Fête du Sel
The great traditional salt festival in Salies-de-Béarn
2026
About Fête du Sel
Fête du Sel — edition 2026
The Fête du Sel celebrates its 45th anniversary from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, in Salies-de-Béarn, under the theme "Culture and Traditions of the South-West." The four-day program organized by the Jurade du Sel includes: the Histoirottes evening with the Orphéon, the opening at the Bayaà with Ozenki, Quinz'amics, and Los Gojats del Porti, a craft market, the Trottisel and Herrades races, a parade of 19 floats, and the World Championship of Sameaux.
2026 Edition
The 45th Fête du Sel takes place from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, on the second weekend of September. The theme chosen by the Jurade du Sel for the parade is "Culture and Traditions of the South-West."
Thursday kicks off at Maurice Ravel Hall with the Histoirottes evening, a singing and snacking event hosted by the Orphéon (€5 + €2 for the salt pouch). On Friday, the official opening takes place at 8:00 PM at the Place du Bayaà, featuring the Los Aigassuts brass band and the salt throwing ceremony, followed by three men's choirs for the Basque-Béarnais and Corrèze evening: Ozenki from the Basque Country, Quinz'amics from Béarn, and Los Gojats del Porti from Corrèze.
On Saturday, the craft market sets up in the streets from 10:00 AM, with a children's area around the public garden. The Trottisel, a scooter race for 6 to 12-year-olds, starts at 3:00 PM from the public garden; the Herrades and Herradinettes race follows at 5:00 PM at the Bayaà. The evening begins with the Jurade dinner at 7:30 PM (€20 for adults, €12 for children, reservation required), followed by Smile Andco performing at the Bayaà at 8:00 PM, with free sangria at 9:00 PM.
Sunday is the busiest day: association stalls from 8:00 AM, craft market and High Mass in Béarnais at Saint-Vincent Church at 10:00 AM, parade of brotherhoods at 11:00 AM, inductions at 11:30 AM, Salisien Quadrille at noon, the Grand Heste meal at 1:00 PM (€30, menu by Maison Ihidoy), the parade of 19 floats and brass bands at 3:15 PM, the World Championship of Sameaux at 6:00 PM, and a closing dance with Hesti Music until 9:00 PM.
Street entertainment is free to access, and wearing the €2 salt pouch is highly recommended. Meals can be booked with the Jurade du Sel at 06 16 57 02 68 or [email protected].
Highlights Fête du Sel 2026
- Parade of 19 floats and brass bands, Sunday at 3:15 PM, on the theme "Culture and Traditions of the South-West"
- World Championship of Sameaux, Sunday at 6:00 PM at the Bayaà
- Herrades and Herradinettes race, Saturday at 5:00 PM at the Bayaà
- Basque-Béarnais and Corrèze evening with Ozenki, Quinz'amics, and Los Gojats del Porti, Friday at 8:30 PM
- Craft market in the streets of Salies, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM
- High Mass in Béarnais at Saint-Vincent Church and Salisien Quadrille, Sunday
- Histoirottes evening with the Orphéon, Thursday at 7:00 PM at Maurice Ravel Hall
Programme Fête du Sel 2026
Thursday, September 10, 2026 — Maurice Ravel Hall
- 7:00 PM — Histoirottes Evening: singing and snacking with the Orphéon · entry €5 + salt pouch €2
Friday, September 11, 2026 — Place du Bayaà
- 8:00 PM — Official opening of the Fête du Sel, with the Los Aigassuts brass band and the salt throwing ceremony
- 8:30 PM — Basque-Béarnais and Corrèze evening featuring Ozenki (Basque men's choir), Quinz'amics (Béarn men's choir), and Los Gojats del Porti (Corrèze men's choir)
Saturday, September 12, 2026
- From 10:00 AM — Craft market in the streets of Salies
- From 10:00 AM — Children's area near the public garden: games and rides
- 3:00 PM — La Trottisel, scooter race · starts at the public garden · for children aged 6 to 12, registration required at 06 24 73 82 97
- 5:00 PM — Herrades and Herradinettes race · at the Bayaà
- 7:30 PM — Jurade Dinner · at the Bayaà · €20 for adults, €12 for children, reservation required
- 8:00 PM — Musical evening at the Bayaà with Smile Andco
- 9:00 PM — Free sangria
Sunday, September 13, 2026
- 8:00 AM — Association stalls (estanquets) · at the Bayaà
- 10:00 AM — Craft market in the streets of Salies
- 10:00 AM — High Mass in Béarnais · Saint-Vincent Church
- 11:00 AM — Parade of brotherhoods, villages, and associations
- 11:30 AM — Induction of dignitaries · at the Bayaà
- 12:00 PM — The Salisien Quadrille, followed by traditional dances
- 1:00 PM — Grand Heste Meal · at the Bayaà · €30, reservation required · menu by Maison Ihidoy, entertainment by the Los Aigassuts brass band
- 3:15 PM — Parade of 19 floats and brass bands on the theme "Culture and Traditions of the South-West"
- 6:00 PM — World Championship of Sameaux · at the Bayaà
- 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM — Closing dance with Hesti Music
Ongoing
- Games, rides, and treats for children on Rue des Bains, Saturday and Sunday
- Salt pouch for €2, which is highly recommended to be worn throughout the festival
Prices Fête du Sel 2026
Salt pouch: €2 — wearing it is highly recommended throughout the festival.
