Fêtes de Bidart
Udazkeneko Bestak — The autumn festivals of Bidart on the Basque coast
2026
About Fêtes de Bidart
The Fêtes de Bidart, also known as Udazkeneko Bestak (Basque for "autumn festivals"), bring this charming Basque coast village between Biarritz and Guéthary to life every September. The festivities span four days, from Thursday to Sunday, centered around the Place Sauveur Atchoarena and the local fronton.
The program is packed with concerts, kantaldi, Basque dancing and mutxiko, a mus tournament, a fandango competition, bare-hand pelota matches, surfing contests, culinary events, a traditional zikiro (open-air roasted lamb), and fireworks. The Udazkeneko Bestak have been a tradition since 1995; the 2026 edition, running from September 17th to 20th, marks the 31st anniversary.
Fêtes de Bidart — edition 2026
The 31st edition of the Bidart Autumn Festival, the Udazkeneko Bestak, takes place from Thursday, September 17 to Sunday, September 20, 2026, around the Place Sauveur Atchoarena and the fronton. The program includes: a mus tournament, a kantaldi with Habia, a children's tamborrada, a concert featuring Los Piquillos, Kilimak, Talco, and DJ Aimee at the grand fronton marquee, a fandango contest, a surf competition, the Bidarten Gaindi trail, a zikiro feast, and fireworks.
2026 Edition
The Udazkeneko Bestak are celebrating their 31st edition from Thursday, September 17 to Sunday, September 20, 2026. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday the 18th at 8:30 PM at Place Sauveur Atchoarena: a tamborrada by children from the Jean Jaccachoury school and Uhabia Ikastola will precede the appearance of Haitzea, the giant puppet that serves as the symbol of Bidart.
Traffic, Parking, and Shuttles
The RD 810 will be closed from Friday, September 18 at 9:00 PM until Saturday, September 19 at 5:00 AM, from the Erretegia roundabout to the intersection with Rue Berrua.
Four parking lots will be open: the small fronton parking and the center parking, both in the immediate vicinity of the village square, as well as the wash-house parking and the school parking, located less than 150 meters away.
Free shuttles will run on Friday, September 18 from midnight to 5:00 AM near the grand fronton, and on Saturday, September 19 from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM, departing from the Tourist Office parking lot starting at midnight.
Prohibited Items
Glass bottles, cans, helmets, firecrackers, sharp objects, weapons, illicit substances, umbrellas (outside the square), and professional cameras are not permitted at security checkpoints.
Highlights Fêtes de Bidart 2026
- Los Piquillos, Kilimak, Talco, and DJ Aimee at the grand fronton marquee — Friday the 18th from 9:00 PM
- Opening of the 31st edition with the children's tamborrada and Haitzea, the giant puppet of Bidart — Friday the 18th at 8:30 PM, Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- The grand festival fandango contest — Saturday the 19th at 4:30 PM, Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- Zikiro feast with Katxi Taldea — Sunday the 20th at 1:00 PM, grand fronton marquee, reservation required
- Festival fireworks — Sunday the 20th at 8:45 PM, Place Sauveur Atchoarena
Programme Fêtes de Bidart 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
- 9:00 AM — Mus Tournament · Auberge Koskenia, Restaurant Elissaldia, and Bar du Fronton. Registration and meal: €35 per person. Series A: €500 for winners, €300 for runners-up; Series B: €200 for winners, €100 for runners-up, plus many prizes. Menu: charcuterie platter, duck confit with fries, 2 scoops of ice cream, wine, and coffee. Information: 06 41 78 25 83 or 06 17 95 73 31
- 7:00 PM — Kantaldi with Habia · small fronton (moved to the church in case of bad weather). Four musicians performing a polyrhythmic and polyphonic repertoire inspired by contemporary poetry
Friday, September 18, 2026
- 8:00 AM — "2026 Autumn Festival Trophy" 9-hole golf competition · Golf d'Ilbarritz. Reserved for Bidart residents and members of the Ilbarritz and Biarritz golf clubs. Shamble format for teams of 2, limited to 80 players (40 teams), fee €20, golf license required. Results posted on-site with a cocktail reception between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Registration: 05 59 43 81 30 or [email protected]
- 8:30 PM — Official opening ceremony of the 31st edition · Place Sauveur Atchoarena: tamborrada by children from the Jean Jaccachoury school and Uhabia Ikastola, followed by the appearance of Haitzea, the giant puppet symbol of Bidart; Scopitone et Cie, "Salut les Scopains"
- 9:00 PM — Evening organized by the Bidart E'nea festival committee · Grand fronton marquee: 9:00 PM Los Piquillos · 10:15 PM Kilimak · 12:00 AM Talco · 2:00 AM DJ Aimee. Helmets are prohibited within the Place Atchoarena perimeter and at the grand fronton
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 9:00 AM — Festival Walk · departure from the Kirolak parking lot. A hike through the Uhabia area focusing on local flora and fauna, led by Jacky Wojtenka from INRA. Approximately 9 km. Organized by the Menditalde association
- 10:00 AM — Culinary contests · Pili Tafernaberry square (moved to the grand fronton marquee in case of bad weather): "Little Chefs," for 7-11 year-olds in teams of 2 (limited to 15 teams), and "Great Chefs," for adults in teams of 2 (limited to 15 teams). Register with Fabienne Lautier at 06 43 75 01 56
- 12:15 PM — Culinary contests: awards ceremony and tasting · Pili Tafernaberry square
- Time to be confirmed based on tide and weather — "Bidartars Trophy" surf competition · Centre beach, organized by the Bidarteko Surf Club and open to all Bidart surf clubs. Info: [email protected]
- 4:30 PM — The grand festival fandango contest · Place Sauveur Atchoarena, organized by Goiz Argi. Free registration on-site or at 06 85 56 88 99, many prizes to be won
- 5:30 PM — Basque songs with the festive vocal group Zertako Ez · town hall square
