Festival of Old Rigs
Maritime heritage and music festival on Paimpol harbor
About Paimpol Old Rigs
Maritime Heritage Celebrated
The Fête des Vieux Gréements de Paimpol is a biennial event that transforms the port of Paimpol into a vast space for celebrating Breton maritime heritage. Dozens of old rigs—schooners, luggers, sloops, dinghies, and other restored traditional sailboats—occupy the harbor basins, offering a striking visual spectacle. The event takes place over three days in August and attracts maritime heritage enthusiasts from all over Europe.
A Festival Reinvented
For the 2026 edition, the event adopts a new identity as the Festival des Vieux Gréements de Paimpol, marking an evolution towards a more musical, cultural, and festive program. The main stage hosts renowned artists from the French and Celtic scenes, while secondary stages offer concerts of maritime, folk, and world music. Traditional activities remain: exhibitions, conferences, workshops for children, demonstrations of maritime know-how, and an artisan market.
Paimpol, A Home Port
Paimpol, famous for its Terre-Neuvas and its Islandais (cod fishermen), is the ideal setting for this festival. The port preserves the memory of generations of sailors who went cod fishing in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. The old rigs anchored in the port recall this rich maritime history, while the streets and quays of Paimpol come alive to the rhythm of concerts and activities.
Paimpol Old Rigs — edition 2026
The Paimpol Festival des Vieux Gréements returns from August 14 to 16, 2026, to the port of Paimpol. For three days, the port transforms into an open-air stage, featuring a more ambitious musical program (Eiffel, Axel Bauer, Archimède, Jean-Charles Guichen…) set against the backdrop of traditional boats, complemented by maritime activities, exhibitions, and parades.
Festival des Vieux Gréements 2026: A New Identity
The emblematic Paimpol event adopts its new identity in 2026 as the Festival des Vieux Gréements de Paimpol (formerly « Fête des Vieux Gréements ») and moves towards a more musical, cultural, and festive program, from August 14 to 16, 2026.
Two stages host the concerts: the Hervé Guillemer stage (between the two basins) and the Michel Tonnerre stage, alternating traditional and contemporary music. The old rigs remain at the heart of the event, calling at the port, accompanied by maritime activities, exhibitions, sea tales, craft demonstrations, and boarding traditional boats. Every day, musical parades march through the streets of Paimpol around 11 AM, with singers, musicians, and bagads.
Programme Paimpol Old Rigs 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026
- Eiffel
- Madelyn Ann
- Brazakuja
- Inish Dew
- C'Hwibu Luc'h
Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Axel Bauer
- Archimède
- Acoustic Ladyland
- Full Moon Little House
Sunday, August 16, 2026
- Jean-Charles Guichen
- Apes O'Clock
- Les Gaillards d'en face
- Mask Ha Gazh
- Mago
- The Churchfitters
- The Light Side
Concerts distributed across two stages: Hervé Guillemer stage (between the two basins) and Michel Tonnerre stage. Program subject to change — see the official website.
Highlights Paimpol Old Rigs 2026
- Headliners 2026: Eiffel, Axel Bauer, Archimède, Jean-Charles Guichen
- Old rigs calling at the port of Paimpol
- Daily musical parades in the city center
- Maritime activities, exhibitions, and onboard boarding
Prices Paimpol Old Rigs 2026
Practical information — Paimpol Old Rigs
Access
- Location: Port de Paimpol, 22500 Paimpol
- By car: From Saint-Brieuc (45 km), take the D786 towards Paimpol.
- Parking: Signposted parking lots on the outskirts of the town.
Contact
- Official website: vieux-greements-paimpol.fr
- Facebook: fetedesvieuxgreementspaimpol
- Instagram: @festivaldesvieuxgreements
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Where does it take place — Paimpol Old Rigs
Port de Paimpol
Place de la République, 22500 Paimpol, 22500 Paimpol