Festival des Saveurs
Grand gourmet and festive market in the heart of the Pyrenees Ariégeoises in Ax-les-Thermes
2026
About Festival des Saveurs
Festival des Saveurs — edition 2026
The Festival des Saveurs takes place at the Parc du Casino in Ax-les-Thermes from Thursday, September 3rd to Sunday, September 6th, 2026. The farmers' and craft market opens at 10:00 AM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with late-night openings on Friday and Saturday. The program includes concerts by La 45 and Nothing Concrete, a musical tale, a petting zoo, gourmet walks, tree climbing, a sheepdog demonstration, and an associations forum. Admission is free.
2026 Edition
The 2026 edition kicks off on Thursday, September 3rd at 6:30 PM at the Bassin des Ladres with the "Soupe des Canons" and a wool washing, carding, and spinning demonstration led by ACAP, followed by a grilled dinner at 8:00 PM (€5, €10, or €12, no reservation required). The farmers' and craft market opens on Friday, September 4th at 10:00 AM at Place du Casino, and reopens at the same time on Saturday and Sunday, with late-night sessions on Friday and Saturday.
Two concerts at 9:00 PM at the covered market: La 45 on Friday, Nothing Concrete on Saturday. On Saturday at 6:30 PM, the musical tale "Amaury et l'accord parfait" will be performed (45 minutes). On Sunday: sheepdog demonstration and mini-transhumance at the Savignac-les-Ormeaux stadium at 10:00 AM, roaming performances by Barouf Express, the Ax-les-Thermes associations forum under the marquee from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the animal weight guessing contest with results announced at 4:00 PM. The festival closes at 5:00 PM.
Admission to the festival is free. Meals are sold on-site, ranging from €5 to €15 per dish depending on the vendor. ACAP's gourmet walks (8 km, 250 m elevation gain) cost €8 and can be booked by calling 05 61 64 60 60.
Highlights Festival des Saveurs 2026
- Concert by La 45, Friday, September 4th at 9:00 PM at the covered market.
- Concert by Nothing Concrete, Saturday, September 5th at 9:00 PM.
- "Amaury et l'accord parfait," musical tale, Saturday, September 5th at 6:30 PM at the covered market.
- Farmers' and craft market on September 4th, 5th, and 6th from 10:00 AM, with late-night openings on Friday and Saturday.
- Sheepdog demonstration and mini-transhumance, Sunday, September 6th at 10:00 AM at the Savignac-les-Ormeaux stadium.
- Ax-les-Thermes associations forum, Sunday, September 6th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM under the marquee.
Programme Festival des Saveurs 2026
Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Soupe des Canons at Bassin des Ladres. ACAP event: demonstration of wool washing in the basin, in preparation for the Pujada Ax/Espousouille on September 12th, followed by wool carding and spinning demonstrations by Ruddy Braekevelt.
- 8:00 PM — Dinner at Bassin des Ladres, prepared by La Table du Zèbre for the Festival des Saveurs (moved to the covered market in case of rain). No reservation required. Prices: €5, €10, or €12 depending on the menu: grilled sandwich, salad plate, or grilled meat plate with dessert.
Friday, September 4th, 2026
- Daytime — Welcoming schools from Haute-Ariège, the local nursing home (EHPAD), and the Ax-les-Thermes middle school.
- From 10:00 AM — Opening of the farmers' and craft market, petting zoo (sheep, pig, cow), and the craft village with workshops and demonstrations at Place du Casino.
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Big merchants' clearance sale in the town center.
- 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM — Gourmet walk with ACAP: 8 km, 250 m elevation gain. €8. Reservations at 05 61 64 60 60.
- 6:00 PM — Festival inauguration.
- 9:00 PM — Concert by La 45 at the covered market. A quintet from the Toulouse region formed in 2018, featuring brass, percussion, and strings, blending traditional Caribbean rhythms with modern beats (trap, electro, ragga). One album released, a second in the works.
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
- From 10:00 AM — Opening of the farmers' and craft market, petting zoo, and craft village with workshops and demonstrations (sessions from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM) at Place du Casino.
- 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM — Pop-up gourmet library hosted by the Haute-Ariège intercommunal libraries, featuring readings of gourmet stories at the covered market (for ages 3 and up).
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Big merchants' clearance sale in the town center.
- 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM — Tree climbing and treetop tastings with Robin de Haut-Perché at Parc du Casino.
- 12:30 PM — Spit-roasted pig (or grilled meat), meals available for purchase on-site at the welcome chalet with Fabien.
- 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM — Gourmet walk with ACAP: 8 km, 250 m elevation gain. €8. Reservations at 05 61 64 60 60.
- 6:30 PM — "Amaury et l'accord parfait," a musical tale for all ages (45 minutes) at the covered market.
