Fête de l'Âne de Gignac
Tradition/folklore in Gignac, Hérault
About Fête de l'Âne de Gignac
Fête de l'Âne de Gignac in Gignac
Fête de l'Âne de Gignac is a must-attend event in the cultural life of Gignac and the Hérault department, in Occitanie. Since its creation in 1896, this event has established itself as a benchmark for tradition/folklore, attracting a loyal and curious audience each year.
Presentation
Ascension Day festival celebrating the totem animal of Gignac with a procession of Martin, Occitan songs, and entertainment over 5 days.
An event rooted in its territory
Located in the heart of Gignac, Fête de l'Âne de Gignac takes advantage of the exceptional setting of the commune and its heritage. The event fully participates in the tourist attractiveness of the Hérault department and enhances the cultural, natural, and human riches of the Occitanie region. The Hérault department, bathed by the Mediterranean and crossed by varied landscapes from the coast to the Larzac, offers an ideal setting for hosting quality cultural events.
Program and entertainment
Each edition of Fête de l'Âne de Gignac offers a varied program combining tradition/folklore and conviviality. Visitors can enjoy multiple activities, discoveries, and moments of sharing that make this event rich. The complete program is communicated each year through the official channels of the event.
A convivial event
Fête de l'Âne de Gignac is above all a moment of sharing and conviviality. Whether you are an informed enthusiast or simply curious, everyone will find something to satisfy their curiosity and have a pleasant time in Gignac. The warm welcome from the organizers and volunteers makes each edition a memorable experience.
Fête de l'Âne de Gignac — edition 2026
The Gignac Donkey Festival returns in 2026 from Wednesday, May 13th to Sunday, May 17th, as part of the Ascension Day Festivities. For five days, the town center of Gignac (Hérault) comes alive around Martin, the commune's totemic donkey, with morning serenades, processions, concerts, and open-air taverns with free admission.
The Gignac Donkey Festival 2026
From Wednesday, May 13th to Sunday, May 17th, 2026, Gignac celebrates its totemic donkey Martin during the Ascension Day Festivities. An emblematic event of the Hérault valley, the festival features the large donkey effigy, covered in a blue robe and topped with a head whose jaws loudly clatter, parading through the streets of the old town center, surrounded by costumed dancers and accompanied by Occitan songs.
The tradition dates back to 1896 and has its roots in a local legend: on an Ascension Day in the year 719, the braying of a donkey is said to have woken the inhabitants of Gignac as invaders were about to take the village, thus saving the city. Since then, the donkey has become Gignac's totemic animal and the heart of these festivities.
For five days, the program combines morning serenades in the streets, processions of the donkey's head, concerts (including those of the Or Notes festival), balls, and DJ nights, all held in the town center squares (Place de l'Esplanade, Place de Verdun) and at the Le Riveral gymnasium, with guinguettes, refreshment stands, and food services.
Programme Fête de l'Âne de Gignac 2026
Wednesday, May 13th, 2026
- Morning serenades in the town center (afternoon)
- Procession of the donkey's head, Occitan songs, and guinguette in the evening
Thursday, May 14th, 2026 (Ascension Day)
- Morning serenades and grand donkey procession
- Concerts and musical entertainment
Friday, May 15th, 2026
- Workshops and concerts of the Or Notes festival
- Musical evening
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
- Concerts and themed evening (90s-2000s)
Sunday, May 17th, 2026
- Public presentation followed by a concert (brass band)
- Closing aperitif
Indicative program subject to adjustments. Official detailed program communicated by the town hall and the Saint-Guilhem - Vallée de l'Hérault tourist office.
Highlights Fête de l'Âne de Gignac 2026
- 131st edition
- In Gignac, Hérault
Prices Fête de l'Âne de Gignac 2026
Practical information — Fête de l'Âne de Gignac
Practical Information
Location
Gignac (34150), Hérault.
Access
Travel to Gignac by road. Parking is available on the outskirts of the event site. Consult official information for access details.
Prices
Free admission.
Contact
For more information, consult the official website of the event or contact the Gignac town hall.
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