2024 promises to be a great year for festivals in the South of France. This is the calendar of festivals & events taking place in France during 2024. The South of France has some excellent festivals that perfectly sum up the relaxed way of life in Southern France.

The Water Jousting festival in Sete, France, originated in Sete centuries ago. This sport is now a passionate fixture of Languedoc traditional culture. Water jousting is really one of the most unusual sports from around the world, something that really has to be witnessed to be believed. Watching the Water Jousting in Sete has to be top of your list of things to do if you are in the South of France this summer.

Every year, 10,000 Romani people make a pilgrimage to the small coastal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Carmargue, South France; to pay homage to the Gypsy patron saint, Saint Sarah. This huge gypsy pilgrimage is held in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer every year towards the end of May and it culminates in the statue of Saint Sarah, being carried down to the sea shore to re-enact her arrival in France.

It is quite incredible that the Nice Jazz festival was the very first jazz festival in the world. The inaugural Festival de Jazz Nice was held in February 1948, 74 years ago. The 2024 Nice Jazz festival is the 70th Jazz event on the French Riviera and will take place from 15 to 19 July 2024 at the Théatre de Verdure, Place Masséna, Nice. 

Without doubt Beziers' Feria, is the greatest festival in the Languedoc in Southern France. During 5 days in mid-August, Beziers comes alive in spectacular fashion with fireworks, street entertainment and a daily Spanish corrida. There is also an important wine festival in Beziers at the same time as the Feria. The 2024 Feria de Beziers will be held on 14-18 August 2024. So if you are in Languedoc in August and you want to experience a great Languedoc festival, then the Beziers Ferias is an absolute must.

The Fiest'A de Sete is a World music festival in France covering a wide range of musical styles from North Africa and Europe. The dates for the 2024 Fiest'A de Sete have just been announced and it takes place from 20 July to 4 August 2024. Sete has a crowded calendar of festivals in July & August. There is the Worldwide Festival in early July, the Water Jousting festivals towards the end of August and then the Fiest'A de Sete French music festival in late July and early August. 

The 67th edition of the Carcassonne Festival in South France will be held in 2024 between 28 June to 31 July 2024. Carcassonne festival is by all accounts the 10th largest festival in France, both in terms of number of spectators (over 200,000 over the month long programme) and by the number of events (over 120 concerts, theatre productions, dance events, plus the medieval jousting and the medieval faire).

The Worldwide French music festival 2024 will be held from 1 to 7 July 2024. This will be the 17th year that this French music festival has taken place in Sete and it is one of the best French music festivals for modern Jazz, Funk and World Music. The 2024 Worldwide French music festival line up will be announced during early 2024.

The 2024 Festival d'Avignon will take place from 29 June to 21 July 2024 and will be the 78th edition of the festival. For lovers of theatre, dance and contemporary art, the Festival d'Avignon remains a major yearly event, held in this beautiful city in South France.

Le Poulain festival or Carnival, is held in the historic town of Pezenas, South France, at the start of Lent in late February or early March. The festival features a symbolic horse (Le Poulain), reputed to represent the favourite foal of the King of France, who was cared for by the town, when the King was engaged in a Crusade against the Cathars in 1226.

Beaucaire, South France, is a pretty little place, with parks situated all along the canal banks. The best time to visit Beaucaire is during the Estivales in July, a large festival reconstructing of the town's historic medieval fair.

The Fete de Drac or Dragon festival in Mondragon, South of France, has been taking place for the last 40 years. The origins of the festival is a local old legend of a dragon that appears on the banks of the Rhone river and captures unsuspecting virgins from the village of Mondragon. This festival is always a raucus affair, with plenty of fireworks, fancy dress and general mayhem. 

The Feria de Pentecost is Nimes' most important festival, held on the fifth weekend after Easter. The Nimes ferias are widely regarded as the most lively of Languedoc's festivals.

The end of August brings with it the Fig Festival in Nezignan l'Eveque, which you can not miss - well we can't because it is right outside our front door. Nezignan l'Eveque is famous for its figs. Not an awful lot has happened in Nezignan l'Eveque over the years, but it is still a world renowned centre for Figs. This tiny little village near Pezenas grows more than 90 different varieties, as well as producing 30% of France's Nougat.

In late June and early July, Montpellier is home to a three week festival of traditional music and dance from around the world. The Montpellier Danse festival takes place in the old Ursuline convent, the Comedie, Le Corum and other venues around the city.

The Peach & Apricot festival in the small town of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard in South France, is not a boring food festival. The annual Feria de la Peche et de l'Abricot is a huge festival in late August which takes over the whole of the town for 3 days long, bringing with it a carnival atmosphere to the historic old town on the edge of the Camargue.