- 6:00 PM — Cider tasting and tapas sale by local associations · Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- 6:30 PM — 2nd series final of the bare-hand pelota tournament · small fronton, organized by Pilota Plaza
- 7:00 PM — "Let's Sing!" · Place Sauveur Atchoarena: vocal groups Txintxilak and Kostalde will circulate around the square and bar terraces, then hand over to the Bixkor Txaranga band at 8:30 PM
- 7:30 PM — Awards ceremony for the surf competition, golf competition, fandango contest, and bare-hand pelota tournament (2nd series) · Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- 8:30 PM — Songs and concert, evening organized by the Bidart' E'Nea festival committee · Place Sauveur Atchoarena: 8:30 PM Bixkor Txaranga · 10:00 PM Koloka Taldea
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM — Free golf initiation, open to children and adults · Golf d'Ilbarritz. Registration: 05 59 43 81 30 or [email protected]
- 10:00 AM — Festival mass with Xinkako and Alegera · Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church
- 10:00 AM — Bidarten Gaindi festival race, 10 km trail · Plaine des Embruns, starting from the Uhabia plain, organized by the Uhabia Ikastola association. 10:00 AM for adults, 11:30 AM for children. Register online or on-site: €15. Games and food available on-site
- 11:00 AM — Final of the 1st series of the Bidart bare-hand pelota tournament and awards ceremony · small fronton, organized by Pilota Plaza
- 12:00 PM — Basque dances with Goiz Argi · Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- 1:00 PM — Zikiro / méchoui feast with music by Katxi Taldea · grand fronton marquee. Menu: piperade with sausage, suckling pig with beans, cheese, and Basque cake. Mandatory reservation at the Tourist Office, starting Saturday, September 5 at 8:30 AM
- 6:00 PM — Mutxiko and electro-folk dance party with Zézé · Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- 8:45 PM — Festival fireworks · Place Sauveur Atchoarena
- 8:45 PM to midnight — DJ party organized by the J'achète à Bidart association · Place Sauveur Atchoarena
This program is based on the preview of the official booklet released by the Bidart'E'Nea festival committee in August 2026. The full booklet is not yet online, and the price for Friday evening at the grand fronton marquee is not listed.
Prices Fêtes de Bidart 2026
Mus tournament on Thursday the 17th: €35 per person, includes registration and meal.
Golf trophy on Friday the 18th: €20, golf license required.
Bidarten Gaindi race on Sunday the 20th: €15, register online or on-site.
Zikiro on Sunday the 20th: reservation required at the Tourist Office, starting Saturday, September 5 at 8:30 AM.
The price for the evening of Friday the 18th at the grand fronton marquee is not indicated in the booklet preview published by the festival committee.
Practical information — Fêtes de Bidart
Practical Information
Access
The festivities take place in the center of Bidart (64210), particularly in the village square, at the fronton, and in the adjacent streets.
- By car: Bidart is accessible via the A63 (Bidart exit) or the N10, between Biarritz (5 km) and Saint-Jean-de-Luz (10 km). Free parking on the outskirts.
- By bus: Txik Txak network, line 3 (Bayonne-Saint-Jean-de-Luz), Bidart centre stop.
Schedules
Activities begin in the evening on Thursdays and Fridays, and from the morning on Saturdays and Sundays. Concerts usually start around 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM.
Prices
Access to street festivities and concerts is generally free. The Sunday zikiro is subject to a charge (meal by reservation).
Contact
- Bidart Tourist Office
- Website: www.bidarttourisme.com
- Bidart Town Hall: www.bidart.fr
Thirty years of autumn festivals in Bidart
The Fêtes de Bidart — Udazkeneko Bestak were born thirty years ago from the will of the Bidart community to celebrate its Basque identity through autumn festivities. Since 1995, this annual September event has established itself as one of the highlights of village life, bringing together residents and visitors in a warm atmosphere where ancestral traditions and contemporary creations mingle.
A rich program between land and sea
The Fêtes de Bidart stand out for the diversity of their programming. The festival weekend opens on Thursday with a mus tournament (Basque card game) and continues on Friday with the official opening marked by the children's tamborrada, a joyful parade through the village streets. Saturday honors the fandango competition, a competition of this emblematic Basque dance that attracts the best dancers in the region. Sunday, the highlight of the festivals, features the festive mass, a foot race, pelota finals, the zikiro (whole lamb roasted over a wood fire), the mutxiko (Basque collective dances), and the final fireworks display.
Living Basque culture
The Udazkeneko Bestak are much more than just a village festival: they are a true act of cultural transmission. The kantaldi (Basque singing sessions), traditional dance performances, pelota competitions at the fronton, and mutxiko demonstrate the vitality of Basque culture in Bidart. The musical program mixes contemporary Basque bands like Los Piquillos, Xiberoots, and Sutagar with traditional groups, offering a complete panorama of current Basque musical creation.
A Basque coast village celebrating
Bidart, a picturesque village perched on the cliffs of the Basque coast between Biarritz and Guéthary, offers an exceptional setting for these festivities. The village square, the fronton, the church, and the streets of the center are transformed into stages for shows and entertainment. Surf competitions on the nearby beaches add an oceanic dimension to these festivals rooted in the traditions of Labourd. The evenings continue late with dances and DJ sets, making the village vibrate until the early morning.
Where does it take place — Fêtes de Bidart
Fêtes de Bidart in brief
History of Fêtes de Bidart
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Bidart
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)