Fêtes de la Madeleine
The great féria of Mont-de-Marsan, five days in blue and white
2026
About La Madeleine
La Madeleine — edition 2026
The Fêtes de la Madeleine 2026 will be held from July 22 to 26 in Mont-de-Marsan. Five days and five nights of blue and white féria, with a prestigious bullfighting program at the Plumaçon bullring (five corridas and two novilladas), bandas, free concerts, bodegas, cavalcades, children's entertainment, and a fireworks display.
Madeleine Festival 2026
The 2026 Madeleine Festival takes place from Wednesday, July 22nd to Sunday, July 26th in Mont-de-Marsan. For five days and five nights, the city comes alive to the rhythm of its grand féria, decked out in the blue and white colors of the town's coat of arms. The official opening kicks off on Wednesday at noon at the town hall square, featuring the mayor handing over the keys to the city's youth, a pigeon release, and the lively encantada of the bandas.
A world-class bullfighting féria
At the Plumaçon bullring, the 2026 temporada features five corridas and two novilladas, preceded by a concours landais on Tuesday, July 21st at 9:30 PM, and rounded off with a concours de cocardes on Sunday morning. The féria opens on July 22nd at 6 PM with a Jandilla bullfight featuring Borja Jiménez, Andrés Roca Rey, and Marco Pérez. On July 25th, Daniel Luque faces six bulls solo (encerrona) from six different breeders: Juan Pedro Domecq, La Quinta, El Parralejo, Victoriano del Río, Adolfo Martín, and Fuente Ymbro. The closing event on July 26th showcases Victorino Martín bulls for Morenito de Aranda, Román, and Juan de Castilla.
A daily theme
Thursday, July 23rd is Kids' Day: all-day entertainment at Parc Jean-Rameau (games, pony rides, dance and drawing workshops, stilt-walking lessons, shows, and concerts) with its own key-handover ceremony for children at 10:15 AM. Friday, July 24th is Family Day: a kids' encierro, salon bullfighting, intergenerational Landais challenges along the banks of the Midouze, and the Festiclass at the bullring. Saturday, July 25th is Bandas Day, featuring the grand parade at 1 PM and the encantada of the bandas in the bullring at 9 PM. Sunday, July 26th offers a colorful finale: mass, a grand midday parade, the dog festival at the Campet cynodrome, the closing bullfight, a concert by the Orchestre Montois, and a grand fireworks display at 11 PM.
The party across the city
Beyond the bullring, the Madeleine is a street-level experience: two grand float parades presented by the neighborhood festival associations (Wednesday at 10 PM and Sunday at noon), around fifteen bodega zones hosted by local associations and merchants, a funfair, peñas, the «Toros y Arte» exhibition at Les Halles, and the stage at the town hall square every evening starting at 10 PM. It is one of the largest férias in the Southwest, drawing hundreds of thousands of revelers every year.
Highlights La Madeleine 2026
- Opening ceremony on Wednesday, July 22nd at noon at the Town Hall Square: keys handed to the youth, pigeon release, and bandas encantada
- Two grand float parades: Wednesday, July 22nd at 10 PM and Sunday, July 26th at noon, from Square des Anciens Combattants to the bullring
- Five corridas and two novilladas at the Plumaçon bullring, plus a Concours Landais on Tuesday, July 21st at 9:30 PM and a Concours de Cocardes on Sunday at 10:30 AM
- Historic encerrona by Daniel Luque, facing six bulls from six different breeders, on Saturday, July 25th at 6 PM
- Kids' Day on Thursday, July 23rd at Parc Jean-Rameau and Bandas Day on Saturday, July 25th (parade at 1 PM, encantada at 9 PM in the bullring)
- Concert by the Orchestre Montois and grand closing fireworks on Sunday, July 26th at 11 PM
- Podium Concept at the Town Hall Square every evening from 10 PM, bodegas in fifteen city-center zones, and a funfair
Programme La Madeleine 2026
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 — Opening Day
- 8:00 AM — Madeleine Pro-Am Golf Tournament · Mont-de-Marsan Golf Course, Saint-Avit
- 8:35 AM — Course du Moun: Joëlette race, followed by the 10km and 4km Moun races at 8:45 AM and the Minimoun (ages 7-13) at 10:30 AM · Parc Jean-Rameau
- 10:00 AM — "Behind the scenes at the Plumaçon bullring" tour · Departs from the Tourist Office (booking: 05 58 05 87 37)
- 11:00 AM — Children's choir and Orchestre Montois, with the Conservatoire des Landes · Town Hall Square
- 12:00 PM — Opening ceremony: Mayor hands over the keys to the youth, pigeon release, and bandas encantada · Town Hall Square
- 12:00 PM — Madeleine lunch for seniors · Auberge Landaise
- 1:00 PM — Opening of the «Toros y Arte» exhibition · Les Halles
- 3:30 PM — Blessing, with the Orchestre Montois and Café Gascon deu Mont · Madeleine Church
- 4:00 PM — Madeleine procession, from the church to the bullring
- 4:30 PM — Blessing of the bullring by Father Dominique Espil · Campo de Feria
- 6:00 PM — Corrida: Jandilla bulls for Borja Jiménez, Andrés Roca Rey, and Marco Pérez · Plumaçon Bullring
- 8:00 PM — Magdalena canta gascon, by Café Gascon deu Mont · Town Hall Square
- 9:00 PM — Polynesian dancing, by the Hoki Vai association · Town Hall Square
- 10:00 PM — Grand Parade: Floats presented by neighborhood associations, from Square des Anciens Combattants to the bullring via Rue Gambetta
- From 10:00 PM — Podium Concept · Town Hall Square
Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 — Kids' Day
- 8:30 AM — Children's fishing contest · Menasse fishing lake
- All day — Entertainment at Parc Jean-Rameau: games, pony rides, workshops, stilt-walking, shows, and concerts. 10:15 AM opening ceremony and key handover, 10:45 AM grand parade, 12:15 PM children's picnic, 3:30 PM musical finale
- 11:00 AM — Novillada non piquée: Erales from Lartet and Camino de Santiago for Manuel Real «El Realito», Julio Aparicio, Rubén Vara, and Julio Martín · Plumaçon Bullring
- 11:30 AM — Prix de la Madeleine: 7 flat races · Grands Pins Racecourse
- 3:30 PM — Bullfighting initiation, with the Adour Aficion School and Agruna ranch · Plazita des Arènes
- 6:00 PM — Corrida: José Escolar Gil bulls for Antonio Ferrera, Pepe Moral, and Dorian Canton · Plumaçon Bullring
- From 10:00 PM — Podium Concept · Town Hall Square
Friday, July 24th, 2026 — Family Day
- 9:00 AM — Bullfighting breakfast · La Tumade
- 10:00 AM — "Behind the scenes at the Plumaçon bullring" tour · Departs from the Tourist Office
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — Pedal cars for kids · Town Hall Square
- 10:45 AM — Kids' encierro · Plazita des Arènes
- 11:00 AM — Salon bullfighting for kids, hosted by the Julien Lescarret peña · Plazita des Arènes
- 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM — Intergenerational Landais challenges: 8 fun 100% Landais events, teams of 2-6, ages 5-99 · Banks of the Midouze
- 2:00 PM — Course Landaise initiation, with the French Course Landaise Federation · Plazita des Arènes
- 3:30 PM — Course Landaise School demonstration · Plazita des Arènes
- 6:00 PM — Corrida: Zacarías Moreno bulls for Miguel Ángel Perera, David de Miranda, and Tristan Barroso · Plumaçon Bullring
- 10:00 PM — Festiclass: Friendly competition between the 2007 and 2008 age groups, by the Mais Uma association — free entry · Plumaçon Bullring
- From 10:00 PM — Podium Concept · Town Hall Square
Saturday, July 25th, 2026 — Bandas Day
- 8:30 AM — Madeleine Scramble · Mont-de-Marsan Golf Course, Saint-Avit
- 11:00 AM — Novillada piquée: Novillos from José Cruz for Emiliano Osornio, Julio Norte, and Clovis · Plumaçon Bullring
- 11:00 AM — Pedal car race · City center
- 1:00 PM — Bandas Parade · City center
- 3:00 PM — Folk show "From the Landes to Alsace", by Lous Tchancayres and the Engwiller Folk Music and Dance Association · Campo de Feria
- 3:30 PM — Course Landaise School demonstration · Plazita des Arènes
- 4:30 PM — Folk show "From the Landes to Alsace" · Town Hall Square
- 6:00 PM — Encerrona by Daniel Luque, facing six bulls from Juan Pedro Domecq, La Quinta, El Parralejo, Victoriano del Río, Adolfo Martín, and Fuente Ymbro · Plumaçon Bullring
- 9:00 PM — Bandas encantada in the bullring, reserved for corrida ticket holders — broadcast on a giant screen outside the bullring
- From 10:00 PM — Podium Concept · Town Hall Square
Sunday, July 26th, 2026 — Colorful Finale
- 10:30 AM — Mass, with the Orchestre Montois · Madeleine Church
- 10:30 AM — Concours de cocardes, by the Sud-Ouest raseteurs · Plumaçon Bullring
