Fête du Biou d'Arbois
Age-old wine tradition in the heart of the Jura vineyard
2026
About Biou d'Arbois
Biou d'Arbois — edition 2026
On September 5 and 6, 2026, the winemakers of Arbois will carry the 'Biou'—a giant grape cluster weighing 80 to 100 kg—to Saint-Just Church. The program includes traditional grape harvesting at Château Pécauld, a torchlight procession, fireworks, the Crown parade, and a complimentary aperitif on rue de Bourgogne.
2026 Edition
The Fête du Biou takes place on September 5 and 6, 2026, in Arbois, which is also celebrating the 82nd anniversary of its liberation that same weekend. Festivities kick off on Friday, September 4, with the distribution of 'Cartes Avantages Jeunes' at the Town Hall, a pétanque tournament at the municipal stadium, and the opening of the funfair, which remains open until Sunday evening. The entire event is free of charge.
The UNESCO Candidacy
The Biou d'Arbois is the official French nomination for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The candidacy will be reviewed by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee during its 21st session in November-December 2026 in China.
Traffic and Access on Sunday
On Sunday, September 6, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, parking and traffic are prohibited within the procession perimeter: avenue Pasteur from the route de Besançon to rue de Courcelles, rue de Courcelles, Grande Rue Basse, Grande Rue Haute (from rue du Collège to place de la Liberté), place de la Liberté, rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, the Saint-Just church parking lot, rue de Bourgogne, and rue du Vieil-Hôpital.
Pedestrians must use controlled access points: rue de Faramand, route de Lyon, place de la Liberté (Grande Rue Haute side), promenade des Tiercelines (facing the Pasteur statue), avenue Pasteur (near Maison Pasteur), Petite Place, rue du Vieil-Hôpital, and rue de Bourgogne (at the intersection with rue Bousson-de-Mairet). The RN83 ramps leading to the route de Lyon will be closed during this time, and heavy goods vehicles, buses, and camper vans are prohibited from the route.
Highlights Biou d'Arbois 2026
- The 'Biou' procession and the offering of the giant grape cluster at Saint-Just Church, Sunday, September 6, starting at 9:40 AM
- The Arbois 'Biou' candidacy to be reviewed by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee in November-December 2026 in China
- Traditional grape harvest in the Jura Vine and Wine Museum vineyards, Saturday, September 5, starting at 1:30 PM
- Torchlight procession with Biou'Z Musik at 8:45 PM and fireworks at 10:00 PM, Saturday, September 5
- 82nd anniversary of the liberation of Arbois, celebrated on Sunday at the War Memorial
Programme Biou d'Arbois 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026
- 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM — Distribution of 'Cartes Avantages Jeunes' · Town Hall · for Arbois residents aged 10 to 25
- 6:00 PM — Pétanque tournament · Municipal Stadium · organized by La Pétanque arboisienne club, doubles format, 4 rounds followed by finals, €12 per team
- Evening — Funfair opens
Saturday, September 5, 2026
- 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM — Open house at the Tennis Club Arboisien · Éthole Complex
- 1:30 PM — Departure of the traditional grape harvest procession · Saint-Just parking lot, heading towards Château Pécauld
- 2:00 PM — Crafting of the 'Biou' and the Crown by local winemakers · Maison Vercel, rue de Courcelles
- 2:30 PM — Start of the traditional grape harvest · vineyards of the Jura Vine and Wine Museum, Château Pécauld
- 3:30 PM — Grape pressing and tasting of the fresh grape must · Château Pécauld
- 8:45 PM — Torchlight procession departure with Biou'Z Musik and the Arbois fire brigade · Promenade Pasteur
- 10:00 PM — Fireworks display, subject to prefectural authorization · public access at the main municipal stadium, avenue Maréchal-Leclerc, controlled access via rue de Larney · refreshments and snacks provided by the Triangle d'Or Jura Foot club
Sunday, September 6, 2026
- 9:40 AM — Departure of the 'Biou' procession · in front of Maison Vercel, rue de Courcelles
- 10:00 AM — Mass and the offering of the 'Biou' · Saint-Just Church
- 11:30 AM — Departure of the Crown parade, featuring the temporary Brass Band of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and the Le Pélican Brass Band · in front of Maison Pasteur
- 11:45 AM — Laying of the grape crown by the Fruitière vinicole d'Arbois and the Arbois Viticulture Society, followed by a patriotic ceremony · War Memorial
