have marked previous editions with their powerful performances. Fire shows and fireworks illuminate the evenings, while jugglers, fire-eaters, and street companies entertain the festival throughout the weekend.
Activities for the whole family
The Samhain Festival is also a great family celebration. The Great Candy Hunt on October 31st delights the youngest, while the Autumn Carnival invites young and old to parade in costume through the streets of Bernay. Face painting workshops, costume contests, and permanent activities complete the program. The Samhain Ceremony, with its grand ritual bonfire, is the emotional highlight of the festival.
Themed editions
Each year, the festival adopts a different theme that guides the scenography and activities. In 2024, the theme "Cursed Pirates" transported visitors into a world of fantastic piracy. In 2025, "The Dragon's Breath" promised a fiery event, with exceptional pyrotechnic shows and impressive draconic decorations.
Samhain Bernay — edition 2026
The 2026 Samhain Festival will return to the Abbey of Bernay with a new theme to be revealed. Pagan concerts, a witch market, fire shows, an autumn carnival, and a traditional ceremony are on the program.
Samhain Festival 2026
The Samhain Festival returns for a new edition at the Abbey of Bernay. The theme for this edition will be unveiled in the autumn of 2026. Find all the elements that make this event a success: pagan concerts, witch market, fire shows, carnival, and Samhain ceremony.
Prices Samhain Bernay 2026
Practical information — Samhain Bernay
Practical Information
Location
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bernay and historic center of Bernay, a Town of Art and History.
Access
By car: Bernay is accessible via the A28 (Bernay exit). Free parking is signposted in town.
By train: Bernay station, served by SNCF Nomad trains from Paris Saint-Lazare (approx. 1h40) and Rouen.
Prices
Free admission for street activities, the carnival, and the candy hunt. Some concerts and shows may be ticketed. Consult the official website for detailed prices.
Food & Drink
Medieval food stalls and food trucks on site.
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Samhain Bernay at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Samhain Bernay
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bernay
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bernay, 27300 Bernay