La Pescalune
Féria/tradition in Lunel, Hérault
2026
About La Pescalune
La Pescalune — edition 2026
La Pescalune 2026 — nine days of festivities in Lunel
La Pescalune, the iconic festival of Lunel, returns from July 11 to 19, 2026, in the city streets and at the Francis San Juan arena. For nine days, the city celebrates its "bouvine" culture, Camargue horses, and passion for bullfighting, featuring bull runs, Camargue races, bullfights, concerts, bodegas, and free shows. The program is organized by the City of Lunel in partnership with Maestria Organisation, which manages the arena events.
Opening with 100 bulls in the streets
On Saturday, July 11, at 10:30 AM, the opening parade hands the keys of the city to the peña taurina Victor Mendes, followed by the release of 100 bulls from the manade Lafon on the Allée Baroncelli, and the sorting in the arena. The day concludes with the Sardi's Sixties orchestra at the Place des Caladons and the equestrian show La Cavalerie Enchantée at the arena.
Themed days
Every day has its own theme. Sunday, July 12, is the Traditional Day, featuring a breakfast in the fields with a costumed branding session and a traditional "abrivado à bâtons plantés," followed by the Great Pescalune Race. Wednesday, July 15, is Kids' Day, dedicated to children with branding, encierro, parades, games, and snacks. Thursday, July 16, is Local Heritage Day, bringing together the herdsmen's breakfast, the local market at Parc Jean Hugo, the roussataïo, the blessing of the horses, and the release of 100 horses from the manade Puig. Sunday, July 19, is Spanish Day, starting with a Sevillian mass and an Andalusian parade, closing with the "toro de fuego."
Bullfighting highlights
The San Juan arena hosts "courses au plan," pool bullfights, foam bullfights, and American rodeo. The Great Pescalune Race (July 12, 5:30 PM) counts toward the 3M Trophy and the Trophée des As, while the Trophée de l'Avenir brings together young "raseteurs" on July 16. Two bullfights close the weekend: on Saturday, July 18, at 5:00 PM, a unique 100% French lineup faces bulls from French ranches; on Sunday, July 19, at 5:00 PM, a prestigious trio featuring Sébastien Castella, Alejandro Talavante, and the young phenomenon Marco Pérez faces bulls from García Jiménez.
Concerts, theater, and bodegas
Patrick Sébastien takes the stage at the arena on Friday, July 17, at 9:00 PM. Evenings continue in the bodegas on the Esplanade Roger Damour starting July 16, with Sevillian dancers, while free musical entertainment (Sardi's Sixties, Shamrock, Les Apple Scruffs, Groove and the Gang, Duo Oxygen) livens up the city center squares. At the Espace Brassens, the amateur theater festival Festi'Lune and the cabaret show À plein tubes round out the program.
Highlights La Pescalune 2026
- Release of 100 bulls from the manade Lafon in the streets — Saturday, July 11 at 10:30 AM, Allée Baroncelli, after the opening parade
- The Great Pescalune Race, 3M Trophy and Trophée des As — Sunday, July 12 at 5:30 PM at Arènes San Juan
- American Rodeo — Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 PM at Arènes San Juan
- Release of 100 horses from the manade Puig — Thursday, July 16, following the Trophée de l'Avenir
- Patrick Sébastien in concert — Friday, July 17 at 9:00 PM at Arènes San Juan
- 100% French Bullfight — Saturday, July 18 at 5:00 PM: Tibo Garcia, El Rafi, Adriano, Nino Julian, Carlos Olsina, Andy Younes, and Dorian Canton
- Prestigious Bullfight — Sunday, July 19 at 5:00 PM: Sébastien Castella, Alejandro Talavante, and Marco Pérez, bulls from García Jiménez
- Spanish Day and "toro de fuego" — Sunday, July 19, from the Sevillian mass to the 10:00 PM Camargue evening
Programme La Pescalune 2026
Saturday, July 11, 2026 — Opening
- 9:00 AM — Mass in Provençal · Parc Jean Hugo
- 10:00 AM — Trout fishing · Moulin des Resses
- 10:30 AM — Opening parade, handing over the keys to the peña taurina Victor Mendes, followed by the release of 100 bulls from the manade Lafon and sorting in the arena · Allée Baroncelli
- 3:00 PM — Pétanque tournament · Complexe sportif Dassargues
- 4:30 PM — Kids' Karaoke · Parc Jean Hugo
- 5:00 PM — Course au plan (manade Tommy) · Arènes San Juan
- 7:30 PM — 4 bandidos (manades Chaballier, Du Levant, Lafon, Tommy) · Allée Baroncelli
- 9:00 PM — Sardi's Sixties Orchestra · Place des Caladons
- 9:30 PM — La Cavalerie Enchantée, equestrian show · Arènes San Juan
Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Traditional Day
- 9:00 AM — Breakfast in the fields with costumed branding at L'Hournède, followed by a traditional abrivado (manade Tommy); arrival and awards ceremony at Parc Jean Hugo
