Fêtes de la Saint-Jean
The essential patronal festivals of Saint-Jean-de-Luz in red and black
2026
About Fêtes de la Saint-Jean
Fêtes de la Saint-Jean — edition 2026
2026 Edition - June 18th to 22nd, 2026
The Fêtes de la Saint-Jean 2026 will take place from Thursday, June 18th to Monday, June 22nd in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The city will be adorned in red and black for five days of intense festivities, blending age-old Basque traditions and contemporary entertainment.
The detailed program will be announced in the spring of 2026.
Highlights Fêtes de la Saint-Jean 2026
- Opening show « Lurraren Zainak » by Cie Burrunka (Thursday, June 18, Parc Ducontenia)
- Official opening ceremony Place Louis XIV with tamborradas and Kaskarot Banda (Friday, June 19, 7 PM)
- Saint-Jean bonfires at the church forecourt then Place Louis XIV (Saturday, June 20, 10 PM)
- Tortilla competition and fandango competition (Saturday, June 20)
- Toro de fuego every evening, batucadas, txarangas and concerts throughout the city center
- Final Mascletà, sound pyrotechnic show (Sunday, June 21, 9:45 PM, Place Louis XIV)
Programme Fêtes de la Saint-Jean 2026
Official program of the Saint-Jean 2026 Festivities (Donibaneko Bestak), published end of May 2026 by the extra-municipal festival committee. Subject to change — up-to-date information on saintjeandeluz.fr. Theme 2026: the maritime and fishing world; poster signed by Pantxika Maya.
Thursday, June 18, 2026
- 9:15 PM — Festival show « Lurraren Zainak » by Cie Burrunka, preceded by a Slam opening act at 9 PM with the collective « Enslamez-vous » — Théâtre de la Nature, Parc Ducontenia (doors open 7:30 PM, free, refreshments and food on site)
Friday, June 19, 2026
- 8:30 AM-4:30 PM — Children's school day (city center)
- 6:30 PM — Children's Tamborrada parade accompanied by the Kaskarot Banda and Compagnie Kilika, preceded by the Tamborrada Marinelak (Rue Gambetta)
- 6:45 PM — Children's Choir Concert (Place Louis XIV)
- 7 PM — Official opening ceremony of the festivities by Mr. the Mayor, with the children's choir and Tamborrada, Compagnie Kilika and the Kaskarot Banda (Place Louis XIV)
- From 7:30 PM — Bandas and txarangas entertainment in the streets: Txaranga d'Ustaritz, Koxeguy Taldea, Zarpai Banda, Banda les Joyeux
- 7:45 PM — Concert with Pog Mahone (Place Louis XIV)
- 9 PM — Concert with Koloka Taldea (Parvis des Halles)
- 10 PM — Concert with Wrek, winner of the musical springboard (Place Louis XIV)
- 10:30 PM — Toro de fuego (Boulevard Thiers)
- 11:30 PM — Dance with Katxi Taldea (Place Louis XIV)
- Concerts in town: Angy in duo (Maison Ama), Bidekoa at 9:30 PM (Le Vauban), live stage DIA! radio Place Ramiro Arrue from 6 PM (Distopia 8 PM-10 PM, DJ sets until 3 AM), DJ Mix Rue de la République from 10 PM
Saturday, June 20, 2026
- From 9 AM — La Donibane, festival foot race (start Place Louis XIV): 5 km walk at 9 AM, 5 km race at 9:30 AM and 10 km race at 9:40 AM, children's race at 11 AM — organized by Urkirolak Triathlon (registrations on pb-organisation.com)
- 9:30 AM — Batteleku and fishmongers' race, championship and sea relay (Grande Plage, by Ur Ikara)
- 10 AM — Mixed Beach-Volley 3 vs 3 tournament (Grande Plage, by the VBLC)
- From 11 AM — Estudiantina serenade, kalejiras and traditional music in the streets; giants parade with Kilimon Ziganteak (St-Palais) and the giants of Oiartzun
- 12 PM — Tortilla competition, open to amateurs and associations (deposit from 11 AM at Taverne Basque, rue de la Baleine); traditional music parade (Place Louis XIV)
- 3 PM-6 PM — Creative workshops for children 3-12 years old, wooden games, make-up workshop (Boulevard Thiers, free)
- 4:30 PM — Basque strength games, free (Place Louis XIV)
- 6 PM — Fandango competition (Gaztetxe and Begiraleak), registrations on site from 5:30 PM (Les Halles)
- 7 PM — Dantza Piko with Patxi Perez (Les Halles); Basque songs with Kurruka (Place Louis XIV)
- 8:30 PM — Confetti battle (Place Louis XIV); concert with Les Pourquoi pas? then Top 50 80s-2000s party by DJ Pappy Ben at 10 PM (Les Halles)
- 10 PM — Saint-Jean bonfires by Begiraleak and the Kaskarot Banda (Church Forecourt then Place Louis XIV)
- 10:45 PM — Dance with Patcha Mama (Place Louis XIV)
- 12 AM — Toro de fuego (Boulevard Thiers / Place Louis XIV)
