25 Best Music Festivals in France (Summer 2025 Guide)
Published June 2, 2025
If you're planning to be in France this summer and want more than pretty views and pastries, follow the music. From ancient Roman amphitheaters to beachside dancefloors, France’s summer festivals are full of energy, character, and very little personal space (in the best way possible).
We’ve rounded up 25 of the most exciting music festivals happening this June, July, and August—sorted by genre, with everything you need to plan your trip: top acts, travel tips, local lodging advice, and how to get there.
MAJOR ROCK, POP & INDIE FESTIVALS
1. Vieilles Charrues
Dates: July 17–20, 2025
Location: Carhaix-Plouguer, Brittany
Top Acts: Alanis Morissette, Macklemore, The Kills
Why Go: France’s biggest festival, period. Multi-genre, multi-stage, massive energy.
Closest Airport: Brest (BES)
Closest Train Station: Carhaix (TER)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Morlaix if Carhaix is booked out.
2. Main Square Festival
Dates: July 4–6, 2025
Location: Arras, Hauts-de-France
Top Acts: DJ Snake, Clara Luciani, Gracie Abrams
Why Go: An indie-pop powerhouse inside a historic citadel.
Closest Airport: Lille (LIL)
Closest Train Station: Arras (TGV)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in the old town for beauty and proximity.
3. Rock en Seine
Dates: August 20–24, 2025
Location: Saint-Cloud, Île-de-France
Top Acts: Queens of the Stone Age, Justice, A$AP Rocky
Why Go: Paris’ big indie-electro bash, held in a royal park with serious headliners.
Closest Airport: Paris Orly (ORY)
Closest Metro: Boulogne–Pont de Saint-Cloud (Line 10)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Boulogne or 16th arrondissement.
4. Beauregard Festival
Dates: July 2–6, 2025
Location: Hérouville-Saint-Clair, Normandy
Top Acts: Black Eyed Peas, Jorja Smith, The Dandy Warhols
Why Go: A chateau park, killer lineups, and cider stands. Enough said.
Closest Airport: Caen–Carpiquet (CFR)
Closest Train Station: Caen + festival shuttles
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Caen. It’s walkable, charming and full of crêpes.
5. Garorock Festival
Dates: July 3–6, 2025
Location: Marmande, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Top Acts: J Balvin, The Black Keys, Gazo
Why Go: A massive riverside blowout with a mixed crowd and wild nights.
Closest Airport: Bordeaux–Mérignac (BOD)
Closest Train Station: Marmande (TER from Bordeaux)
Local Lodging Tip: Camp on site or stay in Bordeaux and train in.
METAL & ALTERNATIVE FESTIVALS
6. Hellfest
Dates: June 19–22, 2025
Location: Clisson, Pays de la Loire
Top Acts: Muse, Linkin Park, Scorpions
Why Go: A pilgrimage for metalheads. Over 180 bands, six stages, zero compromise.
Closest Airport: Nantes Atlantique (NTE)
Closest Train Station: Clisson
Local Lodging Tip: Base yourself in Nantes and take the scenic train in.
7. Motocultor Festival
Dates: August 15–18, 2025
Location: Carhaix, Brittany
Top Acts: Machine Head, Trivium, I Prevail
Why Go: Hardcore, death metal, and heavy riffs in a rural Brittany town.
Closest Airport: Brest (BES)
Closest Train Station: Carhaix
8. Retro C Trop
Dates: June 27–29, 2025
Location: Tilloloy, Hauts-de-France
Top Acts: Sex Pistols (Frank Carter), Iggy Pop, The Toy Dolls
Why Go: Rock nostalgia in a castle park. Lawn chairs optional.
Closest Airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Closest Train Station: Roye or Amiens + shuttle
Local Lodging Tip: Amiens has more lodging options with quick access.
ELECTRONIC & DANCE FESTIVALS
9. Astropolis Festival
Dates: July 2–6, 2025
Location: Brest, Brittany
Top Acts: Jennifer Cardini, I Hate Models, Anetha
Why Go: One of France’s oldest underground electronic festivals, set in a fortress and club venues.
Closest Airport: Brest (BES)
Closest Train Station: Brest
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in central Brest to hop between venues.
10. Les Plages Électroniques
Dates: August 8–10, 2025
Location: Cannes, Côte d’Azur
Top Acts: Tiësto, Charlotte de Witte, Peggy Gou
Why Go: Dance on the beach, rooftop, and even on a floating stage in Cannes.
Closest Airport: Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE)
Closest Train Station: Cannes (TER, TGV)
Local Lodging Tip: If you’re not into Cannes, stay in Le Suquet for charm and walkability.
11. We Love Green
Dates: June 6–8, 2025
Location: Bois de Vincennes, Paris
Top Acts: Charli XCX, Paul Kalkbrenner, Kavinsky, Polo & Pan
Why Go: A genre-blending eco-conscious fest with indie, electro, and global beats.
Closest Airport: Paris Orly (ORY)
Closest Metro: Château de Vincennes (Line 1)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay near Nation or Bercy for fast metro access.
12. Worldwide Festival
Dates: June 29–July 6, 2025
Location: Sète, Occitanie
Top Acts: Gilles Peterson, Mafalda, DJ Paulette
Why Go: Curated by Gilles Peterson, with daytime beach vibes and nighttime club culture.
Closest Airport: Montpellier (MPL)
Closest Train Station: Sète
Local Lodging Tip: Try Airbnb near the marina for convenience and views.
13. Freemusic Festival
Dates: June 21–23, 2025
Location: Montendre, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Top Acts: Cypress Hill, Bloody Beetroots
Why Go: A lakeside fest mixing rap, rock, and electro in a pine forest.
Closest Airport: Bordeaux–Mérignac (BOD)
Closest Train Station: