Fêtes de Gayant
The festival of the giants of Douai, UNESCO heritage since 2005, with the Gayant family, 8 meters tall
2026
About Fêtes de Gayant
Fêtes de Gayant — edition 2026
Fêtes de Gayant 2026: Three days of giant celebrations in Douai
The Fêtes de Gayant return from Sunday, July 12 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Douai for the traditional outing of the wicker giant family. Standing 8.50 meters tall, Monsieur Gayant, along with Marie Cagenon and their three children Jacquot, Fillon, and Binbin, will parade through the city center to the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators, escorted by the Sot des Canonniers, the Wheel of Fortune float, brass bands, the vinté d'osier, and two batucada groups.
Sunday: The Grand Procession
The highlight of the event is the Grand Cortège de Gayant on Sunday, July 12: the first departure is at 3:00 PM from Rue d'Esquerchin, the second at 4:30 PM from Avenue Clemenceau, and the finale at 6:30 PM on Rue de Paris in front of the official grandstand. The day begins at 7:30 AM with the family leaving the Maison des Géants on Rue de Lambres, followed at 10:45 AM by a carillon concert from the belfry, the rigodon dance by the municipal band, and a candy toss in the town hall courtyard. At 2:30 PM, six street art troupes will perform across the city's squares and streets.
Two weeks of festivities
The procession is the heart of a much broader program announced from July 3 to 14 by the City of Douai: carillon and organ concerts, the 19th Festival des Binbins dedicated to street arts for young audiences from July 8 to 10 in the Old Douai district, the Demi de Gayant and the parade of local and visiting giants on Saturday, July 11, and the Concert de Gayant that same evening. The large funfair at Place du Barlet, featuring over 150 rides and attractions, will extend the atmosphere until July 20.
Completely free access
Processions, parades, the rigodon, the Tiots Gayant ball, the torchlight procession, and street performances are free and open to everyone. The city center is closed to traffic during the processions; using the train and peripheral parking lots is highly recommended.
Highlights Fêtes de Gayant 2026
- Grand Cortège de Gayant — Sunday, July 12, first departure at 3:00 PM from Rue d'Esquerchin, finale at 6:30 PM on Rue de Paris
- Outing of the Gayant family — Sunday, July 12 at 7:30 AM, Maison des Géants, Rue de Lambres
- Rigodon and candy toss — Sunday, July 12 at 10:45 AM, Town Hall courtyard, with the belfry carillon
- Parade of local and visiting giants — Saturday, July 11, stage entry at 2:30 PM at Place d'Armes, parade at 3:00 PM
- Tiots Gayant Ball — Monday, July 13 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Town Hall courtyard, free
- Torchlight procession — Monday, July 13 at 9:00 PM, lanterns available at the Maison des Géants
- Return of the Giants and fireworks — Tuesday, July 14 from 8:00 PM, Place d'Armes then Rue de Paris
- 19th Festival des Binbins — July 8, 9, and 10, free street arts for young audiences in Old Douai
- Large funfair — July 10 to 20 at Place du Barlet, over 150 rides and attractions
Programme Fêtes de Gayant 2026
Before the Giants' Outing — July 3 to 11, 2026
- Saturday, July 4 · 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM — Gayant Challenge, golf competition followed by a barbecue · Stade Demenÿ, Rue de Férin
- Saturday, July 4 · 8:00 PM — CACC Wrestling Gala, the Gayant Trophy is back in play · Square du Dauphin
- Monday, July 6 · 8:00 PM — "Echo" Carillon Concert, two carillons in dialogue · Town Hall
- Tuesday, July 7 · 8:45 PM — Organ concert · Saint-Pierre Collegiate Church
- Wednesday, July 8 to Friday, July 10 · 2:30 PM - 9:00 PM — 19th Festival des Binbins: shows, storytelling, circus, merry-go-round, workshops, and adventure courses for children, free admission · Old Douai (Place Saint-Amé, Place du Marché aux Poissons, Parvis Georges-Prêtre)
- Friday, July 10 — Opening of the large funfair · Place du Barlet (inauguration on Saturday, July 11 at 4:00 PM with the Queen of the Festival)
