Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon
Votive festival in Mauguio, Hérault
2026
About Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon
Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon — edition 2026
The 2026 Mauguio-Carnon Votive Festival takes place from Saturday, August 8th to Sunday, August 16th: nine days of Camargue traditions in Mauguio (Hérault), featuring abrivado, bandido, encierro, Camargue races, toro piscine, and ferrades. The official city program includes the presentation of the Camargue Ambassador on August 8th, the Traditional Day on August 10th, Youth Day on August 11th, the 24th Melgorian Olympiads on August 12th, the bandido festival on August 14th, and the 'Everyone in Costume!' day on August 15th. New for this edition, a grand closing party with DJ Samy extends the festivities on Sunday, August 16th at Place de la Libération.
Mauguio-Carnon Votive Festival — 2026 Edition
From Saturday, August 8th to Sunday, August 16th, 2026, the Votive Festival returns to Mauguio for nine days of festivities dedicated to tradition, community, and conviviality. Abrivado, bandido, encierro, Camargue races, parades, grand balls, and musical entertainment will bring the city streets to life from morning until late at night, spanning Place de la Libération, the bullring, the Mas des Pauvres, and the downtown bars.
Highlights of the Edition
The festival kicks off on Saturday, August 8th with parades by the Pichoto Camargo, the Revoulun group, cattle herders, guardians, and youth groups, followed by the presentation of the Camargue Ambassador by the Mayor at 7:30 PM at Place de la Libération. On Sunday, August 9th, the Provençal mass of the Festo Vierginenco and the ribbon ceremony at Saint-Jacques Church honor the event's votive origins.
On Monday, August 10th, the traditional Traditional Day offers a deep dive into Camargue heritage: a gathering of costumed participants and horse-drawn carriages in front of Le Mistral bar, a procession to the Mas des Pauvres, a lunch in the meadow for the costumed participants, a ferrade, and the Cadoule gaso featuring the Peña Los Caballeros, followed by a long abrivado to the Candillargues road. Tuesday, August 11th is dedicated to youth, featuring the Inter-Band Games, a brunch at the bullring, and the 24th Manu and José Memorial.
On Wednesday, August 12th, the 24th Melgorian Olympiads bring together four manades—Vinuesa, Vellas, Gillet, and Lafon—for competitions including horse-to-bull jumping, iron waiting, arena ferrade, and horse-to-horse jumping. On Friday, August 14th, the bandido festival releases four manades from the bullring, while Saturday, August 15th is 'Everyone in Costume!' day, culminating in the evening with the toro piscine and the spectacular Toro del Fuego.
New this year, a grand closing party extends the celebration on Sunday, August 16th from 9:00 PM to midnight, hosted by DJ Samy at Place de la Libération, featuring the presentation of the Melgorian Youth Trophy.
A Popular Festival at Every Moment
Beyond the bullring, the festival thrives during the aperitif hour with festive lunchtimes: live concerts, DJ sets, and musical entertainment take place daily at Café du Midi, Chez Lou Revivre, Bar du Commerce, Le Corner, Le Mistral, and Le Petit Camarguais bar. Every evening, a grand free ball enlivens Place de la Libération, while a retro ball keeps people dancing in front of Le Petit Camarguais. Local clubs—La Boule Melgorienne at the Frion boulodrome and Fanny Pétanque at the Henri Vernisse boulodrome—round out the program with tournaments and friendly matches throughout the week.