- Concerts in town: Fifty-fifty at 7:30 PM and Gipsy fusion at 9 PM (Boulevard Thiers), blind test and concerts Place Ramiro Arrue from 4 PM, numerous DJ sets and concerts in bars from 10 PM
Sunday, June 21, 2026
- 9 AM-10 AM — Pasa calle of Txistus and Tamborrada Marinelak (in the streets)
- 10 AM — Solemn Mass of Saint-Jean with Donibaneko Haizeak and Begiraleak (Church)
- 10:30 AM — Rebot game, seniors 1st series (Fronton municipal); Plazan Kantuz - Kanta Donibane (Place du Collège)
- 11:30 AM — Aurresku by Begiraleak (Church Forecourt)
- 12 PM — Mutxikoak by Begiraleak (Place Louis XIV); concert by the Chœurale Les Engageantes (Les Halles)
- 1:30 PM — Luziens' meal animated by Bidekoa (Festival marquee, Urdazuri gymnasium parking)
- From 4 PM-6 PM — Brass band entertainment in the streets: Pong Orchestra, Les Bizounours, Neska Tamborrada, Aboliçao Batucada
- 5:30 PM — Donibane Kantuz by Begiraleak (Place Louis XIV)
- 7:45 PM — Concert with Skyz rap (Place Louis XIV)
- 8:30 PM — Final concert with Kilimak (Place Louis XIV)
- 9:45 PM — Mascletà, final sound pyrotechnic show of the festivities (Place Louis XIV)
- Basque songs and DJ sets in bars and streets all afternoon and evening
Festival refreshment stand (Place Louis XIV) — Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 1 AM: DJ set from 10 PM, Les Galettes du Grenier (Friday), Yann Eras & the Moï Moï crew (Saturday).
Prices Fêtes de la Saint-Jean 2026
Fêtes de la Saint-Jean — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 18 June to 22 June 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 la Saint-Jean
Practical Information
Locations
The festivities take place throughout the city center of Saint-Jean-de-Luz: Place Louis XIV, pedestrian streets, the seafront, the port, and the city squares.
Attire
Tradition dictates that festival-goers wear red and black.
Access
By car: A63 motorway, exit Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Warning: traffic and parking are very difficult during the festivals. Shuttles and park-and-ride facilities are available.
By train: Saint-Jean-de-Luz - Ciboure SNCF station. The Txik Txak network offers reinforced services during the festivals.
Contact
Tourist Office: 20 boulevard Victor Hugo, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Tel: 05 59 26 03 16.
Donibaneko Bestak: the patronal festivals of Saint-Jean-de-Luz
The Fêtes de la Saint-Jean are much more than just a festive event: they are the very soul of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Also known by their Basque name Donibaneko Bestak, these patronal festivals bring together thousands of people each year in June, locals and visitors alike, in an atmosphere of typically Basque revelry and conviviality.
Five days of celebration in red and black
Tradition dictates that participants wear the colors of the city: red and black. This festive attire unifies the crowd and creates a spectacular visual ambiance in the streets, squares, and bars of the city.
A program rich in traditions
The festivals take place over five days with a dense program combining age-old traditions and modern entertainment:
- Official opening on Place Louis XIV with the launch of the festivities
- Tamborrada: parade of children and adults to the rhythm of drums through the city streets
- Kaskarot Banda and the giant Kaskarot Maria Meharra from the Kilika Company
- Saint-John's Bonfires: ancestral tradition of the summer solstice
- Tortilla Competition: popular culinary contest
- Fandango Contest: traditional Basque dance
- Basque Dances with Dantza Piko and mutxikos
- Concerts and DJ sets in bars and on squares
- Toro de Fuego and confetti battle
An intergenerational celebration
The Fêtes de la Saint-Jean are a unique moment of sharing between all generations. From txarangas and batucadas to contemporary music concerts, everyone finds their rhythm. The city's bars and restaurants extend the celebration until the early morning, while daytime activities allow families to fully participate in the celebration.
Where does it take place — Fêtes de la Saint-Jean
Fêtes de la Saint-Jean in brief
History of Fêtes de la Saint-Jean
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Other festivals near Saint-Jean-de-Luz
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