Tarba en Canta - International Festival of Polyphony
International festival of polyphony in the heart of Tarbes
About Tarba en Canta
World Polyphony in Tarbes
Created in 2011, the Tarba en Canta festival celebrates the polyphonic vocal traditions of Southern Europe and beyond each year. Under the artistic direction of Pascal Caumont, a traditional music teacher, the festival invites vocal ensembles from Occitanie, the Basque Country, Corsica, Bulgaria, Sardinia, the Caucasus, and other regions to share their musical heritage in the heart of Tarbes.
Polyphony in the Streets
What makes Tarba en Canta unique is its desire to bring music out of concert halls and closer to the public. The "cantèras"—these moments of spontaneous singing—fill the streets, markets, and public squares of Tarbes. Artists mingle with passersby to share the joy of polyphonic singing in an atmosphere of popular celebration and conviviality.
Prestigious Concerts
In the evenings, concerts are held in the city's emblematic venues: churches, theaters, and performance halls in Tarbes, Ibos, Juillan, and Séméac. The festival hosts internationally renowned ensembles such as the Choeur d'Hommes de Sartène (Corsica), the Eva Quartet (Bulgaria), or Bitchebi (Caucasus-Mediterranean), alongside regional groups perpetuating the Pyrenean polyphonies of Bigorre.
A Living Vocal Heritage
The Pyrenean polyphonies of Bigorre, along with those of Béarn and the Basque Country, form one of the great polyphonic traditions of Southern Europe. The festival contributes to the transmission and valorization of this living vocal heritage by offering masterclasses open to all levels, allowing festival-goers to learn or improve their skills in the art of polyphonic singing.
Organized by Tarbes Tourisme and the Mairie de Tarbes, with the support of the Occitanie Regional Council and partner municipalities, Tarba en Canta has become a must-attend event for all lovers of singing and vocal traditions.
Tarba en Canta — edition 2026
16th edition of the international polyphony festival Tarba en Canta, from Wednesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Tarbes and neighboring communes (Ibos, Juillan, Semeac). Five days of concerts, canteras, and masterclasses with about twenty free events, paid evening concerts (10 euros) in churches and theaters, and an exceptional guest of honor: The Baltic Sisters, four singers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Artistic direction by Pascal Caumont.
16th Edition - June 3 to 7, 2026
The Tarba en Canta festival returns for its 16th edition from June 3 to 7, 2026 in Tarbes, Ibos, Juillan, and Semeac. Five days during which the Bigourdan city becomes the international capital of polyphonies, under the artistic direction of Pascal Caumont.
The Baltic Sisters, Guests of Honor
For the first time, the festival welcomes a female ensemble from Northern Europe: The Baltic Sisters, formed in 2022, brings together four singers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania around ancient Lithuanian polyphonic songs. They will perform in concert on Saturday, June 6 at 8:30 PM at the Collegiate Church of Ibos, alongside the Quinz'Amics de Castetis-Balansun, and will also give a masterclass on Baltic Sea Region songs on Sunday.
Great Names in Polyphony
The program brings together Les Mecanos (ten North Occitan singer-percussionists), the Chanteurs Pyreneens (who have been perpetuating the Bigourdan musical tradition for almost 85 years), Anapnoi (three women, world polyphonies), A Vista de Nas (Bigourdan polyphonic singing trio), Aqueles (Belle Époque Languedoc village songs), Quinz'Amics (men's choir of 26 singers from the Pyrenees), Buhaminak (Basque), and Balaguera (traditional polyphonic singing from Bearn and the Gascon Pyrenees, accompanied on organ by Loriane Llorca).
Free Concerts, Canteras, and Aperitif Concerts
The festival announces about twenty free concerts and canteras: aperitif concerts in cafes (Celtic Pub, L'Europe, Etal 36, Le Plan B, Paris-Roubaix), spontaneous canteras at dusk, itinerant concerts in markets (Halle Marcadieu Thursday 4, Halle Brauhauban Saturday 6 and Sunday 7), and a grand closing Occitan ball with Verd E Blu at Parc Bel Air on Sunday afternoon (diatonic accordion, Gascony bagpipes, and string drum).