Highlights Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon 2026
- Nine days of Camargue traditions, from Saturday, August 8th to Sunday, August 16th, 2026, in the streets of Mauguio and at the bullring
- Presentation of the Camargue Ambassador by the Mayor, Saturday, August 8th at 7:30 PM, Place de la Libération
- Traditional Day, Monday, August 10th: gathering of costumed participants and carriages, lunch in the meadow at Mas des Pauvres, ferrade, Cadoule gaso, and long abrivado to Candillargues
- Youth Day, Tuesday, August 11th, featuring the Inter-Band Games, brunch, and the 24th Manu and José Memorial at the bullring
- 24th Melgorian Olympiads, Wednesday, August 12th at 10:30 PM: four manades compete in horse-to-bull jumping, iron waiting, and arena ferrade
- Bandido festival, Friday, August 14th at 7:30 PM, with four manades departing from the bullring
- 'Everyone in Costume!' Day on Saturday, August 15th, culminating in the Toro Piscine and the spectacular Toro del Fuego
- 2026 New Feature: a grand closing party with DJ Samy and the presentation of the Melgorian Youth Trophy, Sunday, August 16th from 9:00 PM to midnight
- An encierro almost every evening at Place de la Libération and a grand free ball every night (Cocktail de Nuit, Perier, Abraxas, New Zik, Krystal Noir, One Music, Pyramide)
Programme Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon 2026
Saturday, August 8th, 2026
- 3:00 PM — Entertainment at the Les Aiguerelles community center with the Ethons de l’Or majorettes and the Pichoto Camargo
- 4:00 PM — Parade with the Pichoto Camargo, the Revoulun group, cattle herders, and guardians · departure from the Theater parking lot, arrival at the bullring
- 4:30 PM — Parade of youth groups with the Ethons de l’Or majorettes and presentation of participants in the bullring · departure from the boulevard de la République parking lot (Le Petit Camarguais bar)
- 6:00 PM — A calf and a cow for the youth · Bullring
- 7:30 PM — Presentation of the Camargue Ambassador by the Mayor · Place de la Libération
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 9:15 PM — Encierro, Aubanel manade · Place de la Libération
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with JP Sardi · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand Cocktail de Nuit Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine, Raseteurs School · Bullring — €6 / €4
Sunday, August 9th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Ferrade featuring the Peña Los Caballeros · Mas des Pauvres
- 10:30 AM — Provençal mass of the Festo Vierginenco, ribbon ceremony for Pauline and Zoé on the stage accompanied by dances, distribution of saladelle by the Pichoto Camargo, and musical accompaniment by the Revoulun group · Saint-Jacques Church, Place de la Libération
- 1:00 PM — Abrivado, Aurore and Robert Michel manades · departure from the Cabanes road
- 5:30 PM — Trophée des As, CT Le Trident, with a cow for the youth · Bullring — €12 / €6, followed by two bandidos (Aurore and Robert Michel manades)
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 9:15 PM — Encierro, Lafon manade · Place de la Libération
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with Groupe Dynamic · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand Perier Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine, CT Le Trident · Bullring — €6 / €4
Monday, August 10th, 2026 — Traditional Day
- 9:00 AM — Gathering of costumed participants and carriages · in front of Le Mistral bar
- 9:30 AM — Departure for the Mas des Pauvres
- 10:00 AM — Lunch in the meadow for costumed participants, ferrade, and Cadoule gaso featuring the Peña Los Caballeros · Mas des Pauvres, followed by a long abrivado with the Lafon and Rouquette manades (route: Mas des Pauvres — chemin de Plagnol — Candillargues road)
- 5:30 PM — Tau neufs race, UTM, with a cow for the youth · Bullring — €9 / €7, followed by two bandidos (Lafon and Du Soleil manades)
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with Indigo Blue · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand Abraxas Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine, UTM · Bullring — €6 / €4
