Fêtes de la Madeleine
Traditional Féria of Beaucaire, in the Gard
2026
About Fêtes de la Madeleine
The Fêtes de la Madeleine are the great traditional féria of Beaucaire, in the Gard department in Occitanie. Heir to the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine fair created in 1464 to revive the local economy after the Hundred Years' War, the event takes place every year from July 21st and offers a week of Provençal and Camargue festivities: corridas, abrivado, bandido, encierro, Camargue races, costume parades, bodegas, open-air concerts, and a funfair.
Fêtes de la Madeleine — edition 2026
Fêtes de la Madeleine 2026 — Beaucaire
The 2026 edition of the Fêtes de la Madeleine will be held from Tuesday, July 21st to Monday, July 27th, 2026, in Beaucaire, Gard. Seven days of popular festivities blending Camargue traditions, bullfighting arts, and free concerts, continuing a history spanning over five centuries. The city has announced a largely free program, featuring street performances, the Salon Taurin, and major events at the bullring.
An opening parade with over 700 participants
The feria kicks off on Tuesday, July 21st. At 7:00 PM, the Confrérie Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, celebrating its 21st anniversary, will renew its vows at the Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers collegiate church. At 9:00 PM, the grand opening parade sets off from the Beaucaire-Tarascon bridge, following the Quai Général de Gaulle, the Fontêtes roundabout, and the Maréchal Foch and Maréchal Joffre boulevards to reach the Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent. Over 700 participants in traditional Provençal and Camargue costumes, along with a hundred local animals, will parade under the 2026 theme: the centenary of the Croix de Camargue and the legend of the Drac. The official opening proclamation will follow at the arena.
The Salon Taurin: five nights of free concerts
From Thursday, July 23rd to Monday, July 27th, the arena parking lot transforms into the Salon Taurin, the heart of the local feria. Every day from 6:00 PM, the associative bodegas welcome the public for drinks and dinner at the foot of the Château de Beaucaire, in front of the main stage. At 9:30 PM, the city hosts a different show each night: Trois Cafés Gourmands on July 23rd (preceded by the Gen's Band), the Richard Gardet Orchestra on the 24th, a grand cabaret night by the Laurent Comtat orchestra on the 25th, local star Lisa Gaona (known from The Voice) followed by the legendary Dave on the 26th, and the musical show Cocktail de Nuit on the 27th.
Mixed corrida and novillada at the Arènes Paul Laurent
On Saturday, July 25th at 7:00 PM, the Club Taurin Beaucairois celebrates its 10th anniversary with a mixed corrida featuring rejoneador Diego Ventura against two bulls from M. Guiomar Cortés de Moura, as well as Clemente and Pablo Aguado facing four bulls from Calejo Pires. On Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 PM, the Aficion Taurine Beaucairoise presents a novillada with six novillos from the Portuguese ganadería Curé de Valverde for Pepe Luis Cirugeda, Pedro Andrés, and Pedro Luis.
Camargue races and street entertainment
As the cradle of the Camargue race, Beaucaire hosts the Souvenir Marius Gardiol: the second day of the Palme d'Or on Thursday, July 23rd at 5:00 PM with six manades, and the grand finale on Monday, July 27th at 5:00 PM with seven manades, preceded by a capelado. The streets come alive with abrivados—the Canal abrivado on the 22nd, the Saint-Roman abrivado on the 23rd (preceded by the blessing of the horses), the long Plaine abrivado on the 24th, the carnival abrivado on the 25th, the Pamplona-style abrivado on the 26th, and the traditional horse-drawn carriage abrivado on the 27th—not to mention the 100-bull encierro on Friday, July 24th at 7:00 PM on a new route, and the night encierros at the Champ de Foire encierrodrome. On Wednesday, July 22nd at 9:30 PM, the arena hosts a grand show of recortadores and forcados.
A fireworks finale
The funfair will be at the Champ de Foire from Saturday, July 18th to Monday, July 27th, starting at 6:00 PM, with free access. On Monday, July 27th at 11:00 PM, a grand fireworks display launched from the Château and visible from the Salon Taurin will close the week of festivities.
