Le Grand Bal de l'Europe
Fifteen days of traditional European dances and music
2026
About Grand Bal de l'Europe
Grand Bal de l'Europe — edition 2026
The 36th edition of the Grand Bal de l'Europe will take place from Friday, July 24 to Friday, August 7, 2026, at the hamlet of Les Gauthiers, in Gennetines (Allier). Fifteen days of balls, workshops and traditional dance and music classes, with over 140 French and European groups scheduled on the site's dance floors. The official opening will be on Friday, July 24 at 8:30 PM.
2026 Edition — July 24 to August 7
The Grand Bal de l'Europe returns for its new edition from Friday, July 24 to Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Les Gauthiers site in Gennetines. For fifteen days, the dance floors will once again welcome thousands of traditional dance enthusiasts from all over Europe, in the friendly atmosphere that makes the event famous.
A rich 2026 program with over 140 groups
The 2026 edition brings together more than 140 French and European traditional music groups, who perform throughout the day during workshops and classes, then animate the balls until late into the night. The detailed interactive program is available on the official website, with each group's performance dates, presentation, videos, and website.
Workshops, classes, and balls
As every year, the festival offers a complete range of dance workshops for all levels (beginner to advanced), traditional music and singing classes, and lively balls on the various dance floors of the site. Registrations and ticket sales opened on May 5, 2026.
Highlights Grand Bal de l'Europe 2026
- Two weeks of non-stop dancing, from Friday, July 24th to Friday, August 7th, 2026
- Official opening on Friday, July 24th at 8:30 PM, featuring Octopulse, Duo Barbar, Forj, Parapente700, Cascade, and Gérard Godon
- Over 120 groups and ensembles from across Europe taking turns on six dance floors
- Naragonia Quartet closes the event on the night of Friday, August 7th, from 12:30 AM to 2:45 AM
- A tour of European repertoires: Bulgarian ball with Sabazii, Bavarian ball with Die Schreinergeiger, Catalan a cappella ball with Ballaveu, Irish set dancing with Claddagh and Bal Feirste, Swedish ball with Duo Tanghe Coudroy et Giet, Portuguese ball with JAM.PT, Brazilian forró with Forró Magnetico, tango ball with Roulotte Tango Duo
- Jane Austen ball for all on Wednesday, August 5th at 9:30 PM, with Rachel, the 2 Laurences, and their caller
- Daily dance, music, and singing workshops in seven rooms from 9:30 AM to 7:35 PM, and afternoon dances from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Programme Grand Bal de l'Europe 2026
Two weeks of non-stop dancing, from Friday, July 24th to Friday, August 7th, 2026, at the Gauthiers site. Each day follows the same rhythm: dance, music, and singing workshops across seven rooms from 9:30 AM to 7:35 PM; afternoon dances from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM; and evening balls taking place across six dance floors from 8:30 PM until the early hours. Official opening on Friday, July 24th at 8:30 PM.
Friday, July 24th, 2026 — Opening Night
- 5 PM-7 PM — Workshops: Ronds chantés (Thibaut Craen), Violin (Gabriel Lenoir)
- 8:30 PM — Octopulse · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 9 PM — Duo Barbar · Southwest folk ball (floor 5)
- 10 PM — Forj · Haute-Bretagne electro-folk (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Parapente700 · Portugal, folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:30 PM — Cascade · Singing ball (floor 5)
- 12:30 AM → 2:45 AM — Gérard Godon Solo · Folk ball (floor 4)
Saturday, July 25th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Terres Brunes · Southwest folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Tastets · Southwest folk ball (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Duo Barbar · Mixers and contredanses (floor 3)
- 9 PM — Baliskis · Brittany (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Trio Bucsan/Dantin/Kuyper · Dutch trad ball (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Collettivo Musicale Incontrada · Southern Italy (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Mara Menzel · Folk ball (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Turbobal · Limousin, Poitou, folk (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Air de famille · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — JAM.PT · Portugal, folk ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Forj · Haute-Bretagne electro-folk (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Octopulse · Folk ball (floor 4)
Sunday, July 26th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Mara Menzel · Folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Terres Brunes · Southwest folk ball (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — The Heart of Ireland and Bal Feirste · Ireland, set dancing (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Bresièr · Brionnais, Limousin, Auvergne (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Baliskis · Brittany (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — L'Air Inconnu · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Au Gré des Vents · Alsace and beyond (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Air de famille · Folk ball (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Collettivo Musicale Incontrada · Southern Italy (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Tastets · Gascony folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Trio Bucsan/Dantin/Kuyper · Dutch trad ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Parapente700 · Portugal folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — La Cuivraille · Folk ball (floor 4)
