Fêtes de Bayonne
The biggest popular festivals in France in the heart of the Basque Country
2027
About Fêtes de Bayonne
Fêtes de Bayonne — edition 2027
Programme Fêtes de Bayonne 2027
The 2027 programme has not yet been released by the organisers; it will be added as soon as it becomes available.
Practical information — Fêtes de Bayonne
Getting There
Bayonne is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers.
- By car: Take the A63 motorway and exit at Bayonne. Traffic and parking are prohibited within the security perimeter during the festival; it is best to avoid driving in the city center.
- By train: Arrive at Bayonne station. A special festival train service operates on the Dax - Bayonne and Hendaye - Bayonne lines (details at ter.sncf.com).
- By bus: Use the Txik Txak network. The festival shuttle bus runs from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM (last departure) for arrivals, and from 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM for returns (until 3:00 AM on Sunday). Departures from Place des Basques for Anglet, Bayonne, Biarritz, Bidart, Boucau, Mouguerre, Ondres, Tarnos, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Saint-Martin-de-Seignanx, Saint-Pierre-d'Irube, and Villefranque; departures from Quai de Lesseps in Saint-Esprit for Ahetze, Arbonne, Arcangues, Ascain, Bardos, Bassussarry, Cambo-les-Bains, Espelette, Guiche, Hasparren, Lahonce, Larceveau, Mauléon, Sare, Saint-Esteben, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, Saint-Palais, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, and Urt. Information: txiktxak.fr.
- By bike/scooter: Guarded parking is free daily from 11:30 AM to 4:00 AM. For accessible parking and taxi information, call 05 59 59 48 48.
Location
Bayonne city center: Place de la Liberté, Place Paul-Bert, Carreau des Halles, Place de la République, Place Patxa, La Poterne, Place Jacques-Portes, Porte d'Espagne, Porte de Mousserolles, and the Arènes de Bayonne (2 rue Alfred Boulant), 64100 Bayonne.
Tickets and Pricing
Access to the festival perimeter is free on Wednesday and Thursday. From Friday at 10:00 AM until Sunday at midnight, a €15 festival wristband (Pass Fêtes) is required for entry. It is free for those under 16, Bayonne residents, and those working within the perimeter. Purchase online at passfetes.bayonne.fr and billetterie-fetes.bayonne.fr, or at Bayonne post offices, the Tourist Office, authorized retailers in the Basque Country and southern Landes, and at ticket booths at city entrances. Cow running events at Place Paul-Bert (€5) and bullfighting shows at the Arènes require separate tickets; schedules and sales are available at arenes.bayonne.fr.
Festival Information Point
Located on Rue Bernède, opposite the City Hall, open from 9:30 AM to 10:00 PM. This is where you can collect your 'Cap'Fêtes' wristbands: partner establishments offer a free non-alcoholic drink to designated drivers (a valid driver's license must be presented).
Useful Contacts
- Festival Information and Tourist Office: 05 59 46 09 00
- Bayonne City Hall: 05 59 46 60 60
- Pass Fêtes Information: 05 59 46 63 41
- Lost and Found: 05 59 46 63 63
- Vehicle Impound: 05 59 23 68 68
- Full program available at fetes.bayonne.fr and on the 'Bayonne ma ville' app
Safety and Prevention
- First Aid Stations: Main station at the Maison des Associations, Glain parking lot, open daily from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Secondary stations at the Grand Bayonne school, Rue Albert 1er (daily 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM) and at the University, Allée des Platanes (Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM, Friday to Sunday 1:00 PM to 5:00 AM).
- Rest Areas: Square Gambetta and Jardin Public, open daily from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM.
- Maina, on the Esplanade de l'Échauguette: A space dedicated to preventing gender-based and sexual violence, open from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and until midnight on Saturday. An Addictions France stand is located at the Mousserolles campsite.
- Safe Havens: Peñas offering the 'Safe Toki' protocol and businesses displaying the 'Angela' sign are available to help anyone feeling unsafe.
- Hospital Victimology Unit: 09 83 86 73 06. Bayonne Bar Association Victim Support: 06 22 05 02 35.
