Roots'Ergue Festival
The reggae and world music meeting point of Rouergue
2026
About Roots'Ergue
The Roots'Ergue Festival is a reggae and world music festival established in 2004 in Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, a royal bastide town ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France in the Aveyron region. Organized by the Association Jeunesse Arts et Loisirs (AJAL), the lineup features a mix of international artists and emerging talent. Concerts are held indoors at the Salle des Fêtes, while food and drinks are served outdoors.
Since 2014, the festival has taken place in October, typically during the last weekend of the month: from Friday to Sunday until 2023, and from Thursday to Saturday for its 20th anniversary in 2024. Prior to this, in 2013, it was held in July. There has been only one exception: in 2015, the festival took place on October 23rd and 24th, one week before the final weekend. AJAL was unable to host the 21st edition in 2025, and as of mid-August 2026, no dates have been announced.
Our team has not been able to confirm with an official source that this 2026 edition is taking place. The dates and program shown below may be outdated. We strongly recommend that you contact the organizer directly to verify before any travel or registration.
Roots'Ergue — edition 2026
There is no 21st edition of the Roots'Ergue Festival scheduled for mid-August 2026. The AJAL was unable to host the festival in 2025 and has not released any dates or lineups since; the festival website still displays the 2024 program, and the association's ticketing platform only lists three concerts, none of which are in Sauveterre-de-Rouergue.
The dates shown on this page for October 2026 are not confirmed by any source. For the autumn, the AJAL is organizing an "Les Incontournables" evening on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Baraqueville, featuring Nèg' Marrons and Yaniss Odua: this is a separate concert, not part of the festival.
2026 Edition: Nothing announced as of mid-August
In early 2025, the Association Jeunesse Arts et Loisirs announced that it could not hold the 21st edition and instead launched "Les Incontournables de l'AJAL," a series of three concerts scheduled for October 4, 2025, in Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, November 21, 2025, and February 21, 2026, in Baraqueville.
The series continues into the 2026-2027 season, with no sign of the festival returning to the calendar. The AJAL website, updated on August 17, 2026, lists three events, all at the Baraqueville community hall: Nèg' Marrons and Yaniss Odua on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM (€40), Ultra Vomit on Friday, January 29, 2027, and Dub Inc on Saturday, April 3, 2027. The association's Festik ticketing site is only selling tickets for these three evenings.
The festival's own website has not been updated since February 2025: its menu still displays "2024 Program" and the banner reads "21st edition coming soon...". Centre Presse Aveyron, which has covered the festival since 2013 and continues to report on the AJAL as of August 2026, has not written anything about the festival since January 2025.
Therefore, there is no evidence that an edition will take place in October 2026, and no dates have been published. Before making any travel plans, the best approach is to check directly with the AJAL: assoajal.fr, [email protected], or 06 03 20 86 78.
Highlights Roots'Ergue 2026
- Festival returns after a year off
- Last weekend of October 2026
- Reggae, ska, dub, and world music
- Salle des Fêtes in Sauveterre-de-Rouergue
Prices Roots'Ergue 2026
Practical information — Roots'Ergue
Practical Information
Access
Concerts are held at the Salle des Fêtes, boulevard de l'Oratoire, 12800 Sauveterre-de-Rouergue.
- By train: Naucelle station, 9 km away.
- Carpooling: The organizers manage a dedicated Facebook group for ride-sharing.
Accommodation and Dining
- Free municipal campsite at the village entrance, equipped with water, electricity, and sanitation facilities.
- Free tent area just steps from the festival entrance.
- Local food available on-site, including vegetarian options, as well as restaurants within the village.
On-site
- A rescue team is present throughout the festival.
- Pets are not allowed at the festival; a municipal decree requires dogs to be kept on a leash throughout the village.
- Street vendors and glass containers are prohibited throughout the village.
- The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, with adapted restrooms, counters, and signage. Please note the Salle des Fêtes does not have a dedicated platform for disabled guests.
Ticketing
Tickets are available via Festik at billetterie.festik.net/assoajal. Tickets may be sold on-site depending on availability, though they are priced higher than pre-sale tickets and no discounts apply.
Contact
Association Jeunesse Arts et Loisirs (AJAL), Espace Lapérouse, 12800 Sauveterre-de-Rouergue. Reachable at [email protected] or by phone at 06 03 20 86 78.
Twenty years of reggae in the heart of Aveyron
Born in 2004 around the Chestnut Festival of Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, the Roots'Ergue Festival is the result of the initiative of a group of young adults eager to offer a musical alternative to the traditional October balls. What was originally a simple reggae ball has become, over the editions, a nationally recognized festival as a major event on the reggae and world music scene in France.
A rich and eclectic program
The festival offers a program centered on reggae, ska, dub, and world music, with a balance between internationally renowned artists and emerging talents. Over the years, Roots'Ergue has hosted legends such as Amadou & Mariam, The Skatalites, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Julian Marley, Keziah Jones, Groundation, and many others.
An exceptional setting
The festival takes place in the royal fortified town of Sauveterre-de-Rouergue, founded in 1281 and classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. The main concerts take place indoors, at the Salle des Fêtes, while the food stalls, bar, and convivial spaces are set up outdoors around the central square of the fortified town.
A festival driven by volunteers
Organized by the AJAL association, the Roots'Ergue Festival relies on the commitment of a team of passionate volunteers who bring the event to life each year. This associative and activist dimension gives the festival a warm, fraternal, and accessible atmosphere, far from large commercial circuits.
Where does it take place — Roots'Ergue
Roots'Ergue in brief
Other festivals near Sauveterre-de-Rouergue
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