- 5:30 PM — The Great Pescalune Race, Camargue race counting for the 3M Trophy and the Trophée des As · Arènes San Juan
- 7:30 PM — 2 bandidos, including one with 7 bulls (manades Lafon and Tommy) · Allée Baroncelli
- 9:00 PM — Toros piscine · Arènes San Juan
Monday, July 13, 2026
- 7:30 PM — Firefighters' Ball · Parc Jean Hugo
- 9:00 PM — Toros mousse · Arènes San Juan
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — National Day
- 9:00 AM — Breakfast in the fields with branding, picnic style · L'Hournède
- 10:30 AM — July 14th Ceremony · Parc Jean Hugo
- 12:30 PM — 3 abrivados (manades Aubanel, Du Levant, Lafon) · Allée Baroncelli
- 7:30 PM — 2 bandidos of 7 bulls (manade Lafon) · Allée Baroncelli
- 9:30 PM — Torchlight procession with the street show "Navirail" by Cie Les Enjoliveurs · departure from City Hall, arrival at Esplanade Roger Damour
- The fireworks originally scheduled for 10:00 PM at Esplanade Roger Damour are cancelled by prefectural order due to fire risk.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 — Kids' Day
- 9:00 AM — Breakfast in the fields with kids' branding and encierro (registration required) · L'Hournède
- 11:30 AM — Kids' Parade · Allée Baroncelli
- 12:30 PM — 3 abrivados (manades Chaballier, Michel, Milla) · Allée Baroncelli
- 1:00 PM — Kids' Aperitif (registration required) · Parc Jean Hugo
- 2:30 PM — Kids' Games (registration required) · Parc Jean Hugo
- 5:00 PM — Course au plan (manade Chaballier) · Arènes San Juan
- 7:30 PM — 3 bandidos (manades Chaballier, Michel, Milla) · Allée Baroncelli
- 9:00 PM — Shamrock, musical entertainment · Cours Gabriel Péri
- 9:00 PM — American Rodeo · Arènes San Juan
Thursday, July 16, 2026 — Local Heritage Day
- 8:30 AM — Herdsmen's breakfast, picnic style and barbecue · Place Louis Rey
- 9:30 AM — Local Market · Parc Jean Hugo
- 10:00 AM — Parade (Li Tambourinaïre de l'Estang de l'Ort, Lou Velout Pescalune, La Farigoule, Escolo dou Vidourle) · departure from Notre-Dame du Lac church, arrival at Parc Jean Hugo
- 11:30 AM — Roussataïo and blessing of the horses (manade Puig) · Parc Jean Hugo
- 12:30 PM — 3 abrivados (manades Aubanel, Chaballier, Vellas) · Allée Baroncelli
- 2:00 PM — Open belote tournament (registration at 1:30 PM) · Foyer des retraités
- 5:30 PM — Trophée de l'Avenir, Camargue race · Arènes San Juan, followed by the release of 100 horses from the manade Puig · Allée Baroncelli
- 8:00 PM — Opening of the bodegas, musical entertainment and Sevillian dancers El Sol de España · Esplanade Roger Damour
- 9:00 PM — Les Apple Scruffs, musical entertainment · Place des Caladons
- 9:00 PM — Toros piscine · Arènes San Juan
- 9:30 PM — "À plein tubes", cabaret show · Espace Brassens
Friday, July 17, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Course au plan (manade Du Levant) · Arènes San Juan
- 12:30 PM — 2 abrivados (manades Du Levant, Tommy) · Allée Baroncelli
- 5:00 PM — Festi'Lune: "La Sainte-Catherine" by Stephan Wojtowicz, performed by Compagnons de la Comédie de Lunel · Espace Brassens
- 7:00 PM — Bandido festival (manades Chaballier, Du Levant, Tommy, Vellas, Lafon) · Allée Baroncelli
- 8:00 PM — Bodegas · Esplanade Roger Damour
- 9:00 PM — Festi'Lune: "Les Silences" by Louise Caron, performed by Cie Accordage de Clarensac · Espace Brassens
- 9:00 PM — Groove and the Gang, musical entertainment · Place des Martyrs de la Résistance
- 9:00 PM — Patrick Sébastien in concert · Arènes San Juan
Saturday, July 18, 2026
- 12:30 PM — 3 abrivados (manades Chaballier, Du Levant, Vellas) · Allée Baroncelli
- 5:00 PM — 100% French Bullfight: Tibo Garcia, El Rafi, Adriano, Nino Julian, Carlos Olsina, Andy Younes, and Dorian Canton, facing bulls from Hubert Yonnet, Fernay y Hijas, Tardieu, Pagès-Mailhan, Jalabert Frères, and San Sebastián ranches · Arènes San Juan
- 5:00 PM — Festi'Lune: "Silence, on tourne" by Patrick Haudecoeur and Gérald Sibleyras, performed by Cie L'hémione de Thuir · Espace Brassens
- 7:30 PM — 4 bandidos (manades Aubanel, Chaballier, Du Levant, Lafon) · Allée Baroncelli
- 8:00 PM — Bodegas · Esplanade Roger Damour
- 9:00 PM — Duo Oxygen, musical entertainment · Place des Caladons
- 9:00 PM — Festi'Lune: "Roméo hait Juliette" by Gilles Ramade, performed by Cie Tiens, On sonne de Saint-Gély-du-Fesc · Espace Brassens
Sunday, July 19, 2026 — Spanish Day
- 9:30 AM — Sevillian mass followed by an Andalusian parade (El Sol de España, Cercle Andalou, Passion Cartujanos collective) · departure from Notre-Dame du Lac church, arrival at Arènes San Juan
