Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes
Camargue Votive Festival, abrivados and traditions in Aigues-Mortes
About Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes
The Aigues-Mortes Votive Festival is one of the most prestigious votive festivals in Gard, celebrated every year in October in the medieval city of Aigues-Mortes. For nine days, the city vibrates to the rhythm of Camargue traditions: abrivados and bandidos, Camargue races in the arenas, encierros, bandas, balls, lunches in the meadows, and pétanque competitions. Organized by the City of Aigues-Mortes and the Comité des Fêtes des Ventres Bleus, it takes place notably on the Plan des Théâtres, these emblematic removable arenas listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments since 1993.
The Aigues-Mortes Votive Festival, a jewel of Camargue traditions
The Aigues-Mortes Votive Festival is one of the most prestigious and authentic votive festivals in Gard. Every year in October, the medieval city of Aigues-Mortes transforms for nine days into a living theater of Camargue traditions, welcoming aficionados, gardians, manadiers, and residents for a grand popular celebration.
An event classified as Camargue heritage
At the heart of the festival is the Plan des Théâtres: removable arenas, built from 106 wooden modules assembled at the foot of the southern ramparts, facing the salt marshes. Each stand has belonged to an Aigues-Mortes family for generations, and their allocation is subject to a lottery ceremony the month before the festival. Listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments in 1993, the Plan des Théâtres celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2024.
Abrivados, bandidos, and Camargue races
The heart of the festival lies in the Camargue bullfighting traditions: in the morning, the manadiers sort the bulls in the meadows; the abrivado then leads the herd, escorted by gardians on horseback, from the pastures to the arenas, crossing the streets of Aigues-Mortes; the Camargue races take place in the afternoon at the Plan des Théâtres; at the end of the day, the bandido escorts the bulls back to the meadows.
A popular and friendly festival
Beyond the races, the votive festival also includes lunches in the meadows every morning, musical entertainment with bandas and concerts throughout the city, daily balls, pétanque competitions every afternoon, fairground attractions, and the traditional Aigues-Mortes bullfight. During these nine days, the entire medieval city comes alive in an authentically Camargue atmosphere.
A municipal and associative organization
The festival is jointly organized by the City of Aigues-Mortes and the Comité des Fêtes des Ventres Bleus, in close collaboration with local manadiers and peñas. All parking lots in Aigues-Mortes are free during the votive festival (with the exception of parking lots P1, P2, and P9, which are closed for the needs of the event).
Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes will be held from October 4 to 12, 2026, in the medieval city. Nine days of Camargue traditions at the Plan des Théâtres, with abrivados, bandidos, Camargue races, bullfight, balls, bandas, lunches in the fields, and pétanque competitions.
Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes — 2026 Edition
From Sunday, October 4 to Monday, October 12, 2026, Aigues-Mortes celebrates its Fête Votive, one of the most prestigious in Gard. For nine days, the medieval city lives to the rhythm of Camargue traditions: daily abrivados in the streets, bandidos at the end of the day, Camargue races at the Plan des Théâtres, bullfight, lunches in the fields, musical entertainment, balls, bandas, and pétanque competitions every afternoon.
An edition supported by the City and the Comité des Fêtes des Ventres Bleus
As every year, the program is designed by the City of Aigues-Mortes and the Comité des Fêtes des Ventres Bleus, in partnership with the Camargue manadiers and local peñas. The draw ceremony for seats at the Plan des Théâtres traditionally takes place a few weeks before the start of the festivities.
Program and Practical Information
The detailed day-by-day program (schedules for abrivados, races, balls, concerts, bullfight) is published each year in September by the Aigues-Mortes Town Hall on ville-aigues-mortes.fr and by the Tourist Office on ot-aiguesmortes.com. All Aigues-Mortes car parks are free during the festival (except P1, P2, and P9, closed for the event's needs).
Highlights Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes 2026
- 9 days of Camargue Fête Votive in the medieval city
- Daily abrivados and bandidos supervised by horse-riding gardians
- Camargue races and bullfight at the Plan des Théâtres
- Lunches in the fields, balls, bandas, and concerts
- Pétanque competitions every afternoon
- Traditional draw ceremony for seats at the Plan des Théâtres
- All city car parks free during the festival
Prices Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes 2026
Practical information — Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes
Practical Information
Location
Medieval city of Aigues-Mortes (30220), Gard, Occitanie. The heart of the festival takes place at the Plan des Théâtres, removable arenas installed at the foot of the southern ramparts, with a view of the salt marshes.
Access
By road via the D979 (Montpellier or Nîmes). By train, Aigues-Mortes station served from Nîmes. All parking lots in Aigues-Mortes are free during the festival, with the exception of P1, P2, and P9 which are closed.
Accessibility
Access provided for people with reduced mobility.
Prices
Free entry and access to most activities. Specific prices for the bullfight (corrida) and certain bullfighting shows at the Plan des Théâtres (consult the official ticket office).
Contact
Mairie d'Aigues-Mortes — Place Saint-Louis, BP 23, 30220 Aigues-Mortes
Phone: 04 66 73 90 90
Email: [email protected]
Tourist Office: 04 66 53 73 00 — [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Fête Votive d'Aigues-Mortes
Plan des Théâtres (arènes démontables au pied des remparts sud)
Centre-ville et Plan des Théâtres, Aigues-Mortes, 30220 Aigues-Mortes