Valence en Gastronomie Festival
The gourmet meeting of Drôme and Ardèche
2026
About Valence Gastronomy
Every September, the Valence en Gastronomie Festival brings together chefs, producers, and artisans from the Drôme and Ardèche regions on the Champ de Mars. Organized by Valence Romans Tourisme, the event celebrates its 11th edition in 2026. Highlights include the Nuit des Étoilés featuring Michelin-starred establishments, the Pagodes aux Goûtatou with 90 exhibitors, live demonstrations at the Labo des Chefs, discussions at the Scène des Talents, and cooking classes for children at the Labo des P'tits Chefs, hosted by the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona. Site access is free; dinners, brunches, and workshops require paid reservations.
Valence Gastronomy — edition 2026
The 11th edition of the Valence en Gastronomie Festival takes place from September 10 to 13, 2026, on the Champ de Mars, under the theme of the "Proust's Madeleine." On the program: two Nights of the Stars, three Chefs' Brunches, 16 demonstrations at the Chefs' Lab, 17 meetings and workshops on the Talent Stage, and over 90 exhibitors at the Goûtatou Pagodas. The Northern Rhône Valley is the guest of honor.
2026 Edition
The festival returns from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, entirely on the Champ de Mars, with a reorganized site to improve visitor flow. The chosen theme is the "Proust's Madeleine": the transmission of recipes, knowledge, and memories. The poster, designed by Valcom based on a photograph by Marianne Louge, transforms the madeleine into an airship.
Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th are dedicated to school workshops (2,000 primary school children from Valence and its surrounding area) and the two Nights of the Stars, which bring together 10 gastronomic houses from Drôme and Ardèche each evening—20 in total, including 11 Michelin-starred. The capacity has been increased to 660 guests per evening, totaling 1,320 seats, all of which are sold out.
The weekend is free to access: Goûtatou Pagodas and their 90 exhibitors, Chefs' Lab demonstrations hosted by Franck Daumas, talks and tastings at the Talent Stage with Lilian Chambonnet, Children's Market, Twin Cities Market at Place Saint-Jean, and the second edition of the Gastronomic Film Festival, with outdoor screenings on the Champ de Mars and three screenings at Le Navire cinema. The Northern Rhône Valley is the guest of honor: Saint-Péray celebrates its 90th anniversary, Saint-Joseph its 70th, and the two appellations face off in a food and wine pairing battle.
Ticket sales opened on June 30, 2026. The Night of the Stars and the Little Chefs' Lab are sold out; other reservations remain open on the festival website.
Highlights Valence Gastronomy 2026
- The Night of the Stars (La Nuit des Étoilés), Thursday 10 and Friday 11: 10 gastronomic houses per evening, 20 in total including 11 Michelin-starred, 660 guests per night — sold out
- The Chefs' Lab: 16 demonstrations over the weekend, including Bastien Girard, World Pastry Champion, Saturday at 6:00 PM
- Two Planète Chefs outdoor cinema screenings, Saturday at 7:15 PM and 9:15 PM, with chefs Jules Selukov and Nordine Labiadh and director Stéphane Carrel
- Ravioles & Chansons, Saturday at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM: gourmet concert created for the festival, with La Raviole Française and M. Chapoutier wines
- Northern Rhône Valley guest of honor, with a Saint-Péray vs. Saint-Joseph food and wine pairing battle, Saturday at 5:00 PM
- Over 90 exhibitors at the Goûtatou Pagodas, Saturday and Sunday
Programme Valence Gastronomy 2026
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 — Preview
- 8:00 PM — Gastronomic Film Festival, opening screening · Le Navire cinema, Valence · guests, cocktail reception, and tastings. Film to be announced.
Thursday, September 10, 2026
- Daytime — School workshops · Champ de Mars · 2,000 primary school children from Valence and its surrounding area, introduction to healthy eating and responsible nutrition (Thursday and Friday)
- From 6:00 PM — The Night of the Stars (La Nuit des Étoilés) · Champ de Mars · 10 gastronomic houses from Drôme and Ardèche each evening, Michelin-starred chefs and rising stars, one dish per house, paired with Côtes du Rhône wines and Jaillance sparkling wines · €69 · reservation required · sold out
- Evening — Cocktail Bar · Champ de Mars · oenology and mixology tastings
Friday, September 11, 2026
- Daytime — School workshops · Champ de Mars
- From 10:00 AM — Chefs' Brunch · Champ de Mars · a 10-stop gourmet stroll, featuring sweet and savory creations from local chefs and gastronomic houses, plus teas, coffees, and juices · €36 · by reservation (ICI Drôme Ardèche announces the 11:00 AM–2:00 PM slot)
- From 6:00 PM — The Night of the Stars, second evening · Champ de Mars · €69 · sold out
- Evening — Cocktail Bar · Champ de Mars
Saturday, September 12, 2026
The Chefs' Lab (Le Labo des Chefs) — Champ de Mars, 1:00 PM–8:00 PM, hosted by Franck Daumas (Les Toqués d'ICI Drôme Ardèche). Filmed demonstrations, one chef per hour.