Mainats en Canta and Masterclasses
The youth and training component is confirmed: Mainats en Canta brings together nursery, primary, and secondary schools from the Hautes-Pyrenees around educational projects (2,000 students expected), with a meeting of Les Mecanos at Theatre Les Nouveautes on Thursday and activities at Parc Bel Air on Friday. Four masterclasses are offered at the Conservatoire Henri Duparc (Languedoc Occitan songs with Aqueles, Gascon with Regis Latapie, world polyphonies with Anapnoi, Baltic Sea Region with The Baltic Sisters) at a rate of 25 euros per day.
An Exhibition All Month
In addition to the festival, the exhibition "La lenga de nosta", dedicated to the history and revival of the Occitan language, is presented at the Tourist Office (3 Cours Gambetta) from June 3 to 28, Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2 PM to 6 PM. Free admission.
Programme Tarba en Canta 2026
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- 6:30 PM — Aperitif concert Azahar (South American polyphonies) · Le Celtic Pub, 1 rue de l'Harmonie, Tarbes · Free
- 8:30 PM — Opening concert Les Mecanos (North Occitan) + students from Conservatoire Henri Duparc · Eglise de Juillan, rue Victor Hugo · 10 euros (free for under 4s seated) · Ten singer-percussionists in French and Occitan
- 10:30 PM — Spontaneous Cantera · Parvis de l'eglise de Juillan · Free
Thursday, June 4, 2026
- 10 AM-12 PM — Itinerant concert at the market · Halle Marcadieu, Tarbes · Students from Conservatoire Henri Duparc + Azahar · Free
- 10 AM-12 PM / 2 PM-4 PM — Masterclass Languedoc Occitan Songs with Aqueles · Conservatoire Henri Duparc, 25 rue Larrey, Tarbes · 25 euros / day
- 1:30 PM-4 PM — Mainats en Canta — Meeting of Les Mecanos with middle school students · Theatre Les Nouveautes, 44 rue Larrey, Tarbes · By registration · Free
- 6:30 PM — Aperitif concert Asa Trio (Occitan, Eastern Europe) · L'Europe, Place de Verdun, Tarbes · Free
- 8:30 PM — Concert Anapnoi (world polyphonies) + Conservatoire students · CAC, 51 rue de la Republique, Semeac · 10 euros (free for under 4s seated) · Three women, three voices
- 10:30 PM — Cantera · Celtic Pub, Tarbes · Free
Friday, June 5, 2026
- 10 AM-12 PM / 2 PM-4 PM — Masterclass Gascon Occitan Songs with Regis Latapie · Conservatoire Henri Duparc · 25 euros / day
- 10 AM-12 PM / 2 PM-4 PM — Mainats en Canta — Nursery and primary schools from Hautes-Pyrenees with Emilie Manescau · Parc Bel Air, Tarbes · Free
- 3:15 PM-5:15 PM — Masterclass Songs of Eastern Europe with Asa Trio · Conservatoire · CHAM students only · Free
- 6:30 PM — Aperitif concert Anapnoi · Etal 36, Place du Marche Brauhauban, Tarbes · Free
- 8:30 PM — Concert A Vista de Nas (Bigourdan trio) + Aqueles (Occitan Languedoc) · Theatre Les Nouveautes, 44 rue Larrey, Tarbes · 10 euros (free for under 4s seated) · Aqueles performs songs from Languedoc villages of the Belle Époque
- 10:30 PM — Cantera · Echoppe des Galopins, 70 rue Marechal Foch, Tarbes · Free
Saturday, June 6, 2026
- 10 AM-12 PM — Itinerant concert at the market · Halle Brauhauban, Tarbes · Quinz'Amics + Eths Amics (Occitan) · Free
- 10 AM-12 PM / 2 PM-4 PM — Masterclass World Polyphonies with Anapnoi · Conservatoire Henri Duparc · 25 euros / day
