Festival des Bandafolie's
The biggest gathering of bandas in Limousin
2026
About Bandafolie's
Bandafolie's — edition 2026
2026 Edition — 29th Bandafolie's
The Festival des Bandafolie's returns for its 29th edition from Friday, July 10th to Tuesday, July 14th, 2026, in Bessines-sur-Gartempe. The Stade des Châtaigniers will host the two main ticketed evenings on Friday and Saturday, before the festivities move to Lac de Sagnat on Monday and the town streets on Tuesday, July 14th.
Two nights under the Big Top
Friday, July 10th, kicks off the festivities with the Band'Apéro on café terraces from 6:00 PM, the Food Folie's dining village at 7:30 PM, the handing over of the town keys at 10:00 PM under the Big Top, followed by the Coldplayed tribute concert and the opening of the Bodega-Live CD87. On Saturday, July 11th, the Grand Night of the Bandafolie's brings together nearly 300 musicians on three stages starting at 7:30 PM, featuring a feria-style meal under the Big Top and a party night hosted by DJ Nip's.
Three free days
Sunday, July 12th, features a musical mass, the Banda'Show at the town square, the 21st MMA Bandafoulées (an 8-kilometer foot race), and a concert by Flagrants Délires. On Monday, July 13th, Lac de Sagnat hosts a pétanque tournament, giant barbecues, the Paquito des Pitchouns, a musical fireworks display at 11:20 PM, and a free public dance with Toufoulcan. Tuesday, July 14th, closes the festival with the flea market, the commemorative parade, a picnic, and a choreographed parade through the streets of Bessines.
The organizers reserve the right to change the program at the last minute.
Highlights Bandafolie's 2026
- Coldplayed, the Coldplay tribute act, under the Big Top — Friday, July 10th at 10:30 PM
- The Grand Night of the Bandafolie's: nearly 300 musicians on 3 stages — Saturday, July 11th from 7:30 PM
- The 21st MMA Bandafoulées, an 8 km foot race accompanied by brass bands — Sunday, July 12th at 5:30 PM
- Musical fireworks at Lac de Sagnat, followed by a free dance with Toufoulcan — Monday, July 13th at 11:20 PM
- Flea market, commemorative parade, and choreographed procession — Tuesday, July 14th from 8:00 AM
- Three entirely free days: Sunday, July 12th, Monday, July 13th, and Tuesday, July 14th
Programme Bandafolie's 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026 — Stade des Châtaigniers (admission €10)
- 6:00 PM — Band'Apéro: brass bands perform on the town's café terraces
- 7:30 PM — Food Folie's: food stall village with live brass band music
- 10:00 PM — Official opening and handing over of the town keys under the Big Top
- 10:30 PM — Concert: "Coldplayed, The Finest Tribute to Coldplay"
- Midnight — Inauguration of the Bodega-Live CD87, featuring brass bands
- 1:30 AM — Party night with DJ Starlight
Saturday, July 11, 2026 — Stade des Châtaigniers (admission €10)
- 10:30 AM — Musical wake-up call for the town
- 4:00 PM — Parade and presentation of all groups at the town square
- 7:30 PM — Grand Night of the Bandafolie's: nearly 300 musicians on 3 stages
- 8:00 PM — Feria meal under the Big Top (€20 extra), featuring La Banda de Bessines and all participating groups
- 11:00 PM — Bodega-Live: party night with DJ Nip's, DJ of the Bayonne and Mont-de-Marsan festivals
Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Stade des Châtaigniers (free admission)
- 10:30 AM — Musical mass with Chérubins Gospel under the Big Top
- 3:00 PM — Banda'Show at the town square
- 5:30 PM — 21st MMA Bandafoulées: 8 km foot race, start and finish at Stade des Châtaigniers, in partnership with the Limoges Mad-Run Club
- 7:00 PM — Ô Village: festive guinguette and food truck area
- 10:00 PM — Concert by Flagrants Délires
- 12:30 AM — Party night with DJ Ylan
Monday, July 13, 2026 — Lac de Sagnat (free admission)
- 11:30 AM — Musical wake-up call
- 1:30 PM — Open pétanque tournament
- 6:00 PM — Grillades Folie's: giant barbecue by the lake
- 7:30 PM — Le Paquito des Pitchouns
- 8:00 PM — Performances by brass bands and guest groups
- 11:20 PM — Musical fireworks display, followed by a free public dance with Toufoulcan
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — Bessines-sur-Gartempe (free admission)
- 8:00 AM — Bandafolie's flea market and classic car exhibition, until 7:00 PM
- 10:00 AM — Special "Amourettes" snack
- 11:30 AM — July 14th commemorative parade
- 12:30 PM — Picnic at the Stade des Châtaigniers
- 3:00 PM — Choreographed and festive parade through the streets of Bessines
- 6:00 PM — Official closing of the festival
Featured Groups
- La Banda de Bessines (Bessines-sur-Gartempe)
- Chérubins Gospel (Sarcelles, Val-d'Oise)
- Musica Gogo Hé (Goé, Belgium)
- El Gobernador Band and the United Musicians of City of Bacoor (Bacoor, Philippines)
- Banda Tierra Mojada (San Andrés Huayápam, Mexico)
- Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band (Denver, USA)
- Banda Les Biberons (Hagetmau, Landes)
- Big Band Shekina (Quetzaltenango, Guatemala)
- Charanga Sound Band (Toledo, Spain)
- Les FantasKes (Tarbes)
- Coldplayed, Coldplay tribute
- Flagrants Délires (Cahors)
- Toufoulcan (Toulouse)
- DJ Starlight, DJ Nip's, and DJ Ylan
The organizers reserve the right to change the program at the last minute.