- 1:00 PM — Aix & Terra Workshop, with chef Vincent Faure from the École des Chefs Aix & Terra, Saulce-sur-Rhône · €15 · by reservation
- 2:00 PM — Savory Waffle Workshop, with chef Dylan Torres from La Note gourmande, Allex · waffle making, recipe, topping ideas, tasting with the chef · €15 · by reservation
- 3:00 PM — Mathéo Nazar and Sevag Agop, L'Agopée restaurant, Valence
- 4:00 PM — Amateur pastry contest "À vos tartes", with Carine Stern and Florian Kharlamoff from Maison Grislaw, for Valence Romans Agglo
- 5:00 PM — Saint-Péray vs. Saint-Joseph Battle, Northern Rhône Valley, with Maxime Lemaux (Barra Vel, Saint-Péray) and Cyril Jamet (Le Tournesol, Tournon-sur-Rhône)
- 6:00 PM — Bastien Girard, World Pastry Champion, Pâtisserie Intense, Tournon-sur-Rhône and Valence
- 7:00 PM — Jules Selukov and Stéphane Carrel, Moon restaurant in Bergen (Norway), for Planète Chefs · outdoor screening announced from 7:15 PM to 9:00 PM · €12
- 9:00 PM — Nordine Labiadh and Stéphane Carrel, A mi-chemin restaurant in Paris, for Planète Chefs · outdoor screening announced from 9:15 PM to 11:00 PM · €12
The Talent Stage (La Scène des Talents) — Champ de Mars, 10:00 AM–7:00 PM, hosted by Lilian Chambonnet. Talks and meet-and-greets punctuated by tastings.
- 10:00 AM — Honey workshop with Aromabeille · honey and pollen in cooking, the work of bees and the beekeeper · €15 · by reservation
- 11:00 AM — The Drôme aperitif, featuring quality-certified local products
- 12:00 PM — M. Chapoutier · discovery of the house's wines
- 1:00 PM — Pogne workshop with Maison Pascalis · history, recipe, and making of the Romans pogne · €15 · by reservation
- 2:00 PM — Marianne Louge, photographer · how her lens captures products, artisans, and gourmet moments
- 3:00 PM — Valrhona Workshop · from cocoa bean to chocolate bean, the production stages on the plantation and in the chocolate factory · €5 · by reservation
- 4:00 PM — Jacques and Pierre-Luc Bertrand with Julien Oliva, chefs from Les Cèdres restaurant · passing on the passion for cooking
- 5:00 PM — Emmanuel Hervé, founder of Le Grand Repas, in the presence of chefs Michel Chabran, Christophe Malet, Olivier Samin, and Maxime Szczepaniak
- 6:00 PM — Jaillance, with Juliette Cothenet, Best Barmaid of France
Other Saturday events
- 10:00 AM–9:00 PM — Goûtatou Pagodas · Champ de Mars · over 90 exhibitors: gastronomic companies from the De la Terre aux Étoiles association, producers and artisans invited by the Region, Drôme, Ardèche, Ain, and Isère. Tastings paid for with Goûtatou tickets
- 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 2:30 PM–5:00 PM — Children's Market · Champ de Mars · stalls run by children, smoothie and fruit salad recipes, purchases made with a dedicated currency, the Fruitatou
- 10:00 AM–3:00 PM — Twin Cities Market · Place Saint-Jean · Italy, Germany, England, Armenia, Israel, and Lebanon, the six cities twinned with Valence
- 3:30 PM — La Chouette en toque, by Pascale Hecquet, Frits Standaert, and Célia Tisserant · Le Navire cinema · film-snack for young audiences, five animated gourmet tales · by reservation
- 4:00 PM — Amateur culinary contest "À vos tartes!" · Champ de Mars · six candidates present their orchard fruit tart in three textures before a jury; pastry chef Florian Kharlamoff (Maison Grislaw) makes his own recipe live, offered for tasting. Free contest organized by Valence Romans Agglo with its Toqué du local brand, registration closed August 31 at 12:00 PM
- 4:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 7:30 PM — The Gastronomix Ride by Valence Romans Mobilités Citéa · departure from Champ de Mars · 30 minutes aboard a converted bus, 20 passengers per departure, live DJ and tastings by chef Baptiste Poinot (Épithèque restaurant, Valence) · €15 · by reservation
- From 7:00 PM — The Festival Nocturne · Champ de Mars · tastings and shows · free admission
- 7:00 PM–9:00 PM and 9:00 PM–11:00 PM — Ravioles & Chansons · Champ de Mars · unlimited savory and sweet recipes from La Raviole Française, wines from Maison M. Chapoutier, gourmet concert created for the festival, raffle for a gourmet basket · €50 · reservation required
- Time not published — The Grand Miam by ICI Drôme Ardèche · Champ de Mars · gourmet game hosted by Franck Daumas, audience participation
- Evening — Cocktail Bar · Champ de Mars
- All day — Chefs' Brunch · Champ de Mars · from 10:00 AM · €36 · by reservation
Sunday, September 13, 2026
The Chefs' Lab (Le Labo des Chefs) — Champ de Mars, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM.
