Les Terrasses du Jeudi
Free open-air concerts every Thursday in July in Rouen
About Terrasses du Jeudi
Les Terrasses du Jeudi: Twenty-five Years of Free Open-Air Music
Created in 2001, Les Terrasses du Jeudi have become, in a quarter of a century, one of Rouen's most emblematic summer events. The concept is simple yet remarkably effective: every Thursday in July, free concerts simultaneously take over a dozen squares and courtyards in the historic center, transforming the city into a huge open-air festival.
A Human-Scale Festival in an Exceptional Setting
The strength of Les Terrasses du Jeudi lies in its ability to make music dialogue with Rouen's remarkable architectural heritage. Concerts unfold in historic locations: the parvis of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Aître Saint-Maclou (former medieval cemetery), the Place de la Pucelle, the Halle aux Toiles, the Place Saint-Marc, the Place de la Calende, the Rue Eau-de-Robec, and the Espace du Palais. Each location offers a unique atmosphere, and spectators wander freely from one stage to another throughout the evening.
An Eclectic and Demanding Program
The program, entrusted for several years to Le Kalif, Rouen's iconic concert venue, offers a broad and demanding panorama of current music. Rock, jazz, French chanson, Brazilian music, soul, funk, punk, electro, indie pop, and world music mingle throughout the evenings. The 2025 edition, the 25th, for example, highlighted Brazilian music with groups like Cassamba, Quase-Ilha, and Samba de Mesa, alongside local, national, and international artists.
A Launchpad for Emerging Talents
Les Terrasses du Jeudi give significant space to the local and emerging scene. Partnerships with the metropolis's conservatories and music schools allow young musicians to perform under professional conditions, through the School's Out program. This educational and discovery aspect is an integral part of the festival's DNA.
An Eco-Responsible and Accessible Event
Les Terrasses du Jeudi are part of an eco-event approach, with concrete actions in sustainable development: reusable cups, waste sorting, public awareness. The festival also pays attention to hearing risk prevention, providing earplugs and running awareness campaigns. A network of partner bars throughout the city center complements the festive offering.
Terrasses du Jeudi — edition 2026
Les Terrasses du Jeudi return to Rouen for a new edition, scheduled for Thursdays, July 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2026, from 6 PM to 10:30 PM. Four evenings of free open-air concerts will once again take over the squares and courtyards of the historic center. The 2026 program, unveiled by the City of Rouen, brings together 33 groups (132 artists) spread across 14 stages throughout the city: over 70% of the acts are local and regional, 18% come from abroad, in a repertoire mixing rock, jazz, samba, soul, funk, French song, electro, and world music.
Les Terrasses du Jeudi 2026: Four Thursdays of Free Concerts in Rouen
For this 2026 edition, Les Terrasses du Jeudi will take place on Thursdays, July 2, 9, 16, and 23, each evening from 6 PM to 10:30 PM. As every summer, dozens of free concerts simultaneously enliven about ten squares and courtyards in Rouen's historic center, transforming the city into a large open-air festival.
An Eclectic Program on 14 Stages
The City of Rouen and Le Kalif have brought together this year 33 groups, or 132 artists, spread across 14 stages scattered throughout the historic center. The program highlights the local and regional scene (over 70% of the acts) while also welcoming international artists (18%). Styles intertwine throughout the evenings: rock, blues, jazz, samba and Brazilian music, soul, funk, rap, electro, French song, and indie pop.
Iconic Locations
Concerts will take place notably at square Verdrel, place de la Cathédrale, rue Eau-de-Robec, place de la Pucelle, place de la Haute-Vieille-Tour, place Saint-Marc, place de la Calende, place du Chêne Rouge, place du 19-Avril-1944, allée Eugène-Delacroix, espace du Palais, place Saint-Sever, and place Barthélémy. Spectators can freely wander from one stage to another throughout the evening.
An Eco-responsible and Accessible Festival
As in previous years, the 2026 edition is part of an eco-event approach (reusable cups, waste sorting), with attention paid to preventing auditory risks and the School's Out initiative which opens the first stage of each evening to young musicians from the metropolitan area. All concerts remain entirely free.
