Festival Sur le Champ !
The biggest free festival in Drôme in the heart of Valence
About Sur le Champ !
Festival Sur le Champ !: Valence's Free Musical Celebration
Since 2015, the Festival Sur le Champ ! has transformed the Champ de Mars esplanade into a huge open-air stage every summer, in the heart of Valence. Supported by the City of Valence, this 100% free festival has quickly established itself as the biggest cultural event in Drôme and one of the most important free music festivals in France.
An Ambitious and Accessible Musical Program
The festival is distinguished by a program that is both demanding and popular, mixing headliners from the French scene, national discoveries, and local talents. Each evening offers a different atmosphere: pop and French song, hip-hop and electro, world music, soul, and funk. Artists such as Zazie, Dionysos, Amadou et Mariam, Olivia Ruiz, Irène Drésel, and Julien Granel have performed on the Champ de Mars stage in recent years.
Over four evenings, about a dozen concerts are offered, with doors opening at 7 PM and festivities continuing until 1 AM.
An Exceptional Outdoor Setting
The Champ de Mars offers a unique setting for this open-air festival. Located in the city center of Valence, this green space boasts breathtaking views of the Château de Crussol and the Ardèche hills. The atmosphere is relaxed, family-friendly, and festive, with catering areas (food trucks, night market) and a bar serving drinks from 7 PM onwards.
The "Off" Program: Complementary Programming
Beyond the main stage concerts, the festival offers the "Off", a parallel program that takes over various locations in the city: acoustic concerts at the Musée de Valence, evenings at the contemporary music department of the Conservatory, and events in Valence's bars and concert venues. These "Off" events extend the musical experience and allow visitors to discover the city's rich cultural offerings.
A Popular and Intergenerational Event
With over 42,000 spectators in 2024, the Festival Sur le Champ ! confirms its status as a flagship event of the Valence summer year after year. Free and open to all, it attracts a diverse audience—families, young people, music lovers—united by the pleasure of open-air music. The festival also contributes to the tourism appeal of Valence and the Drôme region, attracting visitors from across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and beyond.
Sur le Champ ! — edition 2026
The 10th edition of Festival Sur le Champ! takes place from July 22nd to 24th, 2026 at the Champ de Mars in Valence. For its anniversary, the largest free festival in Drôme tightens its format to three evenings of free open-air concerts, from 7 PM to 1 AM, with Oxmo Puccino, Stephan Eicher, and Fatoumata Diawara as headliners.
2026 Edition - The Festival's 10th Anniversary
Festival Sur le Champ! celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026. To mark the occasion, the City of Valence offers a condensed but intense program: three evenings of 100% free concerts at the Champ de Mars, from Wednesday, July 22nd to Friday, July 24th, from 7 PM to 1 AM. Each evening is dedicated to a musical genre: urban cultures on Wednesday, rock and chanson on Thursday, world music on Friday.
On site, food trucks and a bar run by the Mistral Palace team allow visitors to eat and drink. The 2026 poster was created from a work by Cuban artist Ricardo Ponce. The festival also extends beyond its main venue with free "off" concerts throughout July in the city center, and an intimate closing event with the group Balladur at the Musée de Valence on Saturday, July 25th at 4 PM.
Programme Sur le Champ ! 2026
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 - Urban Cultures
- 8:00 PM - Jey Khemeya
- 9:00 PM - Oxmo Puccino
- 11:15 PM - Maxime Dangles & Tommy Rizzitelli (+ guest)
Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 - Rock, Chanson and Pop
- 8:00 PM - Not Scientists
- 9:00 PM - Puggy
- 10:30 PM - Stephan Eicher ("Poussière d'or" tour)
Friday, July 24th, 2026 - World Music
- 8:00 PM - Maïa
- 9:00 PM - Dafné Kritharas
- 10:30 PM - Fatoumata Diawara
Saturday, July 25th, 2026 - Closing (off-site)
- 4:00 PM - Balladur, at the Musée de Valence (intimate format)
Highlights Sur le Champ ! 2026
- 10th anniversary of the largest free festival in Drôme
- Three evenings of 100% free concerts at the Champ de Mars
- Headliners: Oxmo Puccino, Stephan Eicher, and Fatoumata Diawara
- Intimate closing concert by Balladur at the Musée de Valence
Prices Sur le Champ ! 2026
Practical information — Sur le Champ !
Practical Information
Access
Address: Champ de Mars, 26000 Valence
By car: Valence is accessible via the A7 motorway (Valence Nord or Valence Sud exit). Several parking lots are available near the Champ de Mars.
By train: Valence-Ville station is a 10-minute walk from the Champ de Mars. The TGV station Valence Rhône-Alpes Sud is accessible by shuttle or car (15 min).
By bus: The Citéa network serves the city center of Valence with several stops near the festival.
Prices
The festival is completely free. No tickets, no reservations needed. Free access each evening from 7 PM to 1 AM.
Food & Drink
Food trucks and a bar are set up on site every evening from 7 PM. A night market is also offered during the festival.
Tips
- Arrive early to get the best spots in front of the stage.
- Bring sun protection and warm clothing for the end of the evening.
- The festival is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
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Where does it take place — Sur le Champ !
Champ de Mars
Champ de Mars, 26000 Valence