Prices Bandafolie's 2026
Bandafolie's — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 10 July to 14 July 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Bandafolie's
Practical Information
Access
By car: Take the A20, exit 24—25 minutes from Limoges and 15 minutes from La Souterraine. The main site is at the Stade des Châtaigniers, rue Suzanne Valadon, 87250 Bessines-sur-Gartempe. On Monday, events are held at Sagnat Lake.
By bus: A regular bus line connects Limoges to Bessines-sur-Gartempe.
By train: Use the Limoges or La Souterraine stations, then take a connecting road shuttle.
By carpooling: BlaBlaCar, Mobicoop, and Covoiturage-libre serve the town during the festival.
Parking
Three free parking lots are located within a 10-minute walk of the site: rue Turgot (past the cemetery), avenue Jean Jaurès (Stade Welsch), and avenue de Limoges (near the Hôtel Le Bellevue). Setting up tents, tables, or equipment is strictly prohibited.
Camping
A free "festayres" campsite is open on rue Turgot from Friday at 4:00 PM until Tuesday at 7:00 PM, with showers and toilets accessible from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Camper vans can park at the Stade Welsch lot on a first-come, first-served basis. Campfires, barbecues, pets, and sound systems are prohibited.
Ticketing
Tickets are €10 for the two paid evenings on Friday and Saturday, with an optional feria meal for an additional €20. The last three days—Sunday, Monday at Sagnat Lake, and Tuesday, July 14th—are free. Admission is free for children up to 11 years old. Book online via HelloAsso and OK-TIME on the official website, or buy tickets at the gate each evening, subject to availability. Digital tickets can be presented as a PDF on your smartphone.
On-site
A village of food trucks and varied dining options is available, along with a bodega featuring musical entertainment and DJs. Specific entrances for visitors with reduced mobility are provided on rue du 19 mars 1962 for evenings at the Stade des Châtaigniers, and on rue de La Lande for the day at Sagnat Lake; accessible dry toilets are installed, and a disability card will be requested. Access is allowed for all ages, but there is no dedicated children's area (playgrounds, daycare). Pets are not allowed. Any items deemed potentially harmful will be confiscated by security staff.
Bandafolie's: The Banda Fever in Haute-Vienne
Born in 1997 from the passion of Jean-Pascal Dumay and a group of musician friends from the Bessines banda, the Bandafolie's Festival was originally intended to be a one-off event. However, the overwhelming success of the first edition—with people dancing on tables and jumping everywhere—convinced the organizers to keep the adventure going. Nearly three decades later, Bandafolie's has become an essential institution in the Limousin region, attracting tens of thousands of festival-goers to the heart of Bessines-sur-Gartempe every year.
Five Days of Celebration Around July 14th
The festival spans five intense days, from July 10th to 14th. The Stade des Châtaigniers, located on rue Suzanne Valadon, hosts the two main ticketed evenings with three stages set up under two massive marquees. The opening night features the Band'Apéro on the terraces of local cafés, the Food Folie's dining village, the ceremonial handing over of the town keys, and the inauguration of the Bodega-Live. The second evening is the festival's highlight: the Grande Nuit des Bandafolie's brings together nearly 300 musicians on stage, complete with a feria-style meal under the big top and a late-night party in the bodega.
From Sagnat Lake to the Town Center
The third day, which is free to attend, features a musical mass, the Banda'Show at the Place de la Mairie, and the MMA Bandafoulées—an 8-kilometer foot race through the town accompanied by musicians—followed by a festive guinguette and concert. The festivities then move to the enchanting natural setting of Sagnat Lake, where pétanque tournaments, giant barbecues, the "Paquito des pitchouns," banda performances, and a musical fireworks display lead up to a grand public dance. July 14th wraps up the festivities with the traditional flea market and vintage car exhibition, the commemorative parade, a picnic, and a choreographed parade through the streets of Bessines.
A Popular Festival Driven by Volunteers
Entirely organized by the Comité des Bandafolie's and its 250 volunteers, the festival relies on a friendly, community-based model. Invited musical groups come from all over France and far beyond: Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Mexico, Guatemala, the Philippines, Colombia, and the United States have all performed over the years, alongside the Bagad de Lann-Bihoué and the Supersonic Fanfare from Toulouse. This international eclecticism, combined with the spirit of a popular street party, makes Bandafolie's a unique event that generates significant economic benefits for local businesses, with turnover often multiplying by four or five during the festival.
Where does it take place — Bandafolie's
Bandafolie's in brief
History of Bandafolie's
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Bessines-sur-Gartempe
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