Saumur Loire Festival
Loire River Boat Festival in Saumur
2026
About Saumur Loire Festival
The Saumur Loire Festival brings together traditional Loire river boats and their crews along the Quai Lucien Gautier in Saumur for a weekend in September. Launched in 2022 by the Association des Marchés Flottants Ligériens and the Saumur Val de Loire Tourist Office, the event celebrates the region's rich boating heritage. Visitors can enjoy free access to boat trips, a lively guinguette, an artisan village, live music, and a spectacular night parade along the riverbanks.
Saumur Loire Festival — edition 2026
For its third edition, the Saumur Loire Festival returns to the quai Lucien Gautier on September 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2026. Traditional Loire boats will once again line the Saumur docks, offering paid river trips, all set against a backdrop of an exhibitor village, live music, and a night-time parade. Admission to the festival is free, and on-site dining options are available.
Programme Saumur Loire Festival 2026
The full program for the 2026 edition has not yet been released by the organizers; it will be added as soon as it becomes available. The Saumur Val de Loire Tourist Office has already confirmed that the event will feature traditional Loire boats, live concerts, an exhibitor village, and various activities from September 25th to 27th, 2026 (source: official festival Facebook page, accessed August 23rd, 2026).
Practical information — Saumur Loire Festival
The festival is free to attend, with food and drink available on-site. Only the 30-minute traditional boat trips require a ticket; these can be purchased on-site, and credit cards are accepted.
A celebration of Loire river boating
The festival was established in 2022 by the Association des Marchés Flottants Ligériens and the Saumur Val de Loire Tourist Office to gather traditional boatmen and their historic vessels on the banks of Saumur. The inaugural edition took place from September 16 to 18, 2022, followed by the second edition from September 13 to 15, 2024.
Each year, the event features traditional boat rides, a guinguette, a village showcasing local artisans and producers, live concerts, and a night parade along the Quai Lucien Gautier.
Where does it take place — Saumur Loire Festival
Saumur Loire Festival in brief
Other festivals near Saumur
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