2026 EVENTS CALENDAR

Below are some of the major (and most fun!) festivals, events and shows currently scheduled in the South of France for 2026, listed month by month. We do everything we can to get it right but it's always best to check before heading out! And new events are being added all the time. 

JANUARY 2026 

ARLES: Everyone knows about the big Saturday morning market in Arles. But lesser known is the twice-monthly flea market/brocante, held the first and third Wednesday of the month year round. It goes all day (8:30 am to 5 pm) on the Blvd des Lices. For more info: arlestourisme.com. 

AVIGNON: The new season at the Opera Grand Avignon runs from January to June 2026. The program includes opera and operettes, lyrique concerts, dance, musical theater, symphony, chamber music, baroque music and more. The 2026 season features  Verdi's Falstaff (Jan 17-18),  Mahler's The Song of the Earth (March 29-29), Puccini's Turandot (May 15-19) and Offenbach's La Belle Helene (June 12-14), alongside concerts and recitals, with performances extending from early 2026 into the spring/summer. operagrandavignon.fr

AVIGNON: The 40th edition of Cheval Passion will be Jan 14 to 18, 2026 at the Parc des Expositions. It's the 3rd biggest horse show in all of Europe and attracts riders, breeders and horse-lovers from all over the world. Expect 10,000m² of exhibition space, more than 1000 horses, 250-plus exhibitor stands and lots of competitions including Western, Clinic Xtrem cow-boy, cattle sorting, Iberian horses, horse 'n buggy, trick riding and more. The high point of the show is the Crinières d'Or Gala where new talent and confirmed artists outdo each other with dramatic and creative performances. https://avignon-tourisme.com/offres/40e-edition-cheval-passion-avignon-fr-4143839/

AVIGNON:  Every month, there's a large one-day Antiques Market for Professionals at the Parc des Expositions, organized by Avignon Antiquities. Thousands of professionals from around the world meet to buy and sell. International freight forwarders are on hand to arrange packing, shipping and customs formalities. Access is only to professionals and info on getting credentials is on the site here. The calendar of markets in 2025 is here.

EYGALIERES: This charming little village 15 minutes east of St. Remy holds a popular all day (7 am to 5 pm) brocante/antiques market the last Sunday of every month. https://www.alpillesenprovence.com/fiches/la-brocante-deygalieres/

LES BAUX DE PROVENCE: The Carrières de Lumières (Quarries of Light) is a magical space in a vast cave-like quarry at the base of the hilltop village of Les Baux. There in the cool darkness, 100 video projectors and 30 speakers generate the choreographed movement of 2,000 images over an area of more than 75,000 square feet, onto walls as high as 45 feet and onto the floor. The sound-and-light show changes once a year and is one of the most-popular, most-visited sites in Provence. The 2025/2026 program, features a fantastic projections about Monet and a shorter one, also great, about Rousseau. The features play on a continuous loop and you can expect to spend roughly an hour inside. For all the info: carrieres-lumieres.com

UZES: Jan 16 to 18, 2026: Annual Truffle Festival!  Come celebrate tuber melanosporum (black gold!) in all its delicious forms. The whole town comes alive this weekend with visits, tastings and much more. See the whole program here. 

FEBRUARY 2026 

BORMES-LES-MIMOSAS: February 14-15, 2026 is the Corso Fleuri, a beautiful,  traditional flower parade in coastal Provence. https://www.bormeslesmimosas.com/temps-fort/fete-du-mimosa/

CARRY-LE-ROUET: Every year, the popular Oursinade Sea Urchin Festival returns to this seaside village, on the first 3 Sundays in February so expect it around Feb 1, 8 and 15 in 2026. You'll find a market, exhibits, tastings, entertainment and more. This a beloved winter event featuring fresh oursins (sea urchins), local markets, music, and regional wines, All the info is here: Les Oursinades (otcarrylerouet.fr)  

MENTON: The 91st  annual Menton Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival) runs from February 14 to March 1, 2026. This year's theme is "Merveilles du Vivant" (Wonders of Life) and it features daily events like citrus displays, craft markets, and the iconic Golden Fruit Parades on Sundays (Feb 15, 22, Mar 1) and Night Parades on Thursdays (Feb 19, 26), showcasing giant lemon/orange sculptures and floats. Info here.  

NICE: The Nice Carnival 2026 will run from Wed Feb 11 to Mon March 1, 2026, with the theme "Long Live the Queen!" ("Vive la Reine!"), celebrating historical and fictional female figures with parades and events in Place Masséna and the Albert I Garden. Info is here or at: nicecarnaval.com.

NIMES: Registration is open for the next Nîmes Urban Trail, which takes place on Feb 15, 2026. It's a 24 km race or hike around the city taking you past or through impressive Roman monuments and landmarks but it also grants you access to many places normally closed to outsiders. Many of the runners wear costumes and it looks like great fun. Prices vary depending on distance, and whether you choose hike or run, but the 24km trail run is €38pp. It all sounds like great fun and you can read all about it in the Guardian here. 

VAISON LA ROMAINE:  Truffle Festival. Sun Feb 8 from 9:30 to 6 pm. The Vaucluse Association of Truffle Growers 'Le Diamant Noir' and the town of Vaison celebrate truffles! Tasting and sale of truffles by certified producers, cooking demos, wine and truffle pairings by Cave la Romaine, cavage demonstration (truffle-finding technique), brouillade tasting and more. https://diamantnoirvaucluse.fr/

MARCH 2026

18th Annual Camargue Festival. https://festival-camargue.fr/programme

APRIL 2026

CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE: The 15th annual Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a major wine fair, is April 10-12, 2026, offering tastings from numerous estates, a gastronomic market, workshops, and on-site services, organized by the local young winemakers. It's a key event for exploring wines from the renowned Rhone Valley appellation, featuring producers and local delights in a festive spring  setting. https://www.lesprintempsdechateauneufdupape.fr/

MAY 2026

ALL OVER FRANCE: May 23, 2026 is the Night of Museums where many stay open late and offer free admission. https://nuitdesmusees.culture.gouv.fr/

CANNES:  The 79th edition of the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival is May 12-23, 2026.  It is a major event for the film industry and attracts international stars to the French Riviera and often includes a few events or screenings open to the public.

VAISON-LA-ROMAINE: Les Fleuralies Plant and Flower Festival, Friday May 8, 2026. https://www.vaison-la-romaine.com/

JUNE 2026

ALL OVER FRANCE: Fête de la Musique is June 21, 2026 Day and night, free music will take over streets, cafes, music venues, historic sites, gardens, parks and churches all over France. For info: Welcome (culture.gouv.fr)  

ALL OVER FRANCE: The Rendezvous au Jardins Garden Festival is June 5, 6 and 7, 2026. Each year, more than 2,200 parks and gardens, public and private, in France open their doors and offer many activities and meetings with owners and professionals (botanists, gardeners, landscapers, owners, associations, etc.) guided tours, sensory or naturalistic walks, demonstrations of know-how, garden tours, musical walks, games/competitions, theatrical events, etc.

MONACO: Monaco Grand Prix This prestigious Formula 1 race is June 4–7, 2026. https://monaco-grandprix.com/en/

JULY 2026

ALL OVER FRANCE: The Tour de France is July 4 to July 26, 2026. https://www.letour.fr/en/

ALL OVER FRANCE: Bastille Day is July 14. Check local listings for celebrations including meals, music, fireworks and more.

AIX: A major exhibit of photos taken by Paul McCartney during the early years of The Beatles will be shown in France for the first time at the Musée Granet in summer 2026. Titled Paul McCartney, Photographer 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, the show runs from July 4 to Nov 1 2026 and brings together more than 250 images taken by the former Beatle during the early years of the band’s rise to global fame. Shot between 1963 and 1964 with a 35mm camera, the show captures a pivotal moment when The Beatles moved from local success in Liverpool and London to international stardom, including their first trips to Paris and the United States. The selection was made from around 1,000 photographs rediscovered in Paul McCartney’s archives in 2020 and forms part of the celebrations marking 200 years of photography. https://www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr/en/homepage

ARLES: The large international photography festival known as Les Rencontres d'Arles happens every summer; the next one is July 6 to Oct 4, 2026. In addition to photo exhibits in venues all over the city and beyond (most of which run for the duration of the fest), there will be panel discussions, evening talks, slide shows, workshops and pop ups (mostly during the first week). For visitors who want to partake, it can all be a bit daunting: how to get tickets, which are the best shows, how to map out the day, etc. But fear not, photo lover! I've lined up a few great local guides who know all the ins and outs, who are eager to help you and host you! For info on that: WhatToDoinProvence@gmail.com.

CANNES: The International Fireworks Festival is July–August, on six nonconsecutive nights. https://www.festival-pyrotechnique-cannes.com/en/

CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE: The Fete de la Veraison celebrates wine and medieval style, July 31-Aug 2, 2026. https://www.lesprintempsdechateauneufdupape.fr/

DIGNES-LES-BAINS: Traditional lavender festival with parades and fireworks. July 31 - Aug 5, 2026. https://www.cdf-dignelesbains.fr/accueil.html

ORANGE The Choregies d'Orange offers up world-class opera and classical music in an ancient Roman theatre. This year, they'll feature a single major operaa, Verdi's La Traviata, performed in a concert version on July 4, 2026 at the historic Theatre Antique d'Orange. For official updates and ticket purchases, visit the Chorégies d'Orange official website. 

SEPTEMBER 2026

MARSEILLE: The Foire Internationale de Marseille is a major end-of-summer fair with gastronomy and regional products, running from Sept 25 to Oct 5, 2026.