- 10:00 AM — Little Chefs' Lab, with the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona · pastry class for children aged 6 to 14, limited spots · €15 per child · sold out
- 11:00 AM — Black garlic pizza workshop, with chef Sandrine Morant and Sébastien Renaud, demonstrator for the Le Panyol oven · €15 · by reservation
- 12:00 PM — The Great Suisse de Valence Workshop, with the Confrérie du Suisse de Valence and the Drôme Bakers and Pastry Chefs Union · step-by-step making of the city's iconic biscuit, followed by a tasting · €15 · by reservation (the dedicated page announces 11:00 AM)
- 1:00 PM — Cooking workshop with chef Yoann Personne, In Situ, Beaumont-lès-Valence · €15 · by reservation
- 2:00 PM — Maxime Szczepaniak, Mandibule, Alixan
- 3:00 PM — Maeva Blanc, Cité du Chocolat Valrhona, Tain-l'Hermitage
- 4:00 PM — Teddy Bidaux, Garenne, Livron-sur-Rhône
- 5:00 PM — Richard Rocle, Terroirs de Cuisine, Lavilledieu
The Talent Stage (La Scène des Talents) — Champ de Mars, 10:00 AM–7:00 PM.
- 10:00 AM — Terre d'Elira Workshop · sensory workshop on aromatic plants, each participant leaves with their own blend · €15 · by reservation
- 11:00 AM — Picnic Scenes, with Valérie Wolf and members of De la Terre aux Étoiles: Nougat Chabert & Guillot, Frigoulette, Huilerie Richard
- 12:00 PM — Saint Jean · expertise and secrets behind their specialties
- 1:00 PM — Domaine Peylong · their commitment and their wines
- 2:00 PM — Brasserie Pleine Lune · their craft beers and expertise
- 3:00 PM — Granith · non-alcoholic gastronomic pairings
- 4:00 PM — Balsamic Workshop with Myriam Oddon · balsamic vinegar from the Blacher estate, preparation and tasting · €15 · by reservation
- 5:00 PM — Aurélien Fournier, artisan pastry chef and chocolatier
Other Sunday events
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Goûtatou Pagodas · Champ de Mars
- 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 2:30 PM–5:00 PM — Children's Market · Champ de Mars
- From 10:00 AM — Chefs' Brunch · Champ de Mars · €36 · by reservation
- 11:00 AM–1:00 PM and 12:00 PM–2:00 PM — Sights and Flavors of Japan · La Cachette restaurant · meeting between photographer Marlyse Changeas, back from a report in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and the rice fields of Tõno, and Michelin-starred chef Masashi Ijichi, who marries Drôme terroir with Japanese flavors · €35 · by reservation
- 6:00 PM — La Petite Cuisine de Mehdi, fiction by Amine Adjina (2025) · Le Navire cinema · closing screening of the Gastronomic Film Festival, with guests, cocktail reception, and tasting at the end of the screening · by reservation
- Time not published — The Waiters' Race · start and finish on the Champ de Mars in front of Mon cœur Valence, course through the city center, between restaurant professionals
Ongoing, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13
- Northern Rhône Valley, guest of honor · 9 appellations across five departments (Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Rhône), demonstrations of local talent, tastings, and a food and wine pairing battle between Saint-Péray, celebrating its 90th anniversary, and Saint-Joseph, its 70th
- Gastronomy in Images · next to the Chefs' Lab · Marianne Louge photographs chefs' creations live and presents Savoir-faire du Japon, a book created with Josselin Grange, Best Craftsman of France (MOF) in graphic design
- Words on the Tip of the Tongue (Les Mots à la bouche) · pagoda dedicated to authors writing about today's gastronomy
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region Area · regional products and producers
- Drôme Area · tourism offerings of the department, producers, tastings with Goûtatou tickets
- Ardèche Area · typical Ardèche producers and products
- Isère Area · producers from the department, guest of honor in 2023
- Valence Romans Agglo Area · actions of the agglomeration and products of the Toqué du local brand
- Valence Romans Mobilités Area · Citéa network and Libélo services, gifts to be won
- Garden to live in the city, by the association Le Mat Drôme · an indoor-outdoor Garden-House, plant cultivation, and biodiversity hosting
Prices Valence Gastronomy 2026
Book of 6 Goûtatou tickets: €13 · book of 6 Goûtatou tickets with 1 glass: €15.