- 2:30 PM-4:30 PM — Musical stroll DJ Gramo (suitcase gramophones, 78 rpm records from the 30s) · Place Jean Jaures, Tarbes · Free
- 3:00 PM — Afternoon concert Les Chanteurs Pyreneens (Occitan) + Buhaminak (Basque) · Eglise Saint-Jean, Tarbes · 10 euros (free for under 4s seated) · Les Chanteurs Pyreneens have been perpetuating the Bigourdan musical tradition for almost 85 years
- 5:00 PM — Street Cantada (spontaneous songs open to all) · Place Jean Jaures, Tarbes · Free
- 6:30 PM — Aperitif concert Eths Amics · Le Plan B, 3 Chemin Cognac, Tarbes · Free
- 8:30 PM — Grand concert Quinz'Amics (men's choir of 26 singers from the Pyrenees) + The Baltic Sisters (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) · Collegiale d'Ibos · 10 euros (free for under 4s seated) · The Baltic Sisters, guests of honor, on ancient Lithuanian polyphonic songs
- 10:30 PM — Cantera · Les Platanes, Ibos · Free
Sunday, June 7, 2026
- 10 AM-12 PM — Itinerant concert at the market · Halle Brauhauban, Tarbes · Musica Per Tots + Caminem (Occitan) · Free
- 10 AM-12 PM / 2 PM-4 PM — Masterclass Songs of the Baltic Sea Region with The Baltic Sisters · Conservatoire Henri Duparc · 25 euros / day
- 2 PM-4 PM — Grand Occitan ball with Verd E Blu (diatonic accordion, Gascony bagpipes, string drum) · Parc Bel Air, Tarbes · Free
- 5:30 PM — Closing concert Balaguera (traditional polyphonic singing from Bearn and the Gascon Pyrenees) + Conservatoire students + Loriane Llorca on organ · Eglise Sainte-Therese, Tarbes · 10 euros (free for under 4s seated)
- 7:00 PM — Closing Cantera · Paris-Roubaix, 3 Place Marcadieu, Tarbes · Free
Exhibition - June 3 to 28, 2026
- "La lenga de nosta" — History and revival of the Occitan language · Tourist Office, 3 Cours Gambetta, Tarbes · Mon-Sat 9:30 AM-12:30 PM / 2 PM-6 PM · Free
Official program published by Tarbes Tourisme and the City of Tarbes. Online ticketing for paid concerts: billetterie.festik.net/tarba-en-canta. Masterclass registrations with the Tourist Office.
Highlights Tarba en Canta 2026
- 16th edition of the international polyphony festival
- The Baltic Sisters (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) as guests of honor — first visit of a Nordic female ensemble to Tarba en Canta
- Artistic direction by Pascal Caumont
- About twenty free concerts and canteras in the streets, markets, and cafes of Tarbes
- Evening concerts at 10 euros in the churches and theaters of Tarbes, Ibos, Juillan, and Semeac
- Grand closing Occitan ball with Verd E Blu at Parc Bel Air
- Four masterclasses at Conservatoire Henri Duparc (Aqueles, Regis Latapie, Anapnoi, The Baltic Sisters)
- Mainats en Canta: 2,000 students from Hautes-Pyrenees involved in educational projects
- Exhibition "La lenga de nosta" on the Occitan language (June 3 to 28, free admission)
Prices Tarba en Canta 2026
Practical information — Tarba en Canta
Practical Information
Access
The festival takes place in the city center of Tarbes and the towns of Ibos, Juillan, and Séméac.
- By car: A64 motorway, Tarbes exit.
- By train: Tarbes station.
Contact
- Phone: 05 62 51 30 31
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 3 Cours Gambetta, 65000 Tarbes
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Where does it take place — Tarba en Canta
Centre-ville de Tarbes et communes voisines
3 Cours Gambetta, 65000 Tarbes