Highlights Fêtes de la Madeleine 2026
- Grand opening parade on Tuesday, July 21st at 9:00 PM: over 700 costumed participants and 100 animals, themed around the centenary of the Croix de Camargue
- Mixed corrida on Saturday, July 25th at 7:00 PM, for the 10th anniversary of the Club Taurin Beaucairois: Diego Ventura, Clemente, and Pablo Aguado
- Novillada on Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 PM: six novillos from Curé de Valverde for Pepe Luis Cirugeda, Pedro Andrés, and Pedro Luis
- Salon Taurin from July 23rd to 27th: five nights of free concerts at 9:30 PM, featuring Trois Cafés Gourmands, the Richard Gardet Orchestra, Laurent Comtat's cabaret night, Lisa Gaona & Dave, and Cocktail de Nuit
- Souvenir Marius Gardiol: grand finale of the Palme d'Or on Monday, July 27th at 5:00 PM, with seven manades
- Grand show of recortadores and forcados on Wednesday, July 22nd at 9:30 PM at the Arènes Paul Laurent
- 100-bull encierro on Friday, July 24th at 7:00 PM, on a new route from the Municipal Casino to the arena
- Grand closing fireworks on Monday, July 27th at 11:00 PM, launched from the Château
Programme Fêtes de la Madeleine 2026
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 — Opening
- 7:00 PM — Renewal of vows of the Confrérie Sainte-Marie-Madeleine · Collégiale Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers, rue Ledru-Rollin — 21st anniversary of the Confrérie, free entry
- 9:00 PM — Grand opening parade of the Fêtes de la Madeleine · departing from the Beaucaire-Tarascon bridge, then Quai Général de Gaulle, Fontêtes roundabout, Boulevard Maréchal Foch, Goya roundabout, Boulevard Maréchal Joffre, rue des Anciens Combattants d'Afrique du Nord, avenue des Arènes, to the Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent. Over 700 participants and 100 animals. 2026 theme: centenary of the Croix de Camargue and the legend of the Drac — free access
- 9:00 PM — Opening proclamation of the Fêtes de la Madeleine · Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent — free access
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
- 6:00 PM — L'Apéro des Voiles: musical aperitif, DJ set, and dining · restaurant Les Voiles, 11 cours Sadi Carnot
- 7:00 PM — Canal Abrivado · Boulevard Foch and Canal, manade Lescot — start of bandana distribution, free
- 9:30 PM — Grand show of recortadores and forcados · Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent — €10 (reduced €6), tickets at the arena from 5:00 PM
- 9:30 PM — Night Encierro · Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire, manade Labourayre — free
Thursday, July 23, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Saint-Roman Abrivado, preceded by the blessing of the horses · from Saint-Roman Abbey to Arènes Paul Laurent, manade l'Amista — handing over of the city keys to the youth at the arena, free
- 5:00 PM — Souvenir Marius Gardiol, 2nd day of the Palme d'Or · Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent — competition of 6 manades
- From 6:00 PM — Opening of the Salon Taurin: associative bodegas and dining · arena parking lot, Champ de Foire
- 7:00 PM — Bandido · avenue des Arènes, manade l'Amista — free
- 9:30 PM — Concert: Trois Cafés Gourmands, preceded by the Gen's Band from 6:00 PM · Salon Taurin stage — free
Friday, July 24, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Long Plaine Abrivado · starting at the intersection of chemins de Rey and de Beauvoir, manade l'Amista — free
- From 6:00 PM — Bodegas and dining · Salon Taurin, Champ de Foire
- 7:00 PM — 100-bull Encierro, on a new route · from the Municipal Casino to Arènes Paul Laurent, manade la Santenco Aubanel Baroncelli — free
- 9:30 PM — Bodega night: Richard Gardet Orchestra, French and international variety · Salon Taurin — free
Saturday, July 25, 2026
- 9:30 AM — Breakfast hosted by the Beaucaire Rugby Club · in front of the Éric Baska rugby stadium — free
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — Rowing discovery · Municipal Nautical Base Adrien Hardy, 20 allée du Drac — free upon registration
- 11:00 AM — Carnival Abrivado · starting from the Éric Baska rugby stadium, manade l'Amista — costumes highly recommended, free
- From 6:00 PM — Bodegas and dining · Salon Taurin
- 7:00 PM — Mixed Corrida for the 10th anniversary of the Club Taurin Beaucairois · Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent. Lineup: Diego Ventura (2 bulls from M. Guiomar Cortés de Moura), Clemente and Pablo Aguado (4 bulls from Calejo Pires) — from €35 to €105
- 9:30 PM — Grand cabaret night by the Laurent Comtat orchestra · Salon Taurin — free
- 9:30 PM — Night Encierro · Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire — free
Sunday, July 26, 2026
- 8:30 AM — Grand Fair Breakfast, by the Club Taurin Beaucairois · Espace le Chalet, Champ de Foire — €19 by reservation
- 10:15 AM — Procession of the Confrérie Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, with several guest brotherhoods · from Saint-Paul church to the Collégiale Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers — free
- 10:45 AM — Grand Mass of the Madeleine · Collégiale Notre-Dame-des-Pommiers — free
- 11:00 AM — Pamplona Abrivado · from Ambulances Jerrise, avenue Terre d'Argence, to Espace le Chalet, manade l'Amista — free
- 6:00 PM — Novillada · Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent, by the Aficion Taurine Beaucairoise. Six novillos from Curé de Valverde for Pepe Luis Cirugeda, Pedro Andrés, and Pedro Luis — from €25 to €50
- From 6:00 PM — Bodegas and dining · Salon Taurin
- 9:30 PM — Concert: Lisa Gaona & Dave, accompanied by the Richard Gardet Orchestra · Salon Taurin — free