Programme Terrasses du Jeudi 2026
Thursday, July 2, 2026
- 6:00 PM — School's Out / Ecoloya · Square Verdrel (recycled techno, School's Out initiative)
- 6:30 PM — BèlèVerde · Place de la Cathédrale (percussion and guitar, island fusion)
- 6:45 PM — Samba de Mesa · Rue Eau-de-Robec (Brazilian samba)
- 6:45 PM — Suzy 2 · Place de la Pucelle (atmospheric indie pop)
- 8:15 PM — Da Strike · Place de la Haute-Vieille-Tour
- 8:30 PM — Jake La Botz · Place de la Cathédrale (blues / americana)
- 9:00 PM — Judith Kiddo · Place de la Pucelle (power pop)
Thursday, July 9, 2026
- 6:00 PM — Cassamba · Place du 19-Avril-1944 (Brazilian music, Rio traditions)
- 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM — Hot Slap · Place de la Calende (rockabilly)
- 7:00 PM — Secret Girls · Place Saint-Marc (noise rock)
- 7:30 PM — Aeon 7 · Allée Eugène-Delacroix (DJ house / funk / breakbeat)
- 8:00 PM — Washaa · Place du Chêne Rouge (Afro-electro-Latin fusion)
- 8:30 PM — Coup Dur · Place Saint-Marc (indie-pop yé-yé)
- 10:00 PM — Maxxo · Place du Chêne Rouge (reggae / dancehall)
- 10:00 PM — Sons · Place Saint-Marc (post-hardcore / noise)
Thursday, July 16, 2026
- 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM — Swing Bakery · Espace du Palais (swing jazz standards)
- 6:45 PM — Rougir · Place de la Pucelle (punk-pop)
- 7:00 PM — Que Diable ! · Place de la Calende (rap and violin)
- 7:30 PM — The Lanskies · Place Saint-Marc (post-punk / indie-pop)
- 8:45 PM — Louise Charbonnel · Place de la Pucelle (pop-jazz)
- 9:00 PM — Trembl · Place de la Calende (jazz / ambient)
- 9:30 PM — James Baker · Place Saint-Marc (electro-rock / rap)
Thursday, July 23, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Sheuv 23 · Place Saint-Sever (boom-bap rap)
- 6:45 PM — Marianne Perrudin · Place Barthélémy (folk)
- 7:00 PM — DZ Deathrays · Place du Chêne Rouge (dance-punk / indie-rock)
- 7:15 PM — Noir Montagne · Rue Eau-de-Robec (folk song)
- 7:30 PM — Chamahllow · Place Saint-Sever (synth-pop)
- 8:30 PM — Cut Capers · Place du Chêne Rouge (brass funk / soul)
- 8:30 PM — Isidore · Place Saint-Sever (jazz-infused hip-hop)
- 8:45 PM — 50èmes Hurlants Trio · Place Barthélémy (jazz / blues)
- 9:15 PM — Moorea · Rue Eau-de-Robec (electro-pop)
- 10:00 PM — Birrd · Place du Chêne Rouge (techno)
Highlights Terrasses du Jeudi 2026
- 4 Thursdays of free concerts: July 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2026, from 6 PM to 10:30 PM
- 33 groups, 132 artists spread across 14 stages in Rouen's historic center
- Over 70% local and regional artists, 18% international acts
- Headliners: DZ Deathrays, Jake La Botz, Cut Capers, Birrd, Samba de Mesa
- Free and open access to all concerts, as part of an eco-event initiative
Prices Terrasses du Jeudi 2026
Practical information — Terrasses du Jeudi
Practical Information
Dates
Every Thursday in July (4 evenings), from 6 PM to 10:30 PM.
Locations
Concerts are spread across about ten squares and courtyards in Rouen's historic center: Parvis de la Cathédrale, Aître Saint-Maclou, Halle aux Toiles, Place de la Pucelle, Place Saint-Marc, Place de la Calende, Espace du Palais, Rue Eau-de-Robec, Place du 19-Avril-1944, Allée Eugène-Delacroix, Square Gaillard-Loiselet, etc.
Prices
All concerts are free.
Access
By metro: Théâtre des Arts, Palais de Justice, or Gare-Rue Verte stations.
By train: Rouen Rive-Droite station (TER and Intercités).
Contact
Le Kalif — Organizer
Website: www.terrassesdujeudi.fr
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Where does it take place — Terrasses du Jeudi
Places et cours du centre historique de Rouen
Centre historique, 76000 Rouen