Historic festival · Biarritz & the Basque coast
29 July – 2 August 2026
2026
29 July – 2 August 2026
2027
July–August 2027
Where
Biarritz & the Basque coast
What it is
France's biggest festival: a million people in white with red scarves, five days of bandas, peñas, running of cows and the Roi Léon handing over the keys of Bayonne from the town-hall balcony.
Dates can shift by a day or two when a local council moves the programme to a weekend, so confirm with the town hall before booking non-refundable travel. Accommodation in Biarritz & the Basque coast tends to sell out weeks ahead of the festival and prices rise sharply on the main night.
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Fêtes de Bayonne, explained
France's biggest festival: a million people in white with red scarves, five days of bandas, peñas, running of cows and the Roi Léon handing over the keys of Bayonne from the town-hall balcony. It's a historic event held in Biarritz & the Basque coast.
Fêtes de Bayonne runs 29 July – 2 August 2026 in Biarritz & the Basque coast. Councils can move the exact days by a day or two to land on a weekend, so confirm with the town hall before booking non-refundable travel.
The provisional 2027 dates are July–August 2027, in Biarritz & the Basque coast.
Yes — like the great majority of Spanish town festivals, Fêtes de Bayonne is free and open-air; you only pay for food, drink and any seating the town sells for a parade or firework display.
Book a room in Biarritz & the Basque coast itself as early as you can: accommodation for this kind of festival sells out weeks ahead and prices climb sharply for the main night. A base in Biarritz & the Basque coast also means you're not relying on late transport home once the celebrations run past midnight.
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Editorial summary produced with AI support and reviewed by a human editor. Facts are as reported by the sources linked in the text. Verify anything important before you act on it. Spotted an error? Use the contact form and we will correct it.
Last reviewed · 30 July 2026
Prices & times
All prices and times on this page are estimates and change often. They are a starting point from an independent editor, never official or guaranteed figures. Always check the final price and the opening hours with the official venue or operator before you book or travel.
Checked · 30 July 2026