Les Bordées de Cancale
Traditional and maritime singing festival
2026
About Les Bordées de Cancale
Les Bordées de Cancale is a traditional and maritime singing festival established in 2000 by the Phare Ouest association in the oyster-farming port of Cancale (Ille-et-Vilaine). The event is entirely acoustic: performers sing directly among the audience in the cafés of the port of la Houle, under marquees, and along the quays.
Les Bordées de Cancale — edition 2026
The 26th edition of Les Bordées de Cancale will take place on September 25, 26, and 27, 2026, in Cancale, around the Port de la Houle. The festival continues its focus on minority languages, featuring: Gallo, Breton, Welsh, Occitan, Basque, Sicilian, Creole, Kanak, Svan, Mingrelian, Maori, and Mapuche. Thirteen artists are on the lineup, though the detailed schedule has yet to be released.
Les Bordées de Cancale 2026
From Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2026, Les Bordées de Cancale celebrates its 26th edition. The festival is held at the Port de la Houle, with no sound systems or large stages: performers sing directly among the audience in cafes, under the marquee, and along the docks.
Minority languages: a recurring theme
The Phare Ouest association is bringing back the theme of minority languages for 2026. They have announced performances featuring songs in Gallo, Breton, Welsh, Occitan, Basque, Sicilian, Creole, Kanak, Svan, Mingrelian, Maori, and Mapuche.
Arriving by bike
In partnership with the Saint-Malo agglomeration, the festival is organizing a "concert bike ride," a sustainable mobility stand, shared pedaling, and bicycle parking. Carpooling is available via Togetzer.
Program status
As of mid-August 2026, lesbordees.bzh has announced the dates, theme, opening hours, and thirteen artists, but the full schedule is not yet available. Only one event is currently set: the Dastum conference on Saturday, September 26, at the Amérance auditorium.
Highlights Les Bordées de Cancale 2026
- 26th edition, from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27, 2026
- 2026 Theme: Minority languages (Gallo, Breton, Welsh, Occitan, Basque, Sicilian, Creole, Kanak, Svan, Mingrelian, Maori, Mapuche)
- A festival without sound systems or large stages: singers perform right in the middle of the crowd
- Thirteen artists announced for the 2026 lineup
- Dastum conference on Breton oral heritage archives, Saturday, September 26 at 4:00 PM at the Amérance
- Concert bike ride and bike parking, in partnership with the Saint-Malo agglomeration
Programme Les Bordées de Cancale 2026
The organizers have released the dates, daily opening hours, and the list of artists. Specific performance times are not yet online, as the official website's program page is currently being updated.
Opening hours
- Friday, September 25, 2026 — 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM. Festival opening.
- Saturday, September 26, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- Sunday, September 27, 2026 — 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Scheduled event
- Saturday, September 26, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM — Conference: "Dastum: Oral Heritage Archives of Brittany. The Case of the Dinan and Cancale-Saint Malo regions," by Vincent Morel and Bertrand Le Brelot · Amérance Auditorium, 5 rue du Dr et Mme Cocar. An overview of oral tradition songs collected in the Cancale, Saint-Malo, and Dinan regions, previewing two upcoming Dastum book-CDs. In partnership with the Musée de Cancale.
The thirteen announced artists
- Duo Anaïs Rio and Fausto Franchini
- Rusan Filiztek
- Mze Shina
- Antonio Sérazini
- Maïana Lavielle
- The Sea Band
- Bretagne Debaa
- Bretagne Mbiwi
- Duo La Bricole, with Vincent Brusel and Olivier Catteau
- Valérie Imbert and Sylvie Guiner
- Le Caillou en Bretagne
- Maude Madec and Mattéo Bloyet
- Karen Wenvl
Announced formats for 2026
- Conferences
- Capstan shanties
- Singing boat trips
- Singing and storytelling walks
- Cabaret of laments
- Children's games and stories
- Association stands
- Concert bike ride, sustainable mobility stand, shared pedaling, and bike parking
Detailed schedules will be published on lesbordees.bzh.
Prices Les Bordées de Cancale 2026
Practical information — Les Bordées de Cancale
Practical information
Location
Cancale (35260), Ille-et-Vilaine. The festival takes place primarily at the port of la Houle, as well as in the town center and at Port Mer.
Ticketing
No advance booking. Tickets can be purchased during the festival at the welcome chalet or at the entrance to concert venues.
Access and parking
Accessible parking for disabled visitors and bicycle parking are available. The main festival parking area is a 10-minute walk from the festival village. Organizers encourage visitors to arrive by train, bus, or carpool via Togetzer.
Food and drink
Organic and local dishes reflecting regional cuisine: cuttlefish, oysters, mussels, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and locally produced beer and cider. Vegetarian options are available; the only meat dish served is the traditional galette-saucisse.
Accommodation
Youth hostel, municipal campsite, private campsites, gîtes, and partner hotels.
Information and contact
Welcome and sustainable mobility chalet on-site. Phare Ouest Association: 02 99 59 27 07. Cancale Tourist Office: 02 99 56 66 99.
Les Bordées de Cancale
Les Bordées de Cancale is a maritime folk singing festival held every September in Cancale, Ille-et-Vilaine. It was founded in 2000 by the Phare Ouest association, which was itself established in 1995 by enthusiasts of traditional singing and maritime culture.
An acoustic festival
The festival is built on one simple rule: no amplification and no large stages. Singers perform right in the middle of the crowd, in the cafés of the port of la Houle, under the festival village marquee, and on the quays. The repertoire is drawn from traditional folk collections.
What to expect
Concerts, lectures on maritime heritage, capstan shanty demonstrations, singing boat trips, guided singing walks, ballad cabarets, children's games and storytelling, and various association stalls.
The Phare Ouest association
Beyond the festival, Phare Ouest organizes workshops and maritime singing courses, singing evenings in Cancale bars, school outreach programs (Les Bordées des Mousses), and the children's group Les Pirates. They also actively collect local songs. The festival is supported by the City of Cancale, Saint-Malo Agglomération, the Ille-et-Vilaine Department, and the Brittany Region.
Where does it take place — Les Bordées de Cancale
Les Bordées de Cancale in brief
History of Les Bordées de Cancale
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Cancale
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