- 11:00 AM — Homing pigeon exhibition by Le Messager Landais, release at 12:00 PM · Gisèle-Halimi Bridge
- 12:00 PM — Grand Parade, from Square des Anciens Combattants to the bullring via Rue Gambetta
- From 2:00 PM — Dog Festival: Greyhound racing and canine demonstrations, free entry · Campet Cynodrome
- 3:30 PM — Bullfighting initiation, with the Adour Aficion School and Agruna ranch · Plazita des Arènes
- 6:00 PM — Closing Corrida: Victorino Martín bulls for Morenito de Aranda, Román, and Juan de Castilla · Plumaçon Bullring
- 10:00 PM — Concert by the Orchestre Montois · Campo de Feria
- From 10:00 PM — Podium Concept · Town Hall Square
- 11:00 PM — Grand closing fireworks display
Pre-festival events
- Saturday, July 11th, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM — Madeleine Fair · City center
- Monday, July 13th, 10:30 PM — Ball at the Town Hall Square, followed by fireworks at 11:00 PM at the confluence of the Douze and Midou rivers
- Tuesday, July 14th — 10:30 AM military parade on Boulevard Jean-Lacoste, 12:30 PM republican picnic at Parc Jean-Rameau
- Friday, July 17th, 8:00 PM — Madeleine Nocturne, cycling race organized by Stade Montois Cyclisme · City center
- Monday, July 20th, 8:30 AM — Adult fishing contest · Banks of the Midouze
- Tuesday, July 21st — 2:30 PM pétanque tournament at the Nahuques boulodrome, 3:30 PM youth contest at the bullring, Coursayres meal from 7:00 PM, 9:30 PM Concours Landais at the Plumaçon bullring
Throughout the five days
- «Toros y Arte» Exhibition (3rd edition), featuring Esclavina, Laura Moulié, Aline Gonzalez, and Robin Salette — 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM from July 22nd to 26th, free entry · Les Halles
- Bodegas: about fifteen zones hosted by local associations and merchants, from the Town Hall Square to the bullring esplanade via Place Saint-Roch, Place Charles-de-Gaulle, Allées Brouchet, and Rue du 4-Septembre
- Peñas: Los Pitchouns du Moun, La Plancha, La Puya, La Cuarenta, Cercle Taurin Montois, A Los Toros, Los Pechos, Peña del Lobo, and Los Gringos
- Funfair set up in the city for the duration of the festival
Prices La Madeleine 2026
Novillada piquée (Saturday, July 25th, 11 AM): from €19 to €42; free for children under 12; €10 for subscribers.
Novillada non piquée (Thursday, July 23rd, 11 AM): €7 unreserved seating; free for under-25s and subscribers.
Concours Landais (Tuesday, July 21st, 9:30 PM): from €10 to €25 depending on the section and seat category.
Concours de Cocardes (Sunday, July 26th, 10:30 AM): €5; free for under-16s.
Subscription for 5 corridas + novilladas: from €115 to €516 depending on category and exposure (shade, shade+sun, sun). The subscription includes a 4.5% discount, no booking fees, payment in three installments, and priority access to tickets.
Ticketing: online at montdemarsan.fr and regie-des-fetes.maplace.fr until the day before the event; at the Régie des fêtes et animations until July 16th; at the Plumaçon bullring ticket offices starting July 18th.
Concours Landais and Concours de Cocardes: tickets on sale at La Tumade ([email protected]), and on the day at the bullring ticket offices.
All street entertainment is free: bandas, parades, folk shows, Town Hall Square stage, Kids' Day, Festiclass, dog festival, «Toros y Arte» exhibition, and fireworks.
Practical information — La Madeleine
Getting to Mont-de-Marsan during the festivities
City buses and park-and-ride facilities
During the festivities, the Movima urban network adjusts its service with seven lines running every 30 minutes from 7:00 AM to 4:30 AM (7:00 AM to 3:30 AM on Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 3:30 AM on Sunday). These lines serve the four park-and-ride lots located at the city gates: the leisure center (route de Bayonne), Le Pôle - Théâtres de Gascogne in Saint-Pierre-du-Mont, the Lycée Jean-Cassaigne (route de Grenade / Pau), and the Lycée Frédéric-Estève (towards Agen). Due to the Course du Moun and the parades, temporary terminals are set up on the opening and closing days.
Movima fares: day ticket €5 (purchased from the driver); 5-day and night pass with unlimited round trips €15, or €10 for Movima subscribers, available at the Movima agency and the tourist office. Information: Movima agency, 05 58 45 04 26, bustma.com.