Thursday Histoirottes evening: €5 + €2 salt pouch.
Saturday night Jurade dinner: €20 for adults, €12 for children, reservation required.
Sunday lunch Grand Heste meal: €30, reservation required.
Meal reservations with the Jurade du Sel: 06 16 57 02 68 — [email protected]
Practical information — Fête du Sel
Practical information
Access
By car: Salies-de-Béarn is accessible via the A64 motorway (exit 7). Free parking is available on the outskirts of the town center.
By train: The nearest stations are Orthez or Puyoô (about 15 km away), with bus or taxi connections available.
Airports: Pau-Pyrénées and Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne, about 45 minutes away.
2026 Rates
- Thursday Histoirottes evening: 5 € + 2 € for a bag of salt
- Saturday evening Jurade dinner: 20 € for adults, 12 € for children (reservation required)
- Sunday lunch Heste grand meal: 30 € (reservation required)
- Street entertainment: Free access
Contact
Jurade du Sel: [email protected] — 06 16 57 02 68
2, avenue Al Cartero, 64270 Salies-de-Béarn
The Salt Festival: A tribute to the white gold of Salies-de-Béarn
Every September, Salies-de-Béarn dedicates four days to the thousand-year history of the spa town's salt. Since 1980, the Jurade du Sel has organized this popular festival that brings Béarnais traditions to life.
A history of salt and tradition
Salt from Salies-de-Béarn has been harvested since antiquity. Legend has it that a wounded wild boar was found covered in salt crystals, revealing the salt spring that would make the town's fortune. The Salt Festival celebrates the foundational role of salt in the identity of Salies-de-Béarn, particularly its use in the production of Bayonne ham.
Thursday and Friday: Evenings of song
The festival kicks off on Thursday evening at the Salle Maurice Ravel with the Histoirottes evening, featuring a cantère (singing) and grignotère (snacking) hosted by the Orphéon. The official opening takes place on Friday at 8:00 PM at the Place du Bayaà, with the Los Aigassuts band and the traditional salt tossing, followed by an evening of Basque and Béarnais songs.
Saturday: Craft market and traditional races
The craft market opens at 10:00 AM in the shaded streets of Salies, featuring local products and crafts, with a children's area set up around the public garden. In the afternoon, the Trottisel, a scooter race for children, starts from the public garden, followed by the herrades and herradinettes race—using traditional wooden buckets—at the Bayaà. The day concludes with the Jurade dinner and a musical evening.
Sunday: The float parade
Sunday is the busiest day. The morning brings together association stalls, high mass in Béarnais at the Saint-Vincent church, the parade of brotherhoods, villages, and associations, the induction of personalities at the Bayaà, and the Salisien quadrille. In the afternoon, a parade of decorated floats accompanied by brass bands travels through the streets of Salies. The day concludes with the world championship for carriers of sameaux (traditional wooden buckets from Salies) and the closing ball.
The Jurade du Sel
The Salt Festival is organized by the Jurade du Sel, a brotherhood dedicated to safeguarding the salt-making traditions of Salies-de-Béarn. Founded to keep the memory of salt and its crafts alive, it brings together volunteers who prepare for the event throughout the year.
Where does it take place — Fête du Sel
Fête du Sel in brief
History of Fête du Sel
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Salies-de-Béarn
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