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 2026. 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. 2026 will witness the 282nd year of the Fête de Saint Louis in Sete (taking place 20-25 August 2026), the annual championships of Water Jousting in South France.

Every May each 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 2026 Nice Jazz festival is the 70th Jazz event on the French Riviera and will take place from 15 to 19 July 2026 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 2026 Feria de Beziers will be held on 12-16 August 2026. 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 2026 Fiest'A de Sete will be the 29th year this music festival has taken place in Sete and will takes place from 18 July to 3 August 2026. 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 2026 between 1 to 31 July 2026. 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 in Sete will be celebrating is 20th year in 2026 and will be the held from 28 June to 5 July 2026. The Worldwide festival is the brainchild of the DJ and Music producer, Gilles Peterson, and is one of the best French music festivals for modern Jazz, Funk and World Music. The 2026 Worldwide French music festival features an impressive line up of acts.

The 2026 Festival d'Avignon will take place from 4 to 26 July 2026 and will be the 80th edition of the festival. The Festival d'Avignon is one of biggest and best Arts Festivals in France, featuring theatre, dance, street performers and contemporary art. Held in the beautiful city of Avignon in South of France, the Avignon festival remains a major yearly event.

I always find that the smaller the town in South France, the stranger the local festival. One of the liveliest festivals in the South of France takes place in the historic medieval town of Pezenas. Le Poulain festival or Carnival, is held in Pezenas at the start of Lent and involves the procession of a giant horse (which looks nothing like a horse by the way) through the streets of the town, accompanied by a lot of beer and pastis and paint and foam being thrown in all directions. 

The small town of Beaucaire in South France is famous for its annual fair held since medieval times during July. This six day Fêtes de la Madeleine Fair dates back to 1217 when the town was granted an annual trade fair by the Count of Toulouse. This was in memory of a famous victory against Simon de Montfort's forces who had tried to lay siege to the town. The 2026 Beaucaire Medieval fair will take place on 21-28 July 2026.

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 Fete de Drac or Dragon festival in Mondragon, South of France, has been taking place for the last 50 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 2026 Dragon Festival will take place on 21-22 May 2026.

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.

In late June and early July, Montpellier is home to a three week festival of traditional music and dance from around the world, that has taken place in the city for the last 46 years. The 2026 Montpellier Danse festival takes place from 20 June to 4 July 2026 and will feature events at 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, may not sound anything to write home about, but trust me, it is a big event. The annual Feria de la Peche et de l'Abricot takes place in late August each year and takes over the whole of the town for 3 days long. The festival brings a real carnival atmosphere to the historic old town on the edge of the Camargue. 

The Nice Carnival is the oldest and one of the biggest carnivals in the World. It is also one of the most important dates in the annual festivals calendar in South France. The 2026 Nice carnival will take place from 10-28 February 2027. This enormous French carnival procession takes place over 15 days during the Mardi Gras.

One of the most colourful festivals in the South of France is the annual Lemon festival in Menton. The Fête du Citron, is held during February in the coastal resort of Menton, on the French Riviera in between Monaco and the Italian border. The 2026 Menton Lemon festival in France will be the 92nd edition of the festival and will take place from 14 February to 1 March 2026.

During the month of June, the town of Menton on the French Riviera, throws open its doors to its public and private gardens. Due to its unique micro-climate, Menton, South France, has always prided itself on the quality of its gardens and horticulture.