Festival en Gévaudan

18th Edition: A 100% Unprecedented Program

For its 18th edition from August 7th to 9th, 2025, the Festival en Gévaudan offered a 100% unprecedented program: the four groups scheduled at the covered market were all playing in Saugues for the first time.

Thursday, August 7th - Opening Village in Charraix

The opening day took place in Charraix and Cubelles. From 9 am, hikers could set off on three routes: "Au d'Estours d'une cascade" (17 km, 900 m elevation gain), "À la croix-ée des chemins" (8.5 km, 320 m), and "La famille granit" (3 km, family-friendly). The afternoon offered guided tours of the church and village, a photo rally, exhibitions, farm visits with cheese and ice cream tastings, and an introduction to climbing at 4 pm. At 7 pm, the official opening of the festival was followed by a warm meal with local flavors (15 euros), then a free concert under a marquee by Celtic Seven at 9 pm, for a first taste of bagpipes and Celtic violins.

Friday, August 8th - Saugues

The German medieval Celtic folk group Faun, who had notably played at Hellfest in 2023 and had around 1,000 concerts to their name, was initially scheduled as the headliner. Forced to cancel due to transport issues, they were replaced at short notice by Avalon Celtic Dances. The free OFF concerts began at 6:30 pm with Avalon Celtic Dances and The Bards of Sweeney, a Franco-Irish ensemble from Tours drawing from industrial heritage and pre-Christian legends. The IN concerts followed at 9 pm.

Saturday, August 9th - Saugues

As the opening act, Transpher took the audience on an interactive and festive Celtic rock concert. The headliner, the collective B.R.E.T.O.N.S, delivered a 100% festive rock show blending Breton, Irish, and Scottish traditional repertoire with Celtic-infused covers. Despite heavy rain during the final concert, the audience remained loyal.

Activities Throughout the Festival

The weekend also featured an artisan market with glassblowing demonstrations, children's activities (face painting, games, treasure hunts), street performances by the troupes "En Chariot Simone" and "Les Tanneurs de Drac", bagpipe parades with Continental Caledonia and the Pipe Band, as well as OFF concerts on the outdoor stage with Glen Road and Esskalibur.

2025 Program

• Thursday, August 7th - Charraix (Opening Village): Hikes from 9 am (17 km, 8.5 km, and 3 km). Guided tours, photo rally, exhibitions, farm visit, and tastings in the afternoon. Climbing introduction at 4 pm. Official opening and local meal at 7 pm (15 euros). Free concert by Celtic Seven under a marquee at 9 pm.
• Friday, August 8th - Saugues: Artisan market and activities during the day. Bagpipe parades. Street performances. Free OFF concerts at 6:30 pm (Avalon Celtic Dances, The Bards of Sweeney). IN concerts at 9 pm (Avalon Celtic Dances, The Bards of Sweeney).
• Saturday, August 9th - Saugues: Artisan market and activities during the day. Bagpipe parades. Children's activities. Free OFF concerts (Glen Road, Esskalibur). IN concerts: Transpher as the opening act, B.R.E.T.O.N.S as the headliner.

• 100% unprecedented program: all artists played at the festival for the first time
• Opening Village in Charraix with a free concert by Celtic Seven
• Replacement of Faun by Avalon Celtic Dances at short notice
• Festive rock concert by the collective B.R.E.T.O.N.S as Saturday's headliner
• The Bards of Sweeney: Franco-Irish ensemble drawing from pre-Christian legends
• Transpher: interactive and festive Celtic rock
• Street performances by "En Chariot Simone" and "Les Tanneurs de Drac"
• Bagpipe parades with Continental Caledonia and Pipe Band
• OFF concerts with Glen Road and Esskalibur
• Nearly 10,000 festival-goers and 170 volunteers mobilized