Fête Votive de Beaucaire
Madeleine Festival — traditional votive festival of Beaucaire
About Fête Votive de Beaucaire
The Madeleine Festival, Beaucaire's traditional votive festival, takes place every year around July 22nd, the day of Saint Mary Magdalene, patron saint of the town. These centuries-old festivities place Provençal and Camargue tradition at the heart of Beaucaire's historic center, in the Gard.
For a week, the town lives to the rhythm of Camargue races in the Paul Laurent arenas, abrivados and bandidos that run through the streets, encierros, parades in traditional costumes, open-air bodegas, concerts, and a large funfair on the Champ de Foire.
An emblematic votive festival of the Gard Camargue
The Madeleine Festival of Beaucaire is among the most important votive festivals in the south of France. Organized annually by the City of Beaucaire with the Terre d'Argence Tourist Office, they attract tens of thousands of visitors who come to celebrate the patron saint of the city, Saint Mary Magdalene, celebrated on July 22nd.
A grand opening parade
The festivities traditionally open on July 21st at 9 PM with a spectacular parade that brings together more than 700 participants in Provençal and Camargue costumes and a hundred horses and bulls. The procession starts from the Beaucaire-Tarascon bridge, runs along Quai du Général de Gaulle then Boulevards Foch and Joffre, to reach the Paul Laurent arenas. The parade is preceded by a renewal of vows at the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers.
Bullfighting and Camargue tradition
At the heart of the Madeleine Festival, the Camargue tradition unfolds in all its forms:
- Camargue races in the Paul Laurent arenas, without killing, with the best raseteurs of the season
- Abrivados and bandidos punctuating the days in the streets of the center, with the gardians on horseback supervising the bulls
- Encierros and bull releases in the arenas and certain arteries of the city center
- Bullfighting events coordinated by local bullfighting clubs
Festival, music and conviviality
Beyond the bullfighting tradition, the week offers a funfair on the Champ de Foire, lively bodegas in the evening, variety and traditional music concerts, as well as a final fireworks display fired from the Beaucaire fortress to close the celebrations.
The detailed day-by-day program is generally published on the official website of the City of Beaucaire and the Terre d'Argence Tourist Office a few weeks before the start of the festivities.
Fête Votive de Beaucaire — edition 2026
2026 edition of the Fêtes de la Madeleine, Beaucaire's traditional votive festival, from July 21 to 27, 2026. A week of Camargue tradition in the heart of the historic center: opening parade in costumes, Camargue races in the Arènes Paul Laurent, abrivados, bandidos, encierros, bodegas, funfair, and final fireworks display.
Fêtes de la Madeleine 2026 — Beaucaire
From Tuesday, July 21 to Monday, July 27, 2026, Beaucaire celebrates its patron saint, Marie-Madeleine, during the most emblematic votive festival of the Gard Camargue. For seven days, the city center, the Rhône quays, and the Arènes Paul Laurent live to the rhythm of Provençal and Camargue tradition.
2026 Program Framework
The Fêtes de la Madeleine traditionally open on July 21 at 9 p.m. with the grand opening parade, which brings together more than 700 participants in traditional costumes and about a hundred bulls and horses. The procession starts from the Beaucaire-Tarascon bridge, crosses the city center, and reaches the Arènes Paul Laurent.
The week is punctuated by:
- Camargue races in the Arènes Paul Laurent, with the best raseteurs of the season
- Daily abrivados and bandidos (bulls led by gardians through the streets of the center)
- Encierros and bull releases
- The funfair set up on the Champ de Foire
- Nightly bodegas for festive evenings
- Concerts, peñas, musical entertainment in the streets
- Final fireworks display fired from the Beaucaire fortress
The detailed day-by-day program, with precise schedules for Camargue races and bullfighting events, will be published a few weeks before the festivities on the official website of the City of Beaucaire and the Office de Tourisme Terre d'Argence.
Highlights Fête Votive de Beaucaire 2026
- Grande Madeleine 2026 from July 21 to 27 — official votive festival of Beaucaire
- Opening parade on July 21 at 9 p.m.: 700 participants in Provençal and Camargue costumes, bulls and horses
- Camargue races in the Arènes Paul Laurent (raseteurs, manades)
- Abrivados, bandidos and encierros in the city center streets
- Funfair, bodegas and concerts every evening on the Champ de Foire
- Final fireworks display fired from the fortress
Prices Fête Votive de Beaucaire 2026
Practical information — Fête Votive de Beaucaire
Practical Information
Locations
- Paul Laurent Arenas — Camargue races and bullfighting events
- Champ de Foire — funfair, bodegas, concerts
- City center and Rhône quays — parades, abrivados, bandidos
- Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers — opening ceremony
Access
Beaucaire is located in the Gard (30), in the immediate vicinity of Tarascon and approximately 25 km from Avignon and Nîmes.
- By car: A9 exit Remoulins or A54 exit Saint-Martin-de-Crau, then direction Beaucaire. Free parking recommended on the prairie (dedicated parking during the festivities).
- By train: Beaucaire station served by TER trains on the Nîmes – Avignon line.
Prices
Access to festivities, parades, and street entertainment is free. Camargue races in the Paul Laurent arenas are subject to a fee (tickets on site or at the Tourist Office).
Contact
Beaucaire Town Hall — Place Georges Clemenceau, BP 134, 30302 Beaucaire — Tel. 04 66 59 10 06
Terre d'Argence Tourist Office — 8 rue Victor Hugo, 30300 Beaucaire — Tel. 04 66 59 26 57
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Where does it take place — Fête Votive de Beaucaire
Arènes Paul Laurent, Champ de Foire et centre-ville
Centre-ville de Beaucaire, Arènes Paul Laurent et Champ de Foire, 30300 Beaucaire, 30300 Beaucaire