Regional lines connect the 16 rural municipalities to Mont-de-Marsan daily, with increased service in the evening. Return trips from Mont-de-Marsan are available at 8:00 AM, midnight, 2:15 AM, 3:30 AM, and 4:30 AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
From the rest of the Landes
The Bus des ferias serves Mont-de-Marsan from Aire-sur-l'Adour (line A), Hagetmau (B), Grenade-sur-l'Adour (C), Roquefort (D), Dax (E), and Mimizan (F). Round-trip fare: €5. Information and conditions at lebusdesferias.fr.
By car and train
Mont-de-Marsan is accessible via the A65 motorway (Pau-Bordeaux) and national roads. Parking in the city center is strongly discouraged during the festivities: please use the park-and-ride lots and shuttles. The Mont-de-Marsan train station is served by TER regional trains from Bordeaux and Dax.
Bullfighting tickets
- Online at montdemarsan.fr and regie-des-fetes.maplace.fr, until the day before the event
- At the Régie des fêtes et animations, until July 16th
- At the Plumaçon bullring ticket offices, starting July 18th
- For the Concours landais and cockade competitions: contact La Tumade — [email protected]
At the Plumaçon bullring
- Everyone, including children, must have a ticket. Please arrive early: security checks at the entrance and around the bullring may cause delays
- Bullring daycare from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the bullring school, free for children aged 3 to 10, registration required at [email protected]
- Bottled water on sale from 4:30 PM at the Nimeño 2 gate and inside the bullring
- Cushion rentals from 5:00 PM at the Nimeño 2 gate and on both sides of the bullring
- COSS refreshment bar from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the corridors
Festival locations
The festivities take over the entire city center: Place de la Mairie, Place Saint-Roch, Place Charles-de-Gaulle, Place des Bons Vivants, Place Pancaut, the bullring esplanade (campo de feria), Esplanade du Midou, Allées Brouchet, Rue Gambetta, the banks of the Midouze, and Parc Jean-Rameau. Bullfighting events take place at the Plumaçon bullring, and children's activities are held at Parc Jean-Rameau. About fifteen areas host bodegas run by local associations and merchants, and the funfair is set up in the city. First aid stations, rest areas, toilets, camping, and taxi stands are marked on the official festival map.
Dining and atmosphere
The bodegas offer a varied menu featuring Landes products, served until late at night. The official colors of the Madeleine are blue and white, taken from the city's coat of arms: wearing white clothes with a blue scarf is highly encouraged to get into the spirit.
Contact
Régie des fêtes et animations — 479 avenue du Maréchal Foch, 40000 Mont-de-Marsan — 05 58 75 39 08 — [email protected]. Open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM (4:00 PM on Fridays). Official website: montdemarsan.fr
The Fêtes de la Madeleine: the pride of Mont-de-Marsan
The Fêtes de la Madeleine are the great féria of Mont-de-Marsan, prefecture of the Landes. Born in 1933, they celebrate each year the Saint Mary Magdalene, patron saint of the city. For five days and five nights, starting from the first Wednesday after July 14th, Mont-de-Marsan transforms into a huge party scene, attracting between 650,000 and 750,000 festival-goers.
Blue and white, the colors of La Madeleine
Unlike the neighboring férias of Bayonne and Dax where red and white, borrowed from Pamplona's Sanfermines, dominate, the Fêtes de la Madeleine are distinguished by their own colors: blue and white, from the historical coat of arms of Mont-de-Marsan. This peculiarity gives the Montoise féria a unique visual identity in the landscape of festivals in the Southwest.
Taurine shows at the Plumaçon
The beating heart of La Madeleine lies in the Plumaçon arena, which hosts an exceptional taurine program each year: five bullfights, two novilladas (with and without picadors), a Portuguese bullfight, a Landes competition, and formal Landes races. The greatest matadors in the world perform before the 7,000 spectators in the arena, making La Madeleine one of the most prestigious férias in France.
Concerts, bandas, and entertainment
Beyond the arena, the party invades the entire city. Twenty-one bandas liven up the streets and squares, while free concerts take place on several stages. The bodegas set up in the city center offer food and a festive atmosphere until the early morning. The cavalcade, a grand parade of decorated floats, is one of the week's highlights.
Traditions and entertainment for all
The Fêtes de la Madeleine are also a family event. An entire day is dedicated to children, with adapted entertainment, games, and shows. The program also includes popular meals, folkloric parades, fireworks, and numerous street animations. The opening ceremony, with the handing over of the keys of the city by the mayor to the youth of Mont-de-Marsan, officially launches the festivities.
National and international reach
The Fêtes de la Madeleine are one of the largest festive and taurine events in France, rivaling the férias of Bayonne, Dax, Nîmes, and Béziers. They contribute to the influence of Mont-de-Marsan as the capital of taurine and Landes culture, and are a major economic driver for the entire Landes department.
Where does it take place — La Madeleine
La Madeleine in brief
History of La Madeleine
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Mont-de-Marsan
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