Tuesday, August 11th, 2026 — Youth Day
- 10:00 AM — Inter-Band Games and brunch reserved for youth · Bullring and cour Prévert
- 12:00 PM — Abrivado of 7 bulls, Lafon manade · departure from the Cabanes road
- 1:00 PM — Mini encierro, Lafon manade, sponsored by CT Le Melgueil · Place de la Libération
- 5:30 PM — Trophée des As, 6-manade competition, 24th Manu and José Memorial, CT Le Melgueil, with a cow for the youth · Bullring — €14 (numbered) / €12 / €6, followed by two bandidos (Lafon and Vellas manades)
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 9:15 PM — Encierro, Lafon manade · Place de la Libération
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with Christophe Michel · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand New Zik Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine, CT Le Melgueil · Bullring — €6 / €4
Wednesday, August 12th, 2026
- 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM — 'I party without weapons' prevention stand · Place de la Libération
- 12:00 PM — Abrivado, Aurore and Robert Michel manades · departure from the Cabanes road
- 5:30 PM — Trophée de l’Avenir, Alain and Pascal Salmeron Memorial, free city race, with a cow for the youth and awards ceremony featuring the Pichoto Camargo and the Peña Los Caballeros · Bullring, followed by two bandidos (Aurore and Levant manades)
- 9:15 PM — Encierro, Aurore manade · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — 24th Melgorian Olympiads, 4-manade competition (Vinuesa, Vellas, Gillet, Lafon) with horse-to-bull jumping, iron waiting, arena ferrade, and horse-to-horse jumping, CT Le Melgueil · Bullring — €10 / €5
- 12:00 AM — Encierro, Vellas manade · Place de la Libération
Thursday, August 13th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Games for children and a calf for the older ones · Bullring
- 12:00 PM — Abrivado, Lafon and Aubanel manades · departure from the Cabanes road
- 1:00 PM — Mini encierro, Tommy manade · Place de la Libération
- 5:30 PM — Trophée des As Louis Rouquette, CT Lou Biou, with a cow for the youth · Bullring — €12 / €6, followed by two bandidos (Lafon and Aubanel manades)
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 9:15 PM — Encierro, Étrier manade · Place de la Libération
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with Groupe Carpe Diem · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand Krystal Noir Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine, CT Lou Biou · Bullring — €6 / €4
Friday, August 14th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Ferrade featuring the Peña Mistral, picnic lunch in the meadow, CT Le Trident, Du Soleil manade · Baillargues road
- 12:00 PM — Abrivado, Tommy and Aurore manades · departure from the Cabanes road
- 1:30 PM — Toro-paille hosted by Tonton, sponsored by Le Mistral, CT Le Trident, Du Soleil manade · boulevard de la Liberté parking lot, opposite Le Mistral bar
- 5:30 PM — Young Bulls, CT Lou Biou, with a cow for the youth · Bullring — €8 / €5
- 7:30 PM — Bandido festival, Lafon, Tommy, Aurore, and Levant manades · departure from the bullring
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with JP Sardi · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand One Music Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine, Toros y Toreros · Bullring — €6 / €4
Saturday, August 15th, 2026 — 'Everyone in Costume!' Day
- 12:00 PM — Abrivado, Vellas manade · departure from the Cabanes road
- 1:00 PM — Mini encierro, Lafon manade · Place de la Libération
- 5:30 PM — Trophée de l’Avenir, CT Le Trident, with a cow for the youth · Bullring — €10 / €5, followed by a bandido (Vellas manade)
- 7:45 PM — Dance entertainment · Place de la Libération, in front of Le Petit Camarguais bar
- 9:15 PM — Encierro, Vellas manade · Place de la Libération
- 10:00 PM — Retro ball with Christophe Michel · Le Petit Camarguais bar — and Grand Pyramide Ball · Place de la Libération
- 10:30 PM — Toro Piscine with the Toro del Fuego, CT Le Trident · Bullring — €6 / €4
Sunday, August 16th, 2026
- 10:00 AM — Ferrade featuring the Peña Mistral · Mas des Pauvres