- 11:00 AM — Bolsin, young matador competition · Arènes San Juan (free for bullfight ticket holders)
- 12:30 PM — Cabestria by Olivier Boutaud · Allée Baroncelli
- 4:00 PM — Cinema: "Le Marsupilami" · Cinéma Athénée
- 5:00 PM — Bullfight: Sébastien Castella, Alejandro Talavante, and Marco Pérez, facing bulls from the García Jiménez ranch · Arènes San Juan
- 8:00 PM — 3 bandidos (manades Aubanel, Chaballier, Du Levant) · Allée Baroncelli
- 8:00 PM — Bodegas · Esplanade Roger Damour
- 10:00 PM — Camargue evening with the herdsmen of the manade Lafon, return of the keys by the peña taurina Victor Mendes, and "toro de fuego" · Arènes San Juan
Prices La Pescalune 2026
The Great Pescalune Race (July 12): €5 to €24.
Patrick Sébastien concert (July 17): from €25.
Bullfights on July 18 and 19: €41 to €121 — 10% discount when purchasing tickets for both bullfights.
Bolsin on July 19: free for bullfight ticket holders.
Ticketing: arenesdelunel.fr and Fnac Spectacles, or at the arena box office and at 06 31 13 19 01, daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
La Pescalune — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 11 July to 19 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 — La Pescalune
Practical Information
Locations
La Pescalune takes place throughout the town center of Lunel (34400), in the Hérault department. Ticketed bullfighting events are held at the Francis San Juan bullring (rue Tivoli). The allée Baroncelli hosts the abrivados, bandidos, and the running of the bulls and horses. The parc Jean Hugo is the setting for ceremonies, the local produce market, and the firefighters' ball; the esplanade Roger Damour hosts the bodegas and the torchlight procession; and the espace Brassens features the Festi'Lune theater festival and cabaret shows. Free musical entertainment is spread across place des Caladons, cours Gabriel Péri, and place des Martyrs de la Résistance.
Prices and Ticketing
The vast majority of street events are free to attend: parades, abrivados, bandidos, the running of the bulls and horses, the local market, bodegas, concerts, and town center musical performances. Events held at the bullring (Camargue races, pool and foam bull games, rodeo, concerts, and bullfights) require a ticket.
Tickets can be purchased online at arenesdelunel.fr and via Fnac Spectacles, or directly at the bullring box office and by phone at 06 31 13 19 01, daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Access
Lunel is accessible via the A9 motorway (Lunel exit) and by train via the Lunel SNCF station, located on the Nîmes — Montpellier line. Parking is available around the town center; please note that traffic is restricted on the allée Baroncelli during the running of the bulls.
Contact
City of Lunel — 04 67 87 83 00 — lunel.com. Bullfighting event organization: Maestria Organisation (arenesdelunel.fr).
La Pescalune in Lunel
La Pescalune is an unmissable event in the cultural life of Lunel and the Hérault department, in Occitanie. Since its creation in 1882, this event has established itself as a benchmark for féria/tradition, attracting a loyal and curious audience each year.
Presentation
Grand popular and taurine festival of Lunel in July with abrivados, Camarguais races, concerts and local market.
An event rooted in its territory
Located in the heart of Lunel, La Pescalune takes advantage of the exceptional setting of the town and its heritage. The event fully participates in the tourist attractiveness of the Hérault department and promotes the cultural, natural and human riches of the Occitanie region. The Hérault department, bathed by the Mediterranean and crossed by varied landscapes from the coast to the Larzac, offers an ideal setting for hosting quality cultural events.
Program and activities
Each edition of La Pescalune offers a varied program combining féria/tradition and conviviality. Visitors can enjoy multiple activities, discoveries and moments of sharing that make this event so rich. The complete program is communicated each year on the official channels of the event.
A convivial event
La Pescalune is above all a moment of sharing and conviviality. Whether you are an informed enthusiast or simply curious, everyone will find something to satisfy their curiosity and have a pleasant time in Lunel. The warm welcome from the organizers and volunteers makes each edition a memorable souvenir.
Where does it take place — La Pescalune
La Pescalune in brief
History of La Pescalune
Edition 2025 Aug 2025Other festivals near Lunel
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