Monday, July 27th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Dirty Caps' · Quercy, Gascony (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Clica Dròna · Southwest (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Parasol · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Valérie Imbert Solo · A cappella Vendée (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Duo Le Pottier/L'Haridon · Brittany (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — 5 à 7 Carré · Quebec (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — JAM.PT · Portugal folk ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Arbadétorne · Bas-Poitou, Ayab' ball (floor 4)
- 10:30 PM — Duo Quintard/Sulpice · Auvergne (sound-equipped open stage)
- 11 PM — Baia Ensemble · Italy, Occitan valleys (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — GIG CB! · England, English Ceilidh (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Oreinak · Basque Country (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — No&Mi · Folk ball, couple dances (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — L'Air Inconnu · Folk ball (floor 4)
Tuesday, July 28th, 2026
- 8:30 PM — Baia Ensemble · Italy, Occitan valleys (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Khaverim · Israel (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Duo Quintard/Sulpice · Auvergne (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Brindilles · Brittany (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — 5 à 7 Carré · Quebec (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Bal O'Gadjo · Borderless folk ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Patxi eta Konpania · Basque Country (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Duo Le Pottier/L'Haridon · Brittany (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Arbadétorne · Bas-Poitou, Ayab' ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Forró Magnetico · Forró ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Dirty Caps' · Quercy, Gascony (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Tralala Lovers · Folk ball (floor 4)
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Ardante · Volcanic Auvergne (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Oreinak · Basque Country (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Chestnut · 450 years of Country Dance (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Roule et ferme derrière · Limousin (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Cascade · Singing ball (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Khaverim · Israel (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Tralala Lovers · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Central Bal · Central France (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Brindilles · Brittany (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Astarac · Gascony, folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Forró Magnetico · Forró ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Nøkkenoc · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Bal O'Gadjo · Folk ball (floor 4)
Thursday, July 30th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Bresièr · Brionnais, Limousin, Auvergne (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Patxi eta Konpania · Basque Country (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Chestnut · England, costume ball (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Folk en Vrac · Folk ball (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Ardante · Volcanic Auvergne (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Nøkkenoc · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Bal de l'Ephémère · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — No&Mi · Folk ball, couple dances (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Face d'Tola · Piedmont-style folk ball (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Le Plaque · Southwest (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Décibal · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Duo Stimbre-Thebaut · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Duo Tanghe Coudroy et Giet · Folk ball (floor 4)
Friday, July 31st, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Le Plaque · Gascony (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Face d'Tola · Piedmont-style folk ball (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — GIG CB! · England, English Ceilidh (floor 3)
- 9 PM — Cadence Casquette · Haute-Bretagne (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Tiennet Simonnin Solo · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Décibal · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Duo Tanghe Coudroy et Giet · Sweden (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Duo Vargoz · Southern Alps and other mountains (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Camille Raibaud · Gascony (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Bal de l'Ephémère · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Les Zéoles · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Noiranomis · Folk ball (floor 4)
Saturday, August 1st, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Philippe Plard · Folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Noiranomis · Folk ball (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Benoit Guerbigny Solo · Poitou (floor 3)
- 9 PM — Ballaveu · Catalan a cappella ball (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Sabazii · Bulgaria (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — The Heart of Ireland and Bal Feirste · Ireland, set dancing (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Shillelagh · Flanders (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Joachim Montbord Solo · Gascony (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Duo Vargoz · Southern Alps and other mountains (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Cadence Casquette · Haute-Bretagne (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Tchintcho · Southwest (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Bargainatt · Folk ball (floor 4)