- Saturday, July 11 · 11:00 AM — The Demi de Gayant, the opening drink of the festival · Place d'Armes
- Saturday, July 11 · 2:30 PM then 3:00 PM — Parade of local and visiting giants: guest giants enter the stage at Place d'Armes, parade with their musicians to Place Carnot, then return to Place d'Armes for the rigodon with brass bands · City center
- Saturday, July 11 · 8:45 PM — Concert de Gayant by the Douai Municipal Band: 70 musicians, from Charles Trenet to Stromae and Sting · Jardin de la Fonderie (auditorium in case of rain)
Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Day 1 of the Giants' Outing
- 7:30 AM — The Gayant family leaves the Maison des Géants to the sound of drums, heading to the town hall · Rue de Lambres
- 10:45 AM — Belfry carillon concert, rigodon by the Douai Municipal Band, and candy toss · Town Hall courtyard
- 2:30 PM — Performances by six street art companies · Petite Place, Place Suzanne-Lanoy, Place Carnot, Rue de Bellain, and Rue de Paris
- 3:00 PM — Grand Cortège de Gayant, first departure · Rue d'Esquerchin, Rue Saint-Samson, Rue de la Cloche, Rue de la Massue, Rue de la Cloris, Place Suzanne-Lanoy, Rue de la Mairie, Place d'Armes, Place Charles-de-Gaulle, Avenue du Maréchal-Leclerc
- 4:30 PM — Grand Cortège, second departure · Avenue Clemenceau, Place Carnot, Rue Saint-Jacques, Rue de la Madeleine, Rue de Bellain, and Rue de Paris
- 6:30 PM — Procession finale in front of the official grandstand · Rue de Paris, at the corner of Rue du Kiosque
Monday, July 13, 2026 — Day 2
- 7:30 AM — Monsieur and Madame Gayant leave their home · Rue de Lambres
- 8:00 AM — Departure of the three children Jacquot, Fillon, and Binbin, breakfast at the Baragouin then heading to Rue du Gouvernement · Rue de Paris
- 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM — Outing of the Gayant children, accompanied by the Sot des Canonniers and the Atabak percussion group, meeting the locals · Frais-Marais district, meeting in front of the Templerie sports hall
- 11:30 AM then 2:00 PM — Madame Gayant's strolls · City center
- 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM — Tiots Gayant Ball, free dance for children and families with the Gayant family present · Town Hall courtyard
- 9:00 PM — Torchlight procession with the Douai Municipal Band: lanterns to be picked up at the Maison des Géants · Rue de Lambres
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — Day 3
- From 7:30 AM — Monsieur and Madame Gayant stroll through the city center while the giant children visit a retirement home
- 10:00 AM then 11:15 AM — National Day: firefighter demonstration followed by a parade
- 7:30 PM — Public gathering to accompany the Gayant family · Place d'Armes
- From 8:00 PM — Return of the Giants: procession up Rue de Paris to the Maison des Géants on Rue de Lambres, with the vinté d'osier and two batucada groups, followed by the traditional fireworks display
Extensions
- July 10 to 20 — Large funfair, over 150 rides and attractions · Place du Barlet. Open Monday to Friday from 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Wednesday, July 15 · 8:00 PM — Cover7 Concert, a pop journey from the 1980s to today, followed by fireworks at 11:00 PM · Jacques-Vernier Leisure Park, Route de Tournai
Prices Fêtes de Gayant 2026
Fêtes de Gayant — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 12 July to 14 July 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Fêtes de Gayant
Getting to the Fêtes de Gayant
By car
Douai is easily reached via the A21 motorway (approx. 35 km from Lille) and the A26 (from Calais or Reims). Parking is available on the outskirts of the city centre, with free shuttle buses running during the festival. Please note: the city centre is closed to traffic during the processions, and the Place du Barlet car park (1,150 spaces) is unavailable throughout the event. We strongly recommend using public transport.
By train
Douai station is served by TER Hauts-de-France trains from Lille (25 min), Arras (20 min), Valenciennes (30 min), and Lens (15 min). The city centre and festival venues are a 10-minute walk from the station.