- Video surveillance cameras are in operation in various public areas.
Bars and Conduct
Bars must close between 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM from Thursday to Sunday, and at 2:00 AM on Monday. Alcohol sales and consumption are prohibited in public spaces after bars close. Public urination is strictly forbidden and carries a €135 fine; toilets and urinals are available throughout the festival area, and cafes, bars, restaurants, and associations are required to keep their restrooms open to the public.
Accommodation
Bayonne and its surrounding area, including Anglet and Biarritz, offer a wide range of accommodation. Booking several months in advance is highly recommended due to high demand. The Mousserolles campsite opens the Tuesday before the festival at 8:00 AM and operates 24/7, with paid lockers and online booking at fetes.bayonne.fr. Wild camping is strictly prohibited and offenders will be fined.
Dining
Many peñas serve traditional meals, and restaurants, bars, and food stalls remain open throughout the festival. L'Estanquet Gascon, at 4 rue du Moulin, serves food continuously from 11:00 AM to midnight, featuring musical entertainment and traditional Gascon singing.
Recommended Gear
Wear white with a red scarf and sash to get into the festival spirit, and bring comfortable shoes for walking on the old town's cobblestones. Pets are strongly discouraged due to the large crowds and noise.
The Fêtes de Bayonne: five days of celebration in red and white
Every summer, Bayonne transforms into a huge open-air festival. The Fêtes de Bayonne, created in 1932 by a group of Bayonne residents inspired by the Sanfermines of Pamplona, have become the biggest festive gathering in France, attracting over a million participants over five days. From Wednesday to Sunday, the city vibrates to the rhythm of the bandas, Basque songs, and popular entertainment that invade every street, every square, and every neighborhood.
The opening and the handing over of the keys
The kickoff is given on Wednesday evening with the launch of the keys by King Léon from the balcony of the town hall, on the Place de la Liberté. This emblematic moment marks the official start of the festivities. Thousands of festival-goers dressed in white with red scarves and belts then invade the streets for five days of uninterrupted celebration.
Program and highlights
- Parades of giants and big heads: Traditional characters parade through the city streets, accompanied by bandas and Basque and Gascon folk groups.
- Cow races: In the streets of Petit Bayonne, the cow races are one of the most anticipated and spectacular moments of the festivals.
- Bullfights and bullfighting shows: The Bayonne Arena hosts prestigious bullfights with the best matadors, as well as novilladas for young bullfighters.
- Concerts and bandas: Dozens of bandas entertain the streets day and night, while free concerts are organized in the main squares of the city.
- Children's Day: Thursday is traditionally dedicated to the youngest with special entertainment, games, and adapted shows.
- Traditions Day: Friday honors Basque and Gascon traditions with demonstrations of Basque strength, traditional dances, and songs.
Festive neighborhoods
The festivals unfold in the different neighborhoods of Bayonne, each with its own atmosphere. Grand Bayonne hosts the official events around the cathedral and the market halls. Petit Bayonne, with its narrow streets lined with bars and peñas, is the beating heart of the popular festival. The quays of the Nive offer a magnificent setting for the festivities, between gastronomy and music.
Gastronomy and conviviality
The Fêtes de Bayonne are also a must-attend gastronomic event. The peñas, these festive associations that open their doors during the festivals, offer traditional meals in a friendly atmosphere. You can enjoy Bayonne ham, Espelette peppers, Basque cake, and Bayonne chocolate, accompanied by Irouléguy wines or Basque cider.
An event rooted in history
Since their creation in 1932, the Fêtes de Bayonne have continued to grow to become a major cultural phenomenon in the Southwest of France. They embody the dual identity of Bayonne, at the crossroads of Basque and Gascon cultures, and perpetuate age-old traditions while renewing themselves each year with new entertainment and new artists.
Where does it take place — Fêtes de Bayonne
Fêtes de Bayonne in brief
Other festivals near Bayonne
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Published by Valentin Contard, festival listings writer. Reviewed, corrected and approved by Christophe Contard, editor-in-chief. .
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