Festival Rock'&'Cars
Blues, rockabilly, rock'n'roll and vintage cars in Lavaur since 2005
2026
About Rock & Cars
Rock & Cars — edition 2026
The 18th edition of the Rock'&'Cars Festival will be held from June 12 to 14, 2026, at the Jardin de l'Évêché in Lavaur (Tarn). Three days of blues, rockabilly, garage rock, and rock'n'roll with over 900 vintage vehicles — American cars, Rods, Kustoms — and hundreds of legendary motorcycles. Headliners: The Lords of Altamont (USA), Gaëlle Buswel, The Sophisticated Cats Big Band, and Rod Barthet. Free admission.
18th Edition — June 12 to 14, 2026
The Rock'&'Cars Festival returns to Lavaur for its 18th edition from June 12 to 14, 2026, at the Jardin de l'Évêché. Three days of blues, rockabilly, garage rock, and rock'n'roll in the heart of Tarn, against a backdrop of over 900 collector vehicles and hundreds of legendary motorcycles.
An International Lineup
In 2026, the festival features a strong musical lineup led by The Lords of Altamont, an emblematic American garage rock band, and Gaëlle Buswel, one of the most recognized French voices in contemporary blues rock. Alongside them, The Sophisticated Cats Big Band (rock'n'roll), Rod Barthet (blues rock), Mat & The Messengers (americana), and Ervin Travis & His Wild Blue Caps (rockabilly) complete the program.
The Rendezvous of Fifties American Culture
Over 900 collector vehicles are expected: chromed American cars, Rods, Kustoms, and vintage sedans, accompanied by hundreds of legendary motorcycles, including many Harley-Davidsons. Beyond the concerts, the 2026 edition offers motorized rides through the Tarn countryside (Saturday and Sunday mornings), a pin-up parade and contest on Sunday lunchtime, as well as an awards ceremony for the most beautiful vehicles.
The event is entirely free. Vintage stalls and on-site catering (burgers, hot dogs, barbecue) complete the immersion in 1950s America.
Highlights Rock & Cars 2026
- 18th edition of a free festival emblematic of rock'n'roll and automotive culture in the Southwest
- Over 900 collector vehicles: American cars, Rods, Kustoms, and hundreds of legendary motorcycles (Harley-Davidson)
- International headliner: The Lords of Altamont (USA, garage rock)
- Strong French blues rock lineup with Gaëlle Buswel and Rod Barthet
- Retro entertainment: pin-up parade and contest, motorized rides, vintage stalls
- Completely free admission for the entire festival
Programme Rock & Cars 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Concerts in Lavaur city center bars (local artists, several venues)
Saturday, June 13, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Car and motorcycle ride through the Tarn countryside
- 12:00 PM — Post-cruising meal at Relais Cathare (Cambon-lès-Lavaur)
- 2:00 PM — Site opening: vehicle and motorcycle exhibition, stalls, catering
- 6:00 PM — The Sophisticated Cats Big Band (France · Rock'n'roll) — French big band with a repertoire of great fifties rock'n'roll standards
- 8:00 PM — Gaëlle Buswel (France · Blues rock) — French singer and guitarist, a reference in contemporary French blues rock
- 10:00 PM — The Lords of Altamont (USA · Garage rock) — emblematic Californian psychedelic garage rock combo, led by former Fuzztones drummer Jake Cavaliere
- 12:00 AM — Rod Barthet (France · Blues rock) — French guitarist and singer, blues rock scene
Sunday, June 14, 2026
- 9:00 AM — Site opening
- 10:00 AM — Car and motorcycle ride with village exhibition
- 11:00 AM — Car expo, stalls and catering
- 12:00 PM — Pin-up parade and contest
- 1:00 PM — Mat & The Messengers (France · Americana)
- 3:00 PM — Ervin Travis & His Wild Blue Caps (France · Rockabilly) — historical figure of French rockabilly
- 5:00 PM — Awards ceremony for cars and motorcycles
12 bands scheduled over the 3 days of the festival. Program subject to change — check the official Facebook page for the latest updates.
Prices Rock & Cars 2026
The Saturday lunchtime meal at Relais Cathare, however, is subject to a charge and requires booking with the organization.
Rock & Cars — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 12 June to 14 June 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 — Rock & Cars
Practical information
Access
By car: Lavaur is located 40 km east of Toulouse via the A68 (Lavaur exit). Free parking near the site.
By train: Lavaur station, served by TER Occitanie from Toulouse (approx. 45 min).
Admission
Free admission for the entire event: concerts, vehicle exhibitions, and activities.
Schedules
Friday evening: concerts in Lavaur's bars from 7 p.m. Saturday: site opens at 2 p.m., concerts from 6 p.m. Sunday: opens at 9 a.m., parade at noon, awards ceremony at 5 p.m.
Rock'&'Cars: the festival that makes Lavaur roar
Since 2005, the Festival Rock'&'Cars has established itself as the major event for rock'n'roll and automotive culture in the southwest of France. Every year in June, the town of Lavaur, in the heart of the Tarn's Pays de Cocagne, vibrates to the sound of electric guitars and V8 engines for three days of free, popular celebration.
The alliance of music and automobiles
Rock'&'Cars happily marries two complementary passions. On the music side, bands playing blues, rockabilly, and rock'n'roll ignite the stages from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. French and international groups perform one after another, offering a lively panorama of these musical genres born in 1950s America. On the engine side, over 800 vintage vehicles take over the streets and squares of Lavaur: chromed American cars, gleaming Rods and Kustoms, vintage European sedans, and hundreds of legendary motorcycles, including spectacular Harley-Davidsons.
The fifties spirit in the heart of Tarn
Rock'&'Cars is not just about concerts and vehicle exhibitions. The festival cultivates an authentic retro atmosphere that appeals to all generations: pin-up parades, motorized rides in the Tarn countryside, elegance contests, vintage clothing stalls, tattoo artists, and old-school barbers. On-site catering — burgers, hot dogs, barbecue — completes this immersion into the American world of the fifties.
A free and popular event
True to its spirit of popular celebration, Rock'&'Cars is completely free, allowing families, enthusiasts, and the curious to freely enjoy all the concerts, exhibitions, and activities. This free admission, rare for an event of this scale, makes Rock'&'Cars a unique gathering in the festival landscape of southern France.
Where does it take place — Rock & Cars
Rock & Cars in brief
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