By bus
Use the Évéole bus network to reach the city centre from surrounding neighbourhoods and towns.
Accessibility
The processions and parades take place on the flat, pedestrianised streets of the city centre, making them fully accessible to wheelchair users.
The three-day Giant parade schedule
- The day before (Saturday): Demi de Gayant at 11:00 am at Place d'Armes, parade of local and visiting giants (entering the stage at 2:30 pm at Place d'Armes, parade at 3:00 pm), and the Gayant Music Concert by the municipal band at 8:45 pm.
- Sunday: The Gayant family leaves the Maison des Géants at 7:30 am, followed by the rigodon dance and candy toss at 10:45 am in the town hall courtyard, the Grand Procession starting at 3:00 pm, and the finale at 6:30 pm on Rue de Paris.
- Monday: The Gayant children head out to the Frais-Marais district from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm, the Bal des Tiots Gayant from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the town hall courtyard, and a torchlight procession starting at 9:00 pm from the Maison des Géants.
- Tuesday: Monsieur and Madame Gayant stroll through the city centre, with the Giants returning from 8:00 pm starting at Place d'Armes, followed by fireworks.
Admission
The Fêtes de Gayant is a free event open to everyone. Access to processions, street entertainment, and outdoor shows is free of charge. Some specific activities (funfair, food and drink) are paid.
The grand funfair
Located at Place du Barlet, it features over 150 rides and attractions, extending the festivities beyond the Giants' parade. Open Monday to Friday from 3:00 pm to 1:00 am, and Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 3:00 pm to 2:00 am.
Dining
- Food stalls and refreshment bars in the city centre
- Funfair with rides and sweet treat stands
- Restaurants and brasseries in Douai city centre
- Café terraces on the Grand'Place
The Maison des Géants
The Maison des Géants (Rue de Lambres, Douai) is home to the Gayant family all year round and features a permanent exhibition on the history of the giants and their UNESCO heritage status. Open to the public outside of festival periods.
Contact
Website: fetesdegayant.fr
City of Douai Events Department: 03 27 93 58 03 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:30 pm–5:30 pm)
Douaisis Tourist Office: 03 27 88 26 79
The Fêtes de Gayant: 500 years of popular tradition in Douai
The Fêtes de Gayant are the flagship event of the city of Douai and one of the oldest festive traditions in Northern France. The history of Gayant dates back to 1530, when the basket makers' guild (wicker basket makers) built a giant to showcase their craftsmanship during a procession in honor of Saint-Maurand, the patron saint of Douai.
The Gayant Family: Five Iconic Giants
Over the centuries, the Gayant family has grown. Monsieur Gayant, at 8.50 meters tall, is the patriarch. The year after his creation, the fruit sellers' guild had a giantess built, Marie Cagenon. Then came their three children: Jacquot, Fillon, and Binbin. The procession also includes the Sot des Canonniers (Clown of the Gunners) and the Roue de la Fortune (Wheel of Fortune) float. Each giant is carried by bearers who animate the procession through the city streets.
A UNESCO World Heritage
In 2005, the processional giants of Douai were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, under the title of Processional Giants and Dragons of Belgium and France. This international recognition testifies to the cultural and historical importance of this age-old tradition.
Three Days of Popular Celebration
The Fêtes de Gayant traditionally take place on the Sunday following July 5th and the two following days. The program includes the emergence of the giants from the Maison des Géants, the Grand Cortège (Grand Procession) through the streets of Douai, popular dances, a funfair, concerts, the parade of giants from here and elsewhere, and the traditional torchlight procession. Monday is dedicated to children with the Bal des Tiots Gayant (Children's Ball).
A Strong Sense of Identity
The Fêtes de Gayant are much more than just a festive event: they embody the identity of Douai and the living heritage of Northern France. The people of Douai are deeply attached to their giants, who symbolize the pride and conviviality of their city.
Where does it take place — Fêtes de Gayant
Fêtes de Gayant in brief
History of Fêtes de Gayant
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Douai
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