Pic'Arts Festival — Contemporary music at the foot of the Septmonts keep

Current Status

No future editions are currently scheduled. The Festival Pic'Arts association, which organized the event, has been placed into compulsory liquidation as of April 29, 2026, by the Laon Judicial Court, as announced in the Official Bulletin of Civil and Commercial Announcements (BODACC) on May 4, 2026. The date of cessation of payments was set for April 29, 2026.

The final edition took place on July 11 and 12, 2025, at Axo'Plage, the leisure park by the lake in Monampteuil. The festival had moved from the grounds of the Château de Septmonts following the 2023 edition. The official website, picartsfestival.com, is no longer active.

A Quarter-Century at the Foot of the Keep

The Festival Pic'Arts was founded in 1998 within the enchanting setting of the Château de Septmonts, just a few kilometers from Soissons. Nestled at the base of a 43-meter-tall 14th-century keep, the festival transformed the wooded park of the former residence of the Bishops of Soissons into a unique celebration every summer. The main stage, set against the medieval tower, and the seating areas carved into the wooded moats provided the spectacular backdrop that made the event famous.

An Eclectic and Committed Lineup

From its inception, Pic'Arts championed an open-minded approach to music. The programming blended rock, reggae, world music, ska, French chanson, electro, and hip-hop, with a special focus on emerging artists and new discoveries. Over its twenty-seven editions, the festival hosted major acts such as HF Thiéfaine, Cali, Matmatah, Naâman, Claudio Capéo, Pierre de Maere, Suzane, Taïro, 47 Ter, Hervé, Debout sur le Zinc, Faada Freddy, Les Fatals Picards, and Babylon Circus.

2023: The Historic 25th Anniversary in Septmonts

On July 7 and 8, 2023, the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Château de Septmonts park with an exceptional lineup. HF Thiéfaine, Matmatah, and Naâman set the stage on fire on Saturday, while Claudio Capéo, Pierre de Maere, and Suzane brought the house down on Friday. Thousands of festival-goers gathered for a memorable edition that marked the end of an era in Septmonts.

A Fresh Start: Feet in the Sand

In 2024, facing growing logistical constraints regarding parking, traffic, and safety standards, the Association Festival Pic'Arts announced that the Septmonts site could no longer host the festival. After a period of searching, the 2024 edition was reinvented under the name "Les pieds dans l'sable" at Axo'Plage, a leisure base by the lake in Monampteuil, between Laon and Soissons. The capacity was intentionally capped at 6,000 visitors to preserve the family-friendly, intergenerational spirit that defined the Pic'Arts identity.

On August 23 and 24, 2024, Cali, 47 Ter, Taïro, Hervé, Debout sur le Zinc, and Faada Freddy inaugurated this new chapter. The 2025 edition, held again at Axo'Plage on July 11 and 12, confirmed the revival with Babylon Circus, Les Fatals Picards, Hilight Tribe, Jahneration, and Celkilt on the bill.

A Festival Rooted in Its Territory

Driven by the Association Festival Pic'Arts, based in Monampteuil, the festival benefited from the support of the Hauts-de-France Region and local authorities. With its affordable prices, free camping, and a lineup mixing headliners with new talent, it embodied a model of a popular and friendly festival in the Aisne department.