Fête du Cassoulet de Castelnaudary
The great gastronomic festival of the summer in Occitanie, world capital of cassoulet
2026
About Fête du Cassoulet
Fête du Cassoulet — edition 2026
The 25th Fête du Cassoulet takes over the city center of Castelnaudary from Wednesday, August 19th to Sunday, August 23rd, 2026. Enjoy five days of popular festivities with free admission: free concerts every night until 2 AM across the city's three main squares, featuring headliner Chimène Badi on Thursday, August 20th at Place de la République, grand cassoulet feasts, a gourmet and organic craft market, the 291st Chapter of the Grande Confrérie du Cassoulet, and the Grand Corso Fleuri parade with 13 floats on Sunday.
25th Edition: Five Days of Celebration, August 19th–23rd, 2026
The Fête du Cassoulet celebrates its quarter-century milestone from Wednesday, August 19th to Sunday, August 23rd, 2026. Concerts, entertainment, and parking are all free. The program spans the city center's three main squares—Place de la République, Place de Verdun, and the lower Cours de la République, which transforms into an open-air nightclub—with shows every night until 2 AM. Organizers expect around 70,000 visitors, including nearly 16,000 from other regions.
Free Musical Program Across Three Stages
The main stage at Place de la République hosts Chimène Badi on Thursday, August 20th at 10 PM, accompanied by the Richard Gardet Orchestra. Friday features the Céline Dion Tribute by Stéphanie Moland, La Folie des Années 80, and the Téléphone Tribute by the band Minitel. Saturday brings together Diane Dassigny, the Les Légendes des Comédies Musicales tour, and the Goldmen Tribute. Meanwhile, Place de Verdun offers the Feeling Quartet, the Orchestre No Name, and the band Abyss (Daniel Balavoine tribute and grand ball), while the lower Cours de la République hosts DJ sets with laser shows until 2 AM.
Grand Cassoulet Feasts
Every day, local associations, restaurateurs, and producers serve authentic Castelnaudary cassoulet at grand public meals held at the Halle aux Grains, the Pierre de Coubertin gymnasium, or the Piboulette boulodrome, ranging from €23 for the Mounjettes Villageoises meal to €60 for the Grande Confrérie gala dinner. All local restaurants also serve the dish throughout the festival. On Saturday, Place de la République hosts the biggest cassoulet eater contest: 15 minutes on the clock, with €150 and a ham up for grabs.
Local Traditions and the Grand Corso Fleuri
On Friday, August 21st, visiting brotherhoods parade from the Pierre de Coubertin gymnasium to the Théâtre des 3 Ponts for the 291st Chapter of the Confrérie du Cassoulet and the induction of new dignitaries—free admission. On Sunday morning, the Grande Confrérie joins the Collégiale Saint-Michel for mass and the blessing of the cassole, followed by the festival's highlight: the Grand Corso Fleuri with its 13 floats, displayed on Rue Lapasset from 10 AM before parading through the city streets at 3 PM.
Highlights Fête du Cassoulet 2026
- 25th anniversary edition, Wednesday, August 19th to Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, free concerts and parking
- Free concert by Chimène Badi on Thursday, August 20th at 10 PM, Place de la République
- Three stages with free access until 2 AM: Place de la République, Place de Verdun, and the open-air nightclub on the lower Cours
- 291st Chapter of the Confrérie du Cassoulet, Friday, August 21st at 5:30 PM at the Théâtre des 3 Ponts (free admission)
- Grand Corso Fleuri with 13 floats, Sunday, August 23rd at 3 PM in the city center
- 3rd biggest cassoulet eater contest, Saturday, August 22nd at 6 PM: 15 minutes on the clock, €150 and a ham to win
- Gourmet and organic craft market Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 8 PM, Cours de la République
Programme Fête du Cassoulet 2026
Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
- Daytime — 17th Ronde du Cassoulet: children's races and activities · city center (contact 06 42 11 77 32)
- 8 PM — Office du Commerce Chaurien meal, featuring the band 80'Waves · Halle aux Grains (€25)
- 8:30 PM — Bodega and concerts: Les Tontons Givrés followed by DJ Matdjay · Place de la République
Thursday, August 20th, 2026
- 7 PM — Official inauguration and throwing of the keys with the Grande Confrérie, music by the La Bienvenida brass band · Place de la République
- 7 PM — ROC XV Cadets/Juniors meal · Halle aux Grains (€24, reservations 04 68 94 11 59 or 06 68 88 96 47)
- 8:30 PM — Richard Gardet Orchestra, 1st set · Place de la République
- 9 PM — Feeling Quartet, dance music · Place de Verdun
- 10 PM — Chimène Badi · Place de la République
- 11:30 PM — Richard Gardet Orchestra, 2nd set · Place de la République
Friday, August 21st, 2026
- 4:30 PM — Welcome for brotherhoods · Pierre de Coubertin gymnasium