- 9:30 PM — Night Encierro · Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire — free
Monday, July 27, 2026 — Closing
- 9:00 AM — Traditional breakfast · Le Fer à Cheval, 2175 A chemin Saint-Denis d'Argence — €15
- 10:30 AM — Traditional Abrivado, "The Return of Don Camillo & Péponne," with a parade of costumed people in carriages · from Le Fer à Cheval to Arènes Paul Laurent, manade l'Amista — free
- 5:00 PM — Souvenir Marius Gardiol, grand finale of the Palme d'Or, preceded by a capelado or parade · Arènes Municipales Paul Laurent — competition of 7 manades
- From 6:00 PM — Bodegas and dining · Salon Taurin
- 9:30 PM — Cocktail de Nuit, closing musical show · Salon Taurin — free
- 11:00 PM — Grand closing fireworks, launched from the Château and visible from the Salon Taurin — free
Around the festival
- Saturday, July 18 to Monday, July 27, from 6:00 PM — Funfair · Champ de Foire, free access
- Sunday, July 19, 5:00 PM — Souvenir Marius Gardiol, 1st day of the Palme d'Or · Arènes Paul Laurent, competition of 5 manades
- Monday, July 20, 7:00 PM — Two-gate Bandido, between the Rochecourbe and Beauregard gates, manade Labourayre — free
- Monday, July 20, 9:30 PM — Beaucairois Olympics, 5th edition, in honor of the 130th anniversary of the Aubanel manade · Arènes Paul Laurent — €10 (reduced €5 for children under 10)
- July 21 to 27 — Estivales photo contest, open to amateurs and professionals, up to €200 in vouchers to be won
- Tuesday, July 28, 10:00 PM — Toro-piscine · Arènes Paul Laurent, by the Club Taurin Beaucairois — €5 (€3 for 8-12 year olds)
Prices Fêtes de la Madeleine 2026
Camargue races for the Souvenir Marius Gardiol (Palme d'Or): €17 for numbered seats, €12 standard rate, €6 for Beaucaire retirees aged 65+, €2 for 12-25 year olds, free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult and for people with disabilities. Tickets available at the Beaucaire town hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or at the arena on the day of the race from 10:00 AM.
Recortadores and forcados show on July 22nd: €10 standard rate, €6 for 12-16 year olds and Beaucaire retirees. Tickets at the arena on the day of the show from 5:00 PM.
Mixed corrida on July 25th: from €35 to €105. Reservations at www.billetweb.fr/corrida-beaucairoise-mixte or by calling 06 87 72 05 81.
Novillada on July 26th: from €25 to €50. Reservations with the Aficion Taurine Beaucairoise at 07 67 60 89 12.
Beaucairois Olympics on July 20th: €10, €5 for children under 10.
Toro-piscine on July 28th: €5, €3 for 8-12 year olds.
Information: Beaucaire town hall, 04 66 59 10 06.
Practical information — Fêtes de la Madeleine
Practical Information
Location
Beaucaire (30300), in the Gard department, Occitanie region. The main events take place in the historic city center, at the Arènes Paul Laurent and the Champ de Foire.
Access
Beaucaire is accessible from the A9 motorway (Remoulins exit) then the D986, or from Tarascon (nearby SNCF station) via the bridge over the Rhône. The city center and the arenas are approximately 25 km from Avignon, 30 km from Nîmes, and 25 km from Arles.
Parking
During the féria, traffic and parking in the city center are heavily disrupted. Park-and-ride facilities are usually set up by the municipality. It is best to arrive early or use shuttles when they are offered.
Contact
Beaucaire Town Hall — 04 66 59 10 06. More information on the official website of the City of Beaucaire and from the Provence Occitane / Beaucaire Terre d'Argence tourist office.
The Fêtes de la Madeleine, emblematic féria of Beaucaire
The Fêtes de la Madeleine are one of the highlights of summer in the Gard. Every year from July 21st, Sainte-Marie-Madeleine's Day, the town of Beaucaire switches to féria mode for a week of festivities combining Camargue tradition, bullfighting art, and popular celebration.
A fair born in 1464
The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine fair was established in 1464 by King Louis XI to revitalize Beaucaire's economy after the Hundred Years' War. Over the centuries, it transformed into a great Provençal and Camargue votive festival, becoming one of the major bullfighting events in the South of France.
A week of Provençal and Camargue festivities
The program unfolds in the city center, at the Arènes Paul Laurent and the Champ de Foire. On the menu: opening parade in Provençal and Camargue costumes with over 700 participants and a hundred animals, abrivado de Saint-Roman, encierro and bull releases, Camargue races (notably the Palme d'Or and the Palme d'Argent), corridas, novillada, bodegas, peñas, free concerts, funfair, and fireworks.
The return of corridas and the Camargue race
After several years without formal corridas, the féria has reconnected with Spanish bullfighting thanks to the Club Taurin Beaucairois and the Aficion Taurine Beaucairoise. On the Camargue race side, the Palme d'Or brings together the best raseteurs of the moment in the arenas, accompanied by the Palme d'Argent.
An unmissable popular event
The Féria de la Madeleine attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year from all over the Gard department, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Hérault, and beyond. Between bullfighting tradition, Provençal fervor, and bodega atmosphere, it is one of the great moments of summer in Occitanie.
Where does it take place — Fêtes de la Madeleine
Fêtes de la Madeleine in brief
History of Fêtes de la Madeleine
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Other festivals near Beaucaire
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)