- 1:00 PM — Abrivado, Du Soleil manade · departure from the Cabanes road
- 5:30 PM — Trophée de l’Avenir, city race, with a cow for the youth and awards ceremony · Bullring — flat rate €1, followed by a bandido (Du Soleil manade)
- 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM — Closing party with DJ Samy and presentation of the Melgorian Youth Trophy, in partnership with Café du Midi, Lou Revivre, Bar du Commerce, and CT Le Melgueil · Place de la Libération
Festive Lunchtimes — Aperitif Hour Entertainment
- Saturday, August 8th — 'Ja’Lihyv' entertainment · Le Petit Camarguais bar
- Sunday, August 9th — Live concert by Ricoune and his orchestra · Café du Midi / Chez Lou Revivre; DJ Olivier Darock 'La kitch c’est chic' · Bar du Commerce; musical entertainment · Le Corner courtyard; DJ set · Le Mistral
- Monday, August 10th — Melgorian Pie with music by the Revolum group, aperitif for costumed participants · Le Corner courtyard; DJ set · Le Mistral
- Tuesday, August 11th — DJ set by Samy El A. · Café du Midi / Chez Lou Revivre; musical entertainment · Le Corner courtyard
- Wednesday, August 12th — 'Tournée générale' musical entertainment · Le Petit Camarguais bar
- Thursday, August 13th — DJ Germain Rojo 'La Winter de l’été' · Bar du Commerce / Le Corner; musical entertainment · Le Corner courtyard
- Friday, August 14th — DJ set sponsored by Los Espontaneos for their 20th anniversary · Le Mistral; musical entertainment · Le Corner courtyard
- Saturday, August 15th — Live aperitif concert with Ivan P. & DJ Z · Café du Midi / Chez Lou Revivre; DJ Julien Rutyna 'L’apéro mousse' · Bar du Commerce / Le Corner; musical entertainment · Le Corner courtyard; 'Ja’Lihyv' entertainment · Le Petit Camarguais bar
- Sunday, August 16th — Live concert by Spain · Café du Midi / Chez Lou Revivre; 'L’apéro des copains de la Fête' · Bar du Commerce; musical entertainment · Le Corner courtyard
Sports
- La Boule Melgorienne · Frion boulodrome — Lyonnaise boules and friendly matches throughout the week (Aug 8th 5:00 PM followed by dinner aperitif at 7:30 PM, Aug 9th 10:30 AM, Aug 10th 3:00 PM with initiation to Lyonnaise boules, Aug 11th 3:00 PM triplet tournament at €4 per person, Aug 12th 10:00 AM followed by the Thons de l’Or performance, Aug 13th 3:00 PM, Aug 14th 8:00 AM invitation quadrette or triplet tournament with €500 prize pool, Aug 15th 4:00 PM municipal tournament followed by dinner at 8:00 PM, Aug 16th 10:00 AM friendly match and closing aperitif, 11:30 AM brasucade-fries at €5). Information: 04 67 29 27 44
- Fanny Pétanque · Henri Vernisse boulodrome — Aug 8th 2:30 PM federal triplet tournament, Aug 9th 2:30 PM mixed triplets, Aug 10th 2:30 PM mixed doublets, Aug 12th 10:00 AM 'Paquito' challenge, Aug 13th 2:30 PM departmental doublet tournament, Aug 14th 5:00 PM member tournament with dinner, Aug 15th 2:30 PM mixed triplets open to all. Information: 06 75 17 87 68
Prices Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon 2026
Paid events at the bullring (full price / reduced price):
Trophée des As on August 9th — CT Le Trident: €12 / €6
Tau neufs race on August 10th — UTM: €9 / €7
Trophée des As on August 11th — CT Le Melgueil: €14 (numbered seat) / €12 / €6
Trophée de l’Avenir on August 12th — city race: free
24th Melgorian Olympiads on August 12th — CT Le Melgueil: €10 / €5
Trophée des As Louis Rouquette on August 13th — CT Lou Biou: €12 / €6
Young Bulls on August 14th — CT Lou Biou: €8 / €5
Trophée de l’Avenir on August 15th — CT Le Trident: €10 / €5
Trophée de l’Avenir on August 16th — city race: flat rate €1
Toro Piscine (August 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15): €6 / €4
Ticketing: Bullring ticket offices open 1 hour before each event. Presale for the August 9th toro piscine at the bullring box office on August 9th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Raseteurs School); presale for the August 11th race and August 12th Olympiads at Café du Midi (CT Le Melgueil). No presale for CT Le Trident, Lou Biou, UTM, and Toros y Toreros races and toro piscines: ticket offices open on the day of the event at 9:00 PM.