- 5 PM — Brass band parades · city center, and departure of the brotherhood procession to the Théâtre des 3 Ponts
- 5:30 PM — 291st Chapter of the Confrérie du Cassoulet: presentation of visiting brotherhoods and induction of new dignitaries · Théâtre des 3 Ponts (free admission)
- 7 PM to 9:30 PM — Mounjettes Villageoises meal · Halle aux Grains (€23, online booking via HelloAsso)
- 7 PM to 2 AM — Open-air nightclub: DJ Nat Music, DJ Meylips, DJ 7Seven, performer show and laser show · lower Cours de la République
- 8 PM — Grande Confrérie du Cassoulet gala dinner · Pierre de Coubertin gymnasium (€60, doors open at 7 PM, reservations 06 33 73 95 68 until August 17th)
- 8 PM — Céline Dion Tribute by Stéphanie Moland · Place de la République
- 9 PM to 1 AM — Orchestre No Name · Place de Verdun
- 10 PM — La Folie des Années 80 · Place de la République
- 11:45 PM — Téléphone Tribute by the band Minitel · Place de la République
Saturday, August 22nd, 2026
- 9 AM to 8 PM — Gourmet and organic craft market · Cours de la République and side alleys
- 9 AM to 6 PM — La Piboulette pétanque tournament · Piboulette boulodrome (registration 06 22 45 76 08 or 06 31 42 11 41)
- 10 AM to 5 PM — Village des Villages: inauguration at 12 PM, Mounjettes Villageoises puzzle at 12:30 PM, friendship drink at 12:45 PM, board games and music all day · Halle de Verdun
- 10 AM to 7 PM — Canal du Midi activities, free water games and inflatables from 2 PM to 6 PM · Quai du Port
- 10:45 AM and 3 PM — Brass band parade at retirement homes: Cité Pierre Estève (10:45 AM-12 PM) then Le Castelou (3 PM)
- 11 AM — Brass band music · city center
- 11 AM — Capoeira demonstration by the La Capoeira association · Place de Verdun
- 12 PM — La Piboulette pétanque meal · boulodrome (€35, reservations 06 31 42 11 41 or 06 21 39 22 55)
- 12 PM and 7:30 PM — Banquets Chauriens meal, open seating · Halle aux Grains (€25, tickets on site)
- 5 PM — Pole dance demonstrations by Air Art Studio · lower Cours de la République
- 6 PM — Hip-hop demonstrations by DKLIC Crew · lower Cours de la République
- 6 PM — 3rd biggest cassoulet eater contest, 15 minutes on the clock: €150 and a Maison Escudier ham to be won · Place de la République (online registration)
- 7 PM to 2 AM — Open-air nightclub: DJ Axel, DJ Ludo Moriane, Les Frères Rayz · lower Cours de la République
- 7:30 PM — Diane Dassigny · Place de la République
- 8 PM — Brass bands · Place de Verdun
- 9 PM — DJ Marx · Place de Verdun
- 9:15 PM — Les Légendes des Comédies Musicales tour · Place de la République
- 10 PM — Daniel Balavoine Tribute by the band Abyss · Place de Verdun
- 11:30 PM — Goldmen Tribute · Place de la République
- 11:30 PM — Grand Ball with the band Abyss · Place de Verdun
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
- 7 AM — Rando-Cyclo cycling tour: 60, 75, and 90 km routes, e-bikes allowed, registration and start from 7 AM to 9 AM, finish between 11:30 AM and 12 PM · Avenue du Maréchal Leclerc
- 9 AM to 8 PM — Gourmet and organic craft market · Cours de la République and side alleys
- 10 AM — Exhibition of the 13 Corso floats · Rue Lapasset
- 10 AM to 4 PM — Young Farmers' mini-farm: pigs, sheep, cows · Place de la Liberté
- 10:30 AM — Departure of the Grande Confrérie accompanied by brass bands · Halle aux Grains
- 11 AM — Mass and blessing of the cassole, presided over by Bishop Bruno Valentin · Collégiale Saint-Michel
- 11 AM — Concert by Les Sans Souci · central crossroads
- 11:30 AM — Aude Young Farmers' meal, with takeaway cassole available · Halle aux Grains (€25, limited seating, reservations 06 73 25 86 45)
- 12 PM — Cassoulet Airport, meal by reservation · Jean Doudiès flying club
- All day — Creators' market · Place de Verdun
- 3 PM — Grand Corso Fleuri: parade of 13 floats through the city center streets, accessible seating for disabled visitors opposite the war memorial
- 7:30 PM — Volunteers' meal · Halle aux Grains
Prices Fête du Cassoulet 2026
The grand cassoulet feasts are paid events and require separate reservations:
- Wednesday, August 19th, 8 PM, Halle aux Grains (Office du Commerce Chaurien): €25
- Thursday, August 20th, 7 PM, Halle aux Grains (ROC XV Cadets/Juniors): €24 — reservations 04 68 94 11 59 or 06 68 88 96 47
- Friday, August 21st, 7 PM to 9:30 PM, Halle aux Grains (Mounjettes Villageoises): €23 — online booking via HelloAsso only
- Friday, August 21st, 8 PM, Pierre de Coubertin gymnasium, Grande Confrérie gala dinner: €60 — reservations 06 33 73 95 68, closes August 17th, 2026
- Saturday, August 22nd, 12 PM, Piboulette boulodrome (Pétanque de la Piboulette): €35 — 06 31 42 11 41 or 06 21 39 22 55
- Saturday, August 22nd, 12 PM and 7:30 PM, Halle aux Grains (Banquets Chauriens): €25, tickets on site
- Sunday, August 23rd, 11:30 AM, Halle aux Grains (Aude Young Farmers): €25, limited seating — 06 73 25 86 45
All restaurants in Castelnaudary also serve cassoulet during the festival.