- 9:00 PM — Concert by Nothing Concrete: a multicultural quintet performing original compositions blending swing, afrobeat, cumbia, and Balkan influences, featuring tap dancing.
Sunday, September 6th, 2026
- From 10:00 AM — Opening of the farmers' and craft market and petting zoo; pig-weight guessing contest.
- 10:00 AM — Sheepdog demonstration followed by a mini-transhumance; meeting point at the Savignac-les-Ormeaux stadium.
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Ax-les-Thermes associations forum under the marquee at Place du Casino.
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM — Barouf Express, roaming musical performance at Parc du Casino.
- 12:00 PM — Inauguration of the festival totem created by L'Atelier du Cerf at Place du Casino.
- 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM — Tree climbing and treetop tastings with Robin de Haut-Perché at Parc du Casino.
- 12:30 PM — Spit-roasted pig (or grilled meat), meals available for purchase on-site at the welcome chalet.
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM — Barouf Express, roaming musical performance at Parc du Casino.
- 4:00 PM — Results of the 2026 animal weight guessing contest. Tickets €2, prize: the shopping cart contents.
- 5:00 PM — Festival ends.
Ongoing
- Farmers' and craft market open Friday, September 4th, Saturday, September 5th, and Sunday, September 6th from 10:00 AM, with late-night openings on Friday and Saturday.
- Petting zoo: sheep, pig, cow.
- Craft village: workshops and demonstrations at Place du Casino.
- Sweet and savory food available on-site; meat, honey, cheese, preserves, and jams available for direct sale.
Prices Festival des Saveurs 2026
On-site dining: between €5 and €15 per dish depending on the vendor.
Thursday evening grilled dinner at Bassin des Ladres: €5, €10, or €12 depending on the menu, no reservation required.
ACAP gourmet walk (Friday and Saturday): €8, reservation at 05 61 64 60 60.
Animal weight guessing contest: €2 per ticket.
Practical information — Festival des Saveurs
Practical Information
Access
By car: Ax-les-Thermes is located on the N20, 30 km south of Foix and 130 km south of Toulouse. Follow the direction of Andorra, Ax-les-Thermes is before the Puymorens tunnel.
By train: Ax-les-Thermes SNCF station, served by TER Occitanie from Toulouse (approx. 2h) via Foix and Tarascon-sur-Ariège.
Opening Hours
Producers' Market:
- Friday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Prices
Free admission for the entire festival, including concerts and entertainment.
Contact
Festival des Saveurs
Parc du Casino, 09110 Ax-les-Thermes
Website: festivaldessaveurs.fr
A gastronomic event at the foot of the Pyrenees
Since 2001, the Festival des Saveurs in Ax-les-Thermes has become the benchmark gourmet event in Ariège. Every year, on the second weekend of September, the small spa town nestled at an altitude of 720 meters, at the confluence of three Pyrenean rivers, transforms into a true capital of taste. The Parc du Casino hosts a large market of producers and artisans where more than 70 carefully selected exhibitors present the best of the Pyrenean terroir: mountain cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, high-altitude honeys, jams, foothill wines, craft beer, and many other delights.
Tastings, workshops, and meetings with producers
The Festival des Saveurs is not limited to a simple market. It offers an immersive experience in the world of Pyrenean flavors. Culinary workshops led by local chefs allow visitors to discover the preparation techniques of traditional Ariégeois dishes: azinat, mounjetado, apple croustade. Guided tastings highlight the exceptional products of the region: Bethmale cheese, Ariège sausage, Pyrenean fir honey. Producers, passionate about their craft, willingly share their know-how and the story of their products with curious visitors.
Concerts, shows, and entertainment for the whole family
Beyond gastronomy, the festival offers a rich and varied artistic and cultural program. Open-air concerts liven up the evenings, blending traditional Pyrenean music, variety, and world music. Street performances, children's entertainment, and citizen debates on sustainable food and local development complete the program. Admission is free, allowing everyone to enjoy the festive atmosphere that fills the streets and squares of the town for four days.
Ax-les-Thermes, a thermal and Pyrenean setting
The setting for the festival is worthy of the event. Ax-les-Thermes, a spa town renowned since Roman times for its sulfurous waters, offers an exceptional environment between mountains and forests. Visitors can combine discovering the festival with a visit to the Bains du Couloubret, a walk to the Bonascre plateau, or an excursion to the Ax-3 Domaines ski area. The proximity to the Andorran border and major natural sites such as the Gorges de la Frau or the Plateau de Beille makes Ax-les-Thermes an ideal starting point for discovering the riches of the Ariège Pyrenees.
Where does it take place — Festival des Saveurs
Festival des Saveurs in brief
Other festivals near Ax-les-Thermes
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