Tournois de Joutes de Sète
Languedocian jousting season in Sète, Hérault — from April to September
About Tournois de Joutes de Sète
The season of Sète jousting tournaments brings together each year, from April to September, all the Languedocian jousting competitions organized on the Canal Royal and in the maritime districts of the city. A centuries-old tradition rooted in Sète since 1666, the jousts revolve around several major events: Fête de la Pointe-Courte in June, Fête de la Jeune Lance Sétoise at the end of June, Fêtes de la Saint-Pierre at the beginning of July, and especially the Fêtes de la Saint-Louis at the end of August, the highlight of the season with the Grand Prix de la Saint-Louis (heavyweights), followed in September by the Coupe de France and the Championnats de France at the Cadre Royal.
Sète Jousting Tournaments — Annual Season
The Sète Jousting Tournaments constitute one of the most emblematic identity events of the city of Sète and the Hérault department, in the Occitanie region. Practiced in Sète since the founding of the port in 1666, Languedocian jousting pits two jousters perched on the tintaine of red and blue boats who try, wooden lance and shield in hand, to knock their opponent into the water to the sound of oboes and drums.
A season spread from April to September
The jousting season in Sète is not limited to a single edition: it is a dense calendar of successive tournaments, organized by local jousting societies (Amicale des Jouteurs Pointe-Courte / AJPC, Jeune Lance Sétoise / J.L.S, Amicale des Pêcheurs Sète Môle / A.P.S.M, École de Joutes de la Marine de Sète) under the aegis of the Coordination des Joutes Sétoises, the Ligue Occitanie de Joutes and the Fédération Française de Joutes et de Sports Nautiques.
The season's major events
- April — Challenge des Moussaillons (chariot jousting) and Challenge René Zardoni, symbolic opening of the season.
- June — Fête de la Pointe-Courte, followed by the Hautbois, Lourds and Moyens challenges at the Cadre Royal then the Fête de la Jeune Lance Sétoise.
- July — Fêtes de la Saint-Pierre, tribute from fishing families (Challenges Famille Licciardi, Famille Nocca, Famille Azaïs).
- August — Fêtes de la Saint-Louis, the peak of the season with six days of festivities and the Grand Prix de la Saint-Louis heavyweights on Monday.
- September — Coupe de France and Championnats de France at the Cadre Royal, closing of the season.
The Cadre Royal, theatre of jousts
The majority of the major tournaments take place on the Cadre Royal, the historic section of the Canal Royal between the Civette bridge and the Savonnerie bridge, transformed into a nautical arena with its stands installed on the quays. Other events are held in the maritime districts (Pointe-Courte, Môle, Place de la République, Quai Maximin Licciardi), giving the season a popular dimension that permeates the entire city.
A living tradition carried by the whole city
Listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in France, Sète Languedocian jousting mobilizes thousands of spectators on the quays every summer. Jousting schools training young jousters (Critériums des écoles in June and July) ensure the transmission of this tradition. The event is supported by the City of Sète and Sète Agglopôle Méditerranée, in close collaboration with local jousting societies and sports federations.
Tournois de Joutes de Sète — edition 2026
2026 Season of the Sète Jousting Tournaments: from April 1st to September 12th, 2026, all the Languedoc jousting tournaments follow one another on the Canal Royal and in the maritime districts of Sète, culminating in the Saint-Louis Festival from August 19th to 25th, 2026 (282nd edition).
2026 Season of the Sète Jousting Tournaments
The 2026 season of Languedoc jousting in Sète opens on April 1st with the Moussaillons Challenge (jousting on chariots, Quai du Maroc) and runs until September 12th, 2026, with the French Championships at Cadre Royal. Six months of successive tournaments organized by the Sète jousting societies (AJPC, J.L.S, A.P.S.M, École de Joutes de la Marine) under the aegis of the City of Sète and the Coordination des Joutes Sétoises.
Highlights of the 2026 Season
- April — Season opening with chariot challenges and the René Zardoni Challenge.
- June 12-14 — Pointe-Courte Festival (AJPC) and Dylan Masclac Junior Challenge.
- June 19-21 — Hautbois, Heavyweight, and Middleweight Challenges at Cadre Royal.
- June 23-28 — Jeune Lance Sétoise Festival (J.L.S).
- July 2-6 — Saint-Pierre Festival, tribute to fishing families.
- August 19-25 — Saint-Louis Festival, 282nd edition, peak of the season.
- September 6 and 12 — French Cup and French Championships, national closing.
The Saint-Louis 2026, the highlight
The 282nd edition of the Saint-Louis takes place from Wednesday, August 19th to Tuesday, August 25th, 2026. Official opening at Place Léon-Blum on Wednesday at 5:30 PM, daily jousting tournaments at Cadre Royal from Thursday to Monday, concerts, bodegas, swimming across Sète, parades in traditional costumes, and a final fireworks display on Tuesday, August 25th at 10:00 PM. The culminating moment remains the Saint-Louis Heavyweight Grand Prix on Monday, August 24th in the afternoon.
Programme Tournois de Joutes de Sète 2026
April 2026 — Season Opening
- Wed April 1st · 9:30 AM — Moussaillons Challenge (chariot jousting) · Quai du Maroc + Grande scène Patrick Denain
- Sat April 4th · 5:00 PM — René Zardoni Challenge (Languedoc jousting) · Quai Aspirant Herber
June 2026 — Pointe-Courte and Cadre Royal Challenges
- Sat June 13th · 1:30 PM — Lightweight Tournaments & Schools Criterium · Pointe-Courte · AJPC
- Sun June 14th · 3:30 PM — Dylan Masclac Challenge (Juniors) · Pointe-Courte · A.J. Pointe-Courte
- Fri June 19th · 5:30 PM — Chariot Tournament · Le Carafon de Manon, Place République · AJPC
- Sat June 20th · 3:00 PM — Hautbois Challenge (Seniors) · Cadre Royal · A.J. Pointe-Courte
- Sun June 21st · 3:00 PM — Heavyweight / Middleweight Challenges · Cadre Royal · A.J. Pointe-Courte
- Tue June 23rd · 6:00 PM — J.L.S Festival, chariot tournament · Place de l'Hospitalet · J.L.S
- Wed June 24th · 1:30 PM — J.L.S & Schools Criterium · Cadre Royal · J.L.S
- Thu June 25th · 6:30 PM — J.L.S Juniors · Cadre Royal · J.L.S
- Sat June 27th · 2:30 PM — Women & Seniors · Cadre Royal · J.L.S
- Sun June 28th · 3:00 PM — Heavyweight / Middleweight · Cadre Royal · J.L.S
July 2026 — Saint-Pierre Festival
- Thu July 2nd · 6:00 PM — École de Joutes de la Marine · École de Joutes Headquarters
- Thu July 2nd · 8:30 PM — Licciardi Family Challenge (Juniors) · Quai Maximin Licciardi
- Sat July 4th · 2:00 PM — Nocca Family Challenge (Seniors) · Quai Maximin Licciardi · A.P.S.M
- Sun July 5th · 3:30 PM — Azaïs Family Challenge (Heavyweight) · Quai Maximin Licciardi · A.P.S.M
- Mon July 6th · 2:00 PM — Schools Tournaments · Quai Maximin Licciardi (La Criée)
August 2026 — Saint-Louis Festival (282nd edition, August 19-25)
- Wed August 19th · 5:30 PM — Official Opening · Place Léon-Blum
- Thu August 20th · 6:15 PM — Chariot Jousting · Cadre Royal
- Thu August 20th · 9:30 PM — Press-Personalities & Women's Tournament · Cadre Royal
- Fri August 21st · 9:00 PM — Gaston-Macone Gold Cup · Cadre Royal
- Sat August 22nd · 2:00 PM — Middle-Middleweight · Cadre Royal
- Sun August 23rd · 3:00 PM — Juniors & Middleweight · Cadre Royal
- Mon August 24th · 2:30 PM — Saint-Louis Grand Prix (Heavyweight / Middleweight) · Cadre Royal
- Tue August 25th · 10:00 PM — Closing Fireworks
September 2026 — National Competitions
- Sun September 6th · 3:00 PM — French Cup (Juniors & Seniors) · Cadre Royal · A.P.S.M
- Sat September 12th · 2:00 PM — French Championships · Cadre Royal · École de Joutes de la Marine
Highlights Tournois de Joutes de Sète 2026
- 2026 Season spread from April 1st to September 12th, featuring about twenty tournaments
- 282nd Saint-Louis Festival from August 19th to 25th, 2026, the highlight of the season
- Saint-Louis Heavyweight Grand Prix on Monday, August 24th at Cadre Royal
- French Cup and French Jousting Championships in September in Sète
- Living tradition since 1666, inscribed in the intangible cultural heritage
- Free access to all tournaments and activities
Prices Tournois de Joutes de Sète 2026
Practical information — Tournois de Joutes de Sète
Practical Information
Main location
Cadre Royal — Quai de la Résistance, 34200 Sète. Other tournaments take place at Pointe-Courte, Môle (Quai Maximin Licciardi), Place de la République, Place de l'Hospitalet and Quai Aspirant Herber.
Access
Sète is accessible by train (Sète SNCF station, Bordeaux–Marseille line), by car (A9 exit 33 or 34) and by coach from Montpellier or Béziers. During festive periods, traffic around the Canal Royal is restricted: prefer parking on the outskirts and using the shuttles set up by the city.
Schedules
Tournaments generally take place in the afternoon (from 1:30 PM, 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM) or early evening (5:00 PM to 9:00 PM). Consult the official calendar for precise times of each tournament.
Prices
Access to the tournaments is entirely free throughout the season.
Contact and information
Sète Tourist Office — 60 Grande Rue Mario Roustan, 34200 Sète — 04 99 04 71 71 — [email protected]
Sète City Hall — 04 99 04 70 00
Official website for Languedocian jousting: joutes.com
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Where does it take place — Tournois de Joutes de Sète
Cadre Royal (Canal Royal)
Quai de la Résistance, 34200 Sète, 34200 Sète