Practical information — Fête du Cassoulet
Practical Information
Getting there
The festival takes place in the heart of Castelnaudary, centered around the Cours de la République, Place de la République, Place de Verdun, and the Halle aux Grains.
- By car: Take the A61 motorway (Toulouse-Narbonne) and exit at Castelnaudary.
- By train: Castelnaudary train station is on the Toulouse-Narbonne line and is just a short walk from the town center.
- By plane: Carcassonne Airport is 35 km away, and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is 70 km away.
Parking
Parking is free throughout the duration of the festival.
Pricing
- Admission, concerts, and entertainment: Free of charge across the three main town squares.
- Cassoulet feasts: Paid entry and requires booking; prices range from €23 to €60 depending on the organizing association.
Opening hours
Concerts run every night until 2:00 AM. The official merchandise stand is located in front of the Tourist Office, open Monday to Sunday starting at 10:00 AM.
On-site services
- First aid: The Aude Premiers Secours station is located in front of the Halle aux Grains and includes an air-conditioned area.
- Prevention: The "Label Fête" chalet (offering alcohol and drug awareness) is located near the Tourist Office.
- Tradition: Organizers encourage visitors to dress in blue and white, the festival's official colors.
Contact
- Official website: www.fete-du-cassoulet.com
- Tourist Office: www.castelnaudary-tourisme.com
The world capital of cassoulet celebrates
Castelnaudary, the historic capital of cassoulet, celebrates its emblematic dish every summer during the Fête du Cassoulet. Created in 2000 by the Grande Confrérie du Cassoulet, the City of Castelnaudary, and the sports association CROC, this popular festival has become over two decades the biggest gastronomic event in the Aude department and one of the highlights of the summer in Occitanie, attracting over 50,000 visitors from all over France and abroad.
Cassoulet in all its forms
At the heart of the festival, cassoulet is of course in the spotlight. Prepared according to the ancestral recipe of Castelnaudary — lingot beans from Lauragais, duck confit, Toulouse sausage, pork, slowly cooked in the cassole, the earthenware dish that gives the dish its name — it is served during grand popular meals bringing together hundreds of diners seated outdoors. More than 70 cassoulets from local canners and restaurateurs are offered for tasting and sale. A producers' market brings together the best artisans of the Lauragais: charcuterie, mountain cheeses, honey, jams, Languedoc wines, and regional pastries.
Free concerts and festive entertainment
The Fête du Cassoulet is not limited to gastronomy. An eclectic and free musical program livens up the evenings: from musette to electro-pop, including French chanson, festive rock, and brass bands from the Southwest. The streets of Castelnaudary come alive with street performances, brass band parades, dance shows, and a grand parade of decorated floats. The entertainment is designed for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest, in an atmosphere of authentic popular celebration.
An event rooted in the tradition of the Lauragais
The Fête du Cassoulet is supported by the Grande Confrérie du Cassoulet de Castelnaudary, a gastronomic brotherhood that has been working for decades to promote and defend authentic cassoulet. The event is organized in partnership with the City of Castelnaudary, the Tourist Office, and numerous volunteers. Beyond the festival, the event contributes to the economic and tourist influence of the Lauragais, highlighting a living gastronomic heritage that is the pride of an entire region.
Where does it take place — Fête du Cassoulet
Fête du Cassoulet in brief
Other festivals near Castelnaudary
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