Toros y Salsa
The unique festival in Europe mixing bullfighting and salsa dura in Dax
2026
About Toros y Salsa
Toros y Salsa — edition 2026
The 31st edition of Toros y Salsa takes place from September 11 to 13, 2026 in Dax. For three days, the festival combines bullfighting shows at the Dax bullring and free salsa and Latin music concerts at Parc Théodore-Denis, with artists from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, and France.
Toros y Salsa 2026: 31st Edition
From Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, Dax celebrates the 31st edition of Toros y Salsa, the unique music and bullfighting festival in Europe. The salsa and Latin music concerts are free and take place at Parc Théodore-Denis, while the bullfighting shows are held at the Dax bullring (paid bullfights, ticket office open).
Free Concerts
A salsa dura and Afro-Caribbean music program spread over three evenings at Parc Théodore-Denis, punctuated by music workshops (history of Cuban son, percussion), Latin dance demonstrations and initiations, a Latin market, and children's entertainment.
Bullfighting Shows at the Bullring
The weekend offers a Portuguese bullfight, two prestige bullfights, and the grand finale of the cocardes (Landes race) on Sunday morning, as well as family and festive shows centered around the bull.
Gastronomy
A pintxos competition, chaired by chef Alain Dutournier, takes place on Saturday, blending Landes specialties and Latin flavors in the festive atmosphere of the village.
Highlights Toros y Salsa 2026
- 31st edition of the only festival combining bullfighting and salsa dura in Europe
- 6 free salsa and Latin music concerts at Parc Théodore-Denis
- Portuguese bullfight, two bullfights, and grand finale of the cocardes at the bullring
- Pintxos competition chaired by chef Alain Dutournier
- Music workshops, Latin dance initiations, and children's entertainment
Programme Toros y Salsa 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026 — Concerts (Parc Théodore-Denis, free)
- 8:00 PM — Papa Orbe & Salsa Boogaloo Syndicate (Cuba / Spain)
- 10:30 PM — Luisito Rosario & La Marcha Orchestra (Puerto Rico / France)
Saturday, September 12, 2026
At the Dax bullring (paid):
- 11:00 AM — Portuguese Bullfight: 4 toros from La Castilleja, with Brito Paes and Nuncio (forcados from Alcochete)
- 5:30 PM — Bullfight: 6 toros from Robert Margé, with Román, Clemente and Samuel Navalón
At Parc Théodore-Denis (free concerts):
- 8:00 PM — Valter Paiola & Joe Cuba Legacy (Italy)
- 10:30 PM — Nando Vanin, Fiesta Caleña Orchestra (Colombia)
During the day: music workshops (1:30 PM-6:00 PM), pintxos competition (11:30 AM-3:00 PM, chaired by Alain Dutournier), Latin dance demonstrations, Latin market, children's entertainment.
Sunday, September 13, 2026
At the Dax bullring (paid):
- 11:00 AM — Grand Finale of the Cocardes: raseteurs facing bulls from ganaderia Dargelos
- 5:30 PM — Bullfight: 6 toros from El Torero, with Miguel Ángel Perera and Daniel Luque
At Parc Théodore-Denis (free concerts):
- 7:30 PM — Cuba Do Re Band (France / Cuba)
- 9:30 PM — El Combo Mundial (Cuba / Venezuela / Netherlands)
During the day: music workshops, Latin dance demonstrations, Latin market, children's entertainment.
Prices Toros y Salsa 2026
Practical information — Toros y Salsa
Festival Access
By Car
Dax is accessible via the A63 motorway (Dax exit). The festival takes place at the Parc des Arènes, easily accessible from the city center. Parking is available nearby.
By Train
Dax train station is served by TGV, Intercités, and TER trains. The Parc des Arènes is a 15-minute walk from the station.
Festival Venues
The festival is held at the Parc des Arènes de Dax (boulevard Paul Lasaosa), with bullfighting events in the arena and concerts and entertainment in the festive village set up on the park's esplanade.
Schedule
Activities start in the late morning and continue late into the night. Bullfighting events take place in the late afternoon. Main concerts usually start at 9:00 PM and continue until midnight or later.
Prices
Access to the festive village and concerts is free. Bullfighting events in the arena are paid, with prices varying depending on the event. Tickets are available on the official website.
Food & Drink
The village of casetas offers a varied selection of food, blending Landes specialties and Latin flavors: pintxos, tapas, empanadas, Creole dishes, and local produce. A pintxos competition is organized among the different casetas.
Entertainment
Free dance classes (salsa, bachata, rueda de casino) are offered daily. Music workshops provide an introduction to Latin percussion. A children's area with suitable entertainment is available.
Contact
Festival Toros y Salsa
Parc des Arènes, Boulevard Paul Lasaosa, 40100 Dax
Official website: www.dax.fr
Toros y Salsa: When Bullfighting Meets Salsa
Toros y Salsa is a one-of-a-kind festival, born in 1995 in Dax from the unlikely but successful combination of two passions: bullfighting, a deeply rooted tradition in the Southwest, and salsa, a popular and sunny music from the Caribbean and Latin America.
An Original Dax Creation
The festival was born from the meeting between François Charpentier, a salsa enthusiast since his teenage years, and Pascal Dagès, then president of the Dax festival committee. The city was looking to create a festive event that would extend the August fair while offering a different tempo. The idea emerged to combine bullfighting shows and salsa concerts, creating an original event that has no equivalent in Europe.
Salsa Dura as the Guiding Thread
Toros y Salsa remains the only festival in Europe to maintain salsa dura as its central theme, that authentic and powerful salsa born in the streets of New York and Havana. Each edition presents the different musical genres and styles that formed the common foundation of salsa's origins: son cubano, mambo, guaguancó, bomba, plena, boogaloo, and many other Afro-Caribbean rhythms.
A Three-Day Festive Program
Over three days in September, the program offers a explosive mix:
- Two bullfights and one novillada (bullfight with young bulls) at the Dax arena
- About ten free concerts of Latin music on the Parc des Arènes stage
- A village of casetas (marquees) with a festive atmosphere
- A pintxos competition blending Basque gastronomy and Latin influences
- Salsa, bachata, and other Latin dance classes
- Music workshops and entertainment for all ages
- DJ sets and dance parties
30 Years of Festival in 2025
In 2025, Toros y Salsa celebrated its 30th anniversary with an expanded program and artists from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, and France. Three decades of shared passion between the bullring and the dance floor, between the adrenaline of the ring and the energy of the clave.
Where does it take place — Toros y Salsa
Toros y Salsa in brief
History of Toros y Salsa
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Dax
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