Sunday, August 2nd, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Lisa Wolf, Sac-à-danses · Folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Tchintcho · Southwest (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Claddagh · Ireland, sets and Céilí dances (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Grains de sol (La Jimbr'tée) · Central France (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — A Pé Copé · Brazil, Auvergne (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Sabazii · Bulgaria (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Bargainatt · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Frezinat · Occitan ball (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Duo Plodocus · Folk ball (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Les Zéoles · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — La Sialyre · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Philippe Plard · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Shillelagh · Flanders (floor 4)
Monday, August 3rd, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Joachim Montbord Solo · Folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — La Soubirane · A cappella ball (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Claddagh · Ireland, sets and Céilí dances (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Ballaveu · Catalan a cappella ball (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Traucanèu · Auvergne (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — La Sialyre · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Chaï · Poitou, granite ball (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Duo Blain-Leyzour · Brittany (floor 4)
- 11 PM — A Pé Copé · Brazil, Auvergne (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Trio Loubelya · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Gabriel Lenoir · Wallonia-Flanders folk ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — La Man Encantada · Gascony, folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Petit Piment · Poitou, Gascony, folk (floor 4)
Tuesday, August 4th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Duo Pilartz-Gielen · Folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Bougnat Sound · Auvergne (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — La Man Encantada · Gascony, folk ball (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Grains de sol (La Jimbr'tée) · Central France (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Die Schreinergeiger · Bavarian ball (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Duo Blain-Leyzour · Brittany (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Au Gré des Vents · Alsace and beyond (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Traucanèu · Auvergne (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Ballsy Swing · Folk ball (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — La Soubirane · A cappella ball (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Chaï · Poitou, granite ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Beat Bouet Trio · Neo-Brittany (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Ormuz · France, North America (floor 4)
Wednesday, August 5th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Duo Karavãn · Brittany-style folk ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — En Cadéncia (Duo Bibonne/Raibaud) · Gascony (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Duo Fred Sonnery and Jenny Demaret · Between France and Sweden (floor 3)
- 8:45 PM — Maison Girault · Brittany (sound-equipped open stage)
- 9 PM — Die Schreinergeiger · Bavarian ball (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Ormuz · France, North America (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Rachel, the 2 Laurences and their caller · Jane Austen ball for all (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Beat Bouet Trio · Neo-Brittany (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Roulotte Tango Duo · Tango ball (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Bougnat Sound · Auvergne (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Trio Loubelya · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 12:15 AM — Ballsy Swing · Folk ball (floor 5)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Hot Griselda · Folk ball (floor 4)
Thursday, August 6th, 2026
- 2:30 PM — Frezinat · Occitan ball (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Duo Vertygo · Franco-Romanian ball (floor 4)
- 8:45 PM — Hot Griselda · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 9 PM — Maison Girault · Brittany (floor 2)
- 9:15 PM — Duo Fred Sonnery and Jenny Demaret · Between Sweden and France (floor 1)
- 9:30 PM — Lucas Thebaut · Poitou folk (floor 5)
- 10:30 PM — Fahrenheit · Folk ball, Brittany (floor 4)
- 11 PM — Roulotte Tango Duo · Tango ball (floor 2)
- 11:15 PM — Trio Meunier Villeneuve · Central France (floor 3)
- 11:45 PM — Naragonia Quartet · Folk ball (floor 1)
- 1 AM → 3 AM — Plume · Folk ball (floor 4)
Friday, August 7th, 2026 — Closing
- 2:30 PM — Trio Meunier Villeneuve · Central France (afternoon dance)
- 8:30 PM — Duo Karavãn · Brittany-style folk ball (floor 3)
- 9 PM — Duo Vertygo · Franco-Romanian ball
- Plume · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 11 PM — Rue Pascale · Folk ball (floor 3)
- 11:30 PM — Fahrenheit · Folk ball, Brittany
- 12:30 AM → 2:45 AM — Naragonia Quartet · Folk ball, closing ball
Prices Grand Bal de l'Europe 2026
Practical information — Grand Bal de l'Europe
Practical Information
Access and Transport
By car: Gennetines is located 10 km north of Moulins, accessible via the D288. From Paris (300 km), take the A77 then the A79 towards Moulins. From Clermont-Ferrand (150 km), take the A71 then the A79 towards Moulins-Nord. The Les Gauthiers site is signposted from the motorway exit.