Multicolor bracelet for 12-15 year olds: €5, available at the Culture, Traditions and Heritage department starting August 4th upon presentation of ID. It provides access to the Trophée des As, Trophée de l’Avenir, and Tau neufs race, but not to toro piscines or Olympiads.
Evening shows at the bullring: 1,800 seated places and 600 standing places.
Practical information — Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon
Practical Information
Location
Mauguio (34130), in the Hérault department. Festivities take place across the bullring (arènes), Place de la Libération (featuring encierros, mini-encierros, dance events, and grand balls), the Mas des Pauvres (ferrades and meadow lunches), and various town center bars. The abrivado and bandido runs start and finish on Route des Cabanes, by the Salaison bridge.
Getting There
Mauguio is easily accessible by road from Montpellier; parking is available around the town center. Please note that during the festival, several streets are closed and detours are in place to accommodate the abrivado, bandido, and bull release events.
Tickets
For all events held at the bullring, the ticket office opens one hour before the start of the show. Street events (abrivado, bandido, encierro, parades, balls, and dance parties) are free to attend. A €5 wristband for 12-15 year olds is available for purchase at the Culture, Traditions and Heritage office upon presentation of ID; it grants access to the Trophée des As, Trophée de l’Avenir, and the Tau neufs race, but excludes the toro piscines and olympiads. Evening shows at the bullring offer 1,800 seated and 600 standing spots.
Safety
Exercise extreme caution during bull-related events. Sound signals mark the start and end of street performances; please stay at least one meter away from the barriers outside the designated route. Motorized vehicles must not follow or precede the abrivado and bandido, and throwing objects (stones, water, flour, fireworks, cardboard, smoke bombs) is strictly prohibited. Please be aware: during abrivado, bandido, and bandido festivals, bulls may turn around on the course. The POZ’ALCO prevention team is on-site in the evenings, with a fixed station on Rue de la Portette behind the town hall and a mobile unit throughout the festival grounds (Youth and Mediation Center: 04 67 12 05 83).
Contact
Culture, Traditions and Heritage Department of Mauguio-Carnon, 9 Place Jules Ferry — Tel: 04 67 29 76 96 — [email protected]. The full program is published annually on the official town website and distributed in print before the festival begins.
Mauguio-Carnon Votive Festival, the great gathering of Camargue traditions
The Mauguio-Carnon Votive Festival is one of the highlights of local life in Mauguio, in Hérault, Occitanie. Heir to the «Voto», the patron saint festival in honour of Saint James which was originally held on July 25th and then moved to mid-August around 1834, it takes place every year in the heart of summer, around August 15th.
A week of Camargue fervour
For a week, bullfighting traditions take over the streets, squares and arenas of the town: abrivado, bandido, encierro, Camargue races, toro piscine, ferrades and trophies punctuate the days. Local manades descend into the village and groups of young people liven up the festivities from morning to night.
A popular and family-friendly event
Beyond the bullfighting entertainment, the Mauguio-Carnon Votive Festival offers dances every evening, parades, an old-fashioned day in traditional costume and numerous free musical events. The main festive venues are Place de la Libération, the arenas, the Mas des Pauvres and the town centre bars. Accessible and friendly, the festival brings together residents of Mauguio and Carnon, aficionados of Camargue traditions and visitors from all over the Hérault department.
Where does it take place — Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon
Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon in brief
History of Fête Votive de Mauguio-Carnon
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Mauguio
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