Fête de la Musique de Saint-Étienne
Music takes over the streets, squares, and bars of Saint-Étienne
About Fête de la Musique
Every year around June 21st, the Fête de la Musique transforms Saint-Étienne into a huge open-air stage. Organized by the City of Saint-Étienne since 1983, this free celebration, open to all, takes over the squares, streets, terraces, and bars of the city center with about fifty concerts mixing rock, rap, jazz, electro, French chanson, world music, and reggae. From Place Jean Jaurès to Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, from Place Dorian to Parc Joseph Sanguedolce, nine stages host emerging Saint-Étienne artists and established bands. The event also includes Les Sons de la Mine at Puits Couriot, an evening dedicated to urban and electronic music. With a budget of 160,000 euros and over 50,000 people expected, the Fête de la Musique is one of the highlights of the Saint-Étienne summer.
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The Fête de la Musique in Saint-Étienne: A City in Music
Since 1983, Saint-Étienne has celebrated the Fête de la Musique with fervor around the summer solstice. A national event launched by Jack Lang in 1982, the Fête de la Musique immediately established itself in Saint-Étienne as an unmissable popular gathering. The City organizes an ambitious and eclectic program each year, transforming the city center into a vast free festival open to all.
Nine Stages Across the City
The Saint-Étienne Fête de la Musique unfolds on nine stages spread throughout the city center and beyond:
- Place Jean Jaurès: Emerging stage hosting young Saint-Étienne rock, reggae, and blues bands
- Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville: Chanson and world music stage with brass bands, polyphonies, and French-speaking artists
- Place Dorian: Jazz stage in partnership with the association Gaga Jazz and Le Solar, showcasing the jazz classes of the Conservatoire Massenet
- Place Chavanelle: Stage dedicated to amateur musicians and emerging talents in contemporary music
- Parc Joseph Sanguedolce (Puits Couriot): Hosts Les Sons de la Mine, a flagship event for urban and electronic music with two stages (Chevalement and Guinguette)
- Temple, rue Élisée Reclus: Vocal ensembles and choirs
- Cité du Design, jardin Michel-Olagnier: Musical naps and outdoor performances
- Conservatoire Massenet: Participatory workshops open to the public
Les Sons de la Mine: Couriot's Pre-Party
The festivities kick off on Friday evening with Les Sons de la Mine at Puits Couriot. This event, co-organized with four cultural structures from the region, offers an evening of urban, electronic, dub, and hip-hop music on two stages in Parc Joseph Sanguedolce. Inaugurated by a brass and percussion procession from Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, the evening features a dozen artists until 2:30 AM.
An Eclectic and Local Program
The Saint-Étienne Fête de la Musique makes it a point of honor to promote local talent: each edition features about fifteen Saint-Étienne bands alongside regional and national artists. The musical genres are as varied as the city's musical landscape: rock, rap, jazz, electro, French chanson, world music, reggae, blues, batucada, polyphonies, and classical music. Musical processions in the city center complete the program with electro funk mobile and batucada groups.
A Popular and Unifying Event
With over 50,000 people expected each year on Saturday, June 21st, the Fête de la Musique is one of Saint-Étienne's most unifying events. Admission is completely free on all stages, and STAS public transport services are extended past midnight to facilitate festival-goers' return. The event is fully integrated into the City's cultural policy, which dedicates a budget of approximately 160,000 euros to this popular event.
Fête de la Musique — edition 2026
The 44th edition of the Fête de la Musique will take over Saint-Étienne from June 19th to 21st, 2026. As every year, the squares, streets, terraces, and bars of the city center will host dozens of free concerts mixing rock, rap, jazz, electro, French chanson, and world music. On Sunday, June 21st, the official day of the Fête de la Musique, the nine Saint-Étienne stages will resonate from 5:30 PM to 1 AM. The weekend will begin on Friday evening with a new edition of Les Sons de la Mine at Puits Couriot.
44th Edition — June 19-21, 2026
The Fête de la Musique returns to Saint-Étienne for its 44th edition, from Friday, June 19th to Sunday, June 21st, 2026. Sunday, June 21st, the official date of the Fête de la Musique and the summer solstice, will be the highlight of this free event that transforms the city into a huge open-air concert.
A Three-Day Weekend
True to the format inaugurated in previous editions, the Saint-Étienne Fête de la Musique will unfold over three days:
- Friday, June 19th: Kick-off at Puits Couriot with Les Sons de la Mine, an evening of urban and electronic music in Parc Joseph Sanguedolce
- Saturday, June 20th: First musical activities in the city center, processions, and concerts in the squares
- Sunday, June 21st: Main day with all nine stages in operation, concerts from 5:30 PM to 1 AM
Expected Stages
The program will be spread across the emblematic locations of the Saint-Étienne Fête de la Musique:
- Place Jean Jaurès: Emerging stage highlighting young Saint-Étienne talents
- Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville: Chanson and world music stage
- Place Dorian: Jazz stage
- Place Chavanelle: Amateur and emerging talent stage
- Parc Joseph Sanguedolce: Les Sons de la Mine (urban and electronic music)
- Temple, rue Élisée Reclus: Vocal ensembles
- Cité du Design: Musical naps and shows
- Conservatoire Massenet: Participatory workshops
The detailed program and artist names will be announced in Spring 2026 on the City of Saint-Étienne website.
Prices Fête de la Musique 2026
Practical information — Fête de la Musique
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By Car: Saint-Étienne is accessible via the A72 motorway from Lyon (approx. 1h) and the RN88 from Le Puy-en-Velay (approx. 1h15). Public parking available in the city center (Hôtel de Ville parking, Dorian parking, Monthieu parking).
By Train: Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux station is served by TGV from Paris (approx. 3h) and TER from Lyon (approx. 50 min). City center stages are accessible by tram from the station.
By Tram: The STAS network serves all stages. Tram lines T1, T2, and T3 with stops near Place Jean Jaurès, Hôtel-de-Ville, Dorian, and Chavanelle. Extended services after midnight on the night of the Fête de la Musique.
Prices
Completely free admission to all stages and concerts.
Schedules
Friday: Kick-off at 6 PM with a procession from Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville. Les Sons de la Mine at Puits Couriot from 6 PM to 2:30 AM.
Saturday: Processions in the city center from 3 PM. Concerts on the stages from 5:30 PM to 1 AM. Participatory workshops at Conservatoire Massenet from 2 PM to 4:30 PM.
Sunday: Musical naps and shows in the Jardin Michel-Olagnier (Cité du Design).
Practical Tips
- Hearing protection recommended, especially for children
- Water points and refreshment stands available at the various stages
- Food available in the bars and terraces of the city center
- Outdoor event: bring clothing suitable for the weather
Contact
Mairie de Saint-Étienne
Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville — 42000 Saint-Étienne
Phone: 04 77 48 77 48
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.saint-etienne.fr
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach Fête de la Musique at the best price.
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Where does it take place — Fête de la Musique
Places, rues, terrasses et bars du centre-ville de Saint-Étienne
Place Jean Jaurès, 42000 Saint-Étienne