- 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM — Aperitif hosted by the AOC Arbois winemakers · rue de Bourgogne, pedestrian-only
- 4:00 PM — Free concert by the temporary Brass Band of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté · Pasteur statue esplanade, moved to Espace Pasteur (place Notre-Dame) in case of rain
- All day — 'L'Arbois des Peintres' painting competition · registration from 8:00 AM, awards ceremony at 6:30 PM at the Town Hall · information at 07 67 03 88 77 or 06 95 81 04 39
- All day — Philatelic souvenir exhibition and special stamp sale · Saint-Just Church square
Ongoing throughout the weekend
- Funfair, from Friday evening, September 4, to Sunday evening, September 6
- Arbois ULM open house, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM · Grange Vauxy
- Free entry to municipal museums: Jura Vine and Wine Museum (Château Pécauld, rue des Fossés) and the Hôtel Sarret de Grozon Art Museum (9 Grande Rue)
- Guided city tours: Saturday at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, Sunday at 2:30 PM. Free, limited spots, meet at the tourist office 10 minutes before departure (03 84 73 01 34)
Prices Biou d'Arbois 2026
Pétanque tournament on Friday, September 4: €12 per team (doubles).
Municipal museums are free throughout the weekend.
Guided city tours are free, but spots are limited.
Practical information — Biou d'Arbois
Practical information
Location
The Fête du Biou takes place in the Arbois town center (39600), from Maison Vercel to Saint-Just church.
Dates
The Fête du Biou takes place every year on the first weekend of September, during the feast of Saint-Just, patron of the parish.
Typical program
- Saturday 2:00 PM: crafting of the Biou and the crown at Maison Vercel.
- Saturday 8:45 PM: torchlight procession.
- Saturday 10:00 PM: fireworks.
- Sunday 9:40 AM: Biou procession.
- Sunday 10:00 AM: mass and offering of the Biou at Saint-Just.
- Sunday 11:30 AM: crown procession.
Prices
Free admission.
Access
- By car: Arbois is located on the N83 between Besançon (45 km) and Lons-le-Saunier (40 km). Free parking at the entrance of the town.
- By train: Mouchard station (10 km).
Contact
Arbois Town Hall. Website: www.arbois.fr.
A centuries-old tradition
The Fête du Biou d'Arbois is one of the oldest wine traditions in France. The first written records of this ceremony date back to the 17th century, but its origins are likely much older. The word Biou refers to a giant bunch of grapes weighing between 80 and 100 kg, made from the finest harvest grapes, offered by the winegrowers of Arbois to their patron saint.
Crafting the Biou
The day before the ceremony, the winegrowers of Arbois gather at the Maison Vercel, rue de Courcelles, to craft the Biou and the vine crown:
- Grape selection: each winegrower from the Arbois AOC appellation brings the finest bunches from their harvest, symbolizing the unity of the winegrowing community.
- Assembly: the bunches are assembled on a wooden frame to form a spectacular giant bunch, representing the five Jura grape varieties.
- The crown: a crown of vine leaves is also made to accompany the Biou.
The procession and the mass
On Sunday morning, the Biou procession winds through the streets of Arbois in a solemn and festive atmosphere:
- 9:40 AM: departure of the procession from Maison Vercel, the Biou carried by the winegrowers.
- 10:00 AM: solemn mass at the Saint-Just church, during which the Biou is hung from the nave ceiling as an offering.
- 11:30 AM: departure of the crown procession with a brass band and invited orchestra.
Popular festivities
The Fête du Biou is also a major popular festival:
- Saturday evening: torchlight procession with the firefighters and musical entertainment in the streets of Arbois.
- 10:00 PM: spectacular fireworks display over the Cuisance river.
- Sunday: after the procession, festive meal, ball, and entertainment in the town center.
Towards UNESCO
The Fête du Biou has been selected as France's candidate for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2026. This international recognition would celebrate a living tradition that has united the Arbois winegrowing community for centuries through a symbolic gesture of sharing and gratitude towards the land.
Where does it take place — Biou d'Arbois
Biou d'Arbois in brief
History of Biou d'Arbois
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Arbois
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)