By train: The nearest train station is Moulins-sur-Allier, 10 km from the site. TER trains connect Moulins to Clermont-Ferrand, Nevers, and Paris (via connection). The organisation does not offer a shuttle service from the station; carpooling is advised.
Accommodation
A campsite is set up on the festival grounds, free for festival-goers: parking and camping pitches are accessible from the day before opening, with hot showers, toilets, drinking water, and electricity. Tents and caravans are welcome. Permanent accommodation (hotels, B&Bs, gîtes) is available in Moulins and the surrounding villages.
Prices and Membership
Access to Le Grand Bal de l'Europe requires membership to AEADT (25 € for adults aged 18 and over, 5 € for 10-17 year olds, free for under 10s) plus a daily rate:
- Full price: 21 € per day
- Reduced price (18-24 years): 15 € per day
- Half price (10-17 years): 10.50 € per day
- 14-day package: 239 € (full), 174 € (reduced 18-24 years), 119 € (half price 10-17 years)
- Opening night (July 24): 10 €
Catering
Catering areas are available on site, offering hot meals, snacks, and drinks. It is also possible to bring your own food and cook at the campsite.
Contact
AEADT — Le Grand Bal de l'Europe
Festival phone: 04 70 42 14 42 (Tuesday from 10:00 to 15:30 and from 20:00 to 21:30)
Official website: www.gennetines.org — Email: [email protected]
Le Grand Bal de l'Europe: The Largest Traditional Dance Festival in Europe
Since 1990, the Grand Bal de l'Europe has brought together thousands of traditional dance enthusiasts from all over Europe every summer in Gennetines, Allier. For fifteen days, from late July to early August, the hamlet of Gauthiers transforms into an ephemeral village entirely dedicated to traditional dance and music, in a friendly and warm atmosphere that has made the event famous.
A Unique and Authentic Setting
The festival takes place on the site of a former Bourbonnais farm, Gauthiers, located on the D288, halfway between the villages of Gennetines and Trévol, about ten kilometers north of Moulins. Eight dance floors are set up outdoors and under marquees, allowing for simultaneous dancing of different repertoires: bourrées, waltzes, mazurkas, scottishs, polkas, rondeaux, circles, Breton dances, Occitan dances, Scandinavian dances, Balkan dances, and many others.
An Exceptional Musical Program
Each edition hosts dozens of traditional music groups from France and Europe, among the best on the circuit. Musicians perform throughout the day during workshops and classes, and then liven up the balls that continue late into the night. The program covers a wide spectrum of European musical traditions: Occitan, Breton, Auvergne, Basque, Catalan, Irish, Scandinavian, Balkan, Eastern European music, and many other repertoires.
Workshops and Learning for All Levels
One of the major assets of the Grand Bal de l'Europe is its exceptional offer of dance workshops. From beginners to experienced dancers, everyone can find workshops suited to their level. The workshops cover a wide variety of traditional dances: couple dances, chain dances, circle dances, character dances. Traditional music and singing workshops are also offered, allowing musicians to perfect their practice.
An Associative and Participatory Spirit
The Grand Bal de l'Europe is organized by the AEADT (European Association of Lovers of Traditional Dances), founded on December 6, 1989. The association, which had over 5,300 members in 2017, is based on the values of respect, solidarity, culture of consent, experimentation, and exchange. The festival operates thanks to the commitment of many volunteers and promotes an accessible and high-quality approach to traditional dance and music.
Since 2017, the entire Grand Bal has been held at the Gennetines site for fifteen days, after being organized in parallel at a second site in Saint-Gervais-d'Auvergne for several years.
A Way of Life
Beyond dance and music, the Grand Bal de l'Europe is a true way of life. The site has areas for camping, catering, relaxation, and socializing. Festival-goers share meals, moments of spontaneous music, and exchanges that make these fifteen days a unique human experience, far beyond a simple festival.
Where does it take place — Grand Bal de l'Europe
Grand Bal de l'Europe in brief
History of Grand Bal de l'Europe
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Gennetines
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