Les Estivales de Valence
A cultural and festive summer in the heart of Valence
About Les Estivales
Les Estivales de Valence: An XXL Summer of Culture and Festivities
Each year, from June 20 to September 20, the City of Valence and its partners offer an exceptional cultural and sports program through Les Estivales. Over forty free or very accessible events take over the city's public spaces to offer Valence residents and visitors a summer rich in discoveries and emotions.
A Varied and Accessible Program
Les Estivales de Valence offer a range of activities that reflect the city's cultural diversity:
- Open-air concerts: Free musical evenings in various locations in the city, from Champ de Mars to Parc Jouvet.
- Jazz on the Lawn: Organized by Jazz Action Valence, these Sunday evenings in August feature live jazz on the lawn of Parc Jouvet, in a bucolic setting by the Rhône.
- Open-air cinema: Cinema screenings under the stars are scheduled in July and early August, for the enjoyment of the whole family.
- Shows for young audiences: Performances dedicated to children are organized at Parc Jouvet in July.
- La Valentinoise de pétanque: This major popular tournament brings together over 1,500 players at Champ de Mars at the end of June.
- Guinguettes and festivities: Dance evenings, night markets, and friendly activities punctuate the Valence summer.
Iconic Valence Locations
Les Estivales take over the most beautiful public spaces in the city. Parc Jouvet, a magnificent 7-hectare garden overlooking the Rhône, hosts shows for young audiences and jazz on the lawn. Champ de Mars, a vast esplanade in the city center, is the venue for major concerts and La Valentinoise de pétanque. The boulevards, the Gérard Philippe promenade, and the squares of the old town also come alive throughout the summer.
An Intergenerational Program
Les Estivales are for all audiences. Families enjoy shows for young audiences and open-air cinema, music lovers savor concerts and jazz, sports enthusiasts participate in tournaments and challenges, and foodies gather around the guinguettes and gastronomic events. This unifying program contributes to the quality of life and attractiveness of Valence during the summer period.
A Highlight: The Festival Sur le Champ!
The highlight of Les Estivales, the Festival Sur le Champ! offers four evenings of 100% free concerts in July at Champ de Mars. This festival in its own right, with its national headliners, attracts over 40,000 spectators and is the peak moment of the Valence summer.
Les Estivales — edition 2026
Les Estivales 2026 return to Valence from June 20 to September 20 with over forty events, the vast majority of which are free. On the program: Fête de la Musique on June 21, Valentinoise de pétanque from June 28 to 30, Ō Lac Festival from July 3 to 5, night markets for artisans every Tuesday from June 18 to August 13, the 10th edition of Festival Sur le Champ from July 22 to 25 with Oxmo Puccino, Stephan Eicher, and Fatoumata Diawara as headliners, UCI Pump Track World Championships on August 1 and 2, Perséides Festival on August 15 and 16, Jazz sur le Gazon on Sundays in August at Parc Jouvet, and Valence en Gastronomie Festival from September 10 to 13.
Les Estivales 2026: an XXL Summer in Valence
From June 20 to September 20, 2026, the City of Valence and its partners are once again rolling out Les Estivales, an exceptional summer program with over forty free or accessible events in the parks, squares, and public spaces of the city center. Open-air cinema, concerts, jazz, shows for young audiences, sports, and gastronomy follow one another throughout the summer.
June 2026: Summer Opening
- June 21 — Fête de la Musique, Valence city center, from 6 p.m. to midnight
- June 28 to 30 — La Valentinoise de pétanque on the Champ de Mars: a large popular tournament gathering over 1,500 players
- Starting June 20 — Shows for young audiences at Parc Jouvet (FOL26 partnership)
July 2026: The Heart of Summer
- July 3 to 5 — Ō Lac Festival: electro and festive program (Bon Entendeur, NTO…)
- Every Tuesday from June 18 to August 13, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. — Night markets for artisans and creators
- July 4 to 18 — Free concerts of Off Sur le Champ in the city center (Place des Clercs, Place Saint-Jean, Cour de l'école Pergaud)
- July 5 — Guinguette at Mail Gérard Philippe
- July 8 to 12 and July 29 to August 2 — Open-air cinema
- July 17 to 20 — Four dancing evenings on the Champ de Mars
- July 22 to 25 — 10th edition of Festival Sur le Champ! on the Champ de Mars (detailed program below)
August 2026: Sports, Music, and Stars
- August 1 and 2 — UCI Pump Track World Championships: Valence hosts the French leg of the international mountain bike competition
- August 11, 18, and 25, at 6:30 p.m. — Jazz sur le Gazon at Parc Jouvet: 3 free concerts organized by Jazz Action Valence
- August 15 and 16 — Perséides Festival: open-air music and stargazing
September 2026: Gourmet Closing
- September 10 to 13 — Valence en Gastronomie Festival: major culinary event of the Drôme
- European Heritage Days (September 19-20, national dates)
Emblematic Venues Invested
Parc Jouvet (7 hectares overlooking the Rhône) hosts Jazz sur le Gazon and shows for young audiences. The Champ de Mars, a vast esplanade in the heart of the city with a view of the Château de Crussol, is the setting for Festival Sur le Champ, La Valentinoise de pétanque, and dancing evenings. Mail Gérard Philippe, the squares of the old town (Clercs, Saint-Jean), the Cour de l'école Pergaud, and the Musée de Valence complete the invested spaces.
Programme Les Estivales 2026
Festival Sur le Champ! — 10th Edition (July 22 to 25, 2026)
A highlight of Les Estivales, Festival Sur le Champ celebrates its 10th anniversary with 3 evenings of 100% free concerts at the Champ de Mars (doors open 8 p.m.) and an intimate closing at the museum on July 25. The program will be unveiled on May 5, 2026, by Nicolas Daragon (Mayor of Valence) and Marie-Françoise Pascal. Poster designed by Ricardo Ponce.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 — Urban Cultures Evening (Champ de Mars)
- 8:00 p.m. — Jey Khemeya · Champ de Mars (RnB / soul)
- 9:00 p.m. — Oxmo Puccino · Champ de Mars (French rap, historical figure of French hip-hop)
- 11:15 p.m. — Maxime Dangles & Tommy Rizzitelli + guest · Champ de Mars (electro set)
Thursday, July 23, 2026 — Rock, Song & Pop Evening (Champ de Mars)
- 8:00 p.m. — Not Scientists · Champ de Mars (French-American punk-rock)
- 9:00 p.m. — Puggy · Champ de Mars (Belgian pop, several gold records)
- 10:30 p.m. — Stephan Eicher · Champ de Mars (song, headliner)
Friday, July 24, 2026 — World Music Evening (Champ de Mars)
- 8:00 p.m. — Maïa · Champ de Mars (emerging French song)
- 9:00 p.m. — Dafné Kritharas · Champ de Mars (Greek and Mediterranean music)
- 10:30 p.m. — Fatoumata Diawara · Champ de Mars (wassoulou / world, headliner, Victoires de la Musique winner)
Saturday, July 25, 2026 — Closing at the Museum
- 4:00 p.m. — Balladur · Musée de Valence (a more contemplative moment, electronic performance in an intimate setting)
Festival Off
From July 4 to 18, free concerts in the city center (Place des Clercs, Place Saint-Jean, Cour de l'école Pergaud). From July 22 to 24, DJ sets at the festival bar (Mistral Palace team). Food trucks and bar on site every evening.
Other Highlights of Les Estivales 2026
Ō Lac Festival — July 3 to 5, 2026
Electro and festive festival with Bon Entendeur, NTO, and other artists from the French electronic scene.
Jazz sur le Gazon — Parc Jouvet
3 free concerts organized by Jazz Action Valence in partnership with the City:
- Sunday, August 11, 2026, 6:30 p.m. — Parc Jouvet
- Sunday, August 18, 2026, 6:30 p.m. — Parc Jouvet
- Sunday, August 25, 2026, 6:30 p.m. — Parc Jouvet
Perséides Festival — August 15 and 16, 2026
Summer festival combining open-air music and stargazing at the peak of the Perseid meteor shower's activity.
UCI Pump Track World Championships — August 1 and 2, 2026
French leg of the UCI Pump Track World Championships: international mountain bike competition on a bumpy track.
Valence en Gastronomie Festival — September 10 to 13, 2026
Major culinary event of the Drôme and Ardèche, closing Les Estivales.
Highlights Les Estivales 2026
- 10th edition of Festival Sur le Champ! from July 22 to 25, 2026, free, with Oxmo Puccino, Stephan Eicher, and Fatoumata Diawara
- Over 40 events, mostly free, from June 20 to September 20
- Jazz sur le Gazon at Parc Jouvet: August 11, 18, and 25, 2026
- Ō Lac Festival (July 3-5) and Perséides Festival (August 15-16)
- UCI Pump Track World Championships on August 1 and 2, 2026
- Valence en Gastronomie Festival from September 10 to 13, 2026
- Night markets for artisans every Tuesday from June 18 to August 13
Prices Les Estivales 2026
Practical information — Les Estivales
Practical Information
Access
Multiple locations: Events take place in various locations in Valence — Champ de Mars, Parc Jouvet, Mail Gérard Philippe, Place des Clercs, Place Saint-Jean, city center, Valence museum.
- By car: Valence is accessible via the A7 motorway. Free and paid parking in the city center.
- By train: Valence-Ville train station in the city center. Valence Rhône-Alpes Sud TGV station 15 min away by shuttle.
- By bus: Citéa network with numerous stops in the city center.
Prices
The vast majority of Estivales events are free and open access. Some specific events (Valence en Gastronomie Festival, Perséides Festival, etc.) may be subject to a fee — consult the detailed program on the City of Valence website.
Program
The complete Estivales program is available on the official website of the City of Valence (valence.fr) and at tourist offices from June. For the Festival Sur le Champ: valence.fr/festival-sur-le-champ — contact +33 4 75 44 90 40.
General contact
Valence City Hall — 04 75 79 20 00 — valence.fr. Valence-Romans Tourisme Tourist Office: valence-romans-tourisme.com.
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Where does it take place — Les Estivales
Divers lieux de Valence
Parc Jouvet et Champ de Mars, 26000 Valence