The Night of the Stars (Thursday 10 and Friday 11): €69 — sold out.
Chefs' Brunch (Friday 11, Saturday 12, Sunday 13): €36.
Ravioles & Chansons (Saturday 12): €50.
Sights and Flavors of Japan (Sunday 13): €35.
Gastronomix Ride (Saturday 12): €15.
Chefs' Lab and Talent Stage workshops: €15, except for the Valrhona workshop at €5.
Little Chefs' Lab (Sunday 13): €15 per child — sold out.
Planète Chefs outdoor screenings (Saturday 12): €12.
Ticket office open since June 30, 2026, on the festival website.
Practical information — Valence Gastronomy
Practical Information
Access
Champ de Mars, 26000 Valence, a 3-minute walk from the Valence-Ville train station. The Twin Cities Market is held at Place Saint-Jean.
- By car: Take the A7 motorway or the N7 national road. Valence is 90 km from Grenoble, 100 km from Lyon, 215 km from Marseille, and 550 km from Paris.
- By train: 2h10 from Paris Gare de Lyon, 35 min from Lyon Part-Dieu, and 1h05 from Marseille via TGV.
- Parking: The Q-Park Champ de Mars is the closest; if full, use the Chevandier, Gare, or Centre Victor Hugo car parks.
- Bus and bike: Use the Citéa network and Libélo bike-sharing service.
- Taxis: Radio-Taxis de Valence 04 75 42 26 00, Taxi Valence TGV 06 50 70 40 01.
Pricing
Access to the Champ de Mars is free. Tastings at the Pagodes are paid for with Goûtatou tickets, sold in booklets of 6 and available for pre-order. The Nuit des Étoilés, the Chefs' Brunch, workshops, cinema screenings, and the Gastronomix tour are paid events and must be booked online via the festival website.
Dining
Producers, artisans, and chefs offer their products for tasting throughout the site all weekend long.
Valence en Gastronomie Festival: The Flavors of Drôme and Ardèche
Launched in 2015, the festival gathers the finest culinary talents from the Drôme and Ardèche regions for four days each September on the Champ de Mars in Valence. Organized by Valence Romans Tourisme, it counts the De la Terre aux Étoiles association among its partners, alongside the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the City of Valence, the departments of Drôme and Ardèche, and Valence Romans Agglo. Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025, the event attracts approximately 50,000 visitors according to ICI Drôme Ardèche.
Festival Highlights
- La Nuit des Étoilés: Tasting evenings featuring around twenty gastronomic establishments from Drôme and Ardèche—both Michelin-starred and rising stars—paired with Côtes du Rhône wines and bubbles from Maison Jaillance. Started in 2021, it has expanded to two evenings since 2024.
- Les Pagodes aux Goûtatou: Over 90 exhibitors, including producers, artisans, and regional food companies. Tastings are paid for using the festival's own currency, the Goûtatou.
- Le Labo des Chefs: Filmed culinary demonstrations, with a new chef every hour on Saturday and Sunday.
- La Scène des Talents: Conferences, debates, and workshops focused on healthy eating, responsible food sourcing, and the producer's craft, interspersed with tastings.
- Le Labo des P'tits Chefs: Pastry classes for children aged 6-14, supervised by the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona.
- Le Marché des enfants: A market run by children, who shop using a special currency, the Fruitatou, and prepare their own recipes.
- School Workshops: 2,000 schoolchildren from Valence and its surrounding area participate during the first two days, learning about healthy and responsible eating.
A Celebration of Local Terroir
The festival highlights specialties from the Rhône Valley: pogne de Romans, Suisse de Valence, ravioles, nougat, Valrhona chocolates, and Côtes du Rhône wines. It is a key event in the Vallée de la Gastronomie. The organizers also host the Rallye de la Gastronomie in June, a day dedicated to visiting and tasting at local producers' farms.
Where does it take place — Valence Gastronomy
Valence Gastronomy in brief
Other festivals near Valence
Festival-goer reviews
No review yet. Be the first!
No rating yet — be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Have you spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every suggestion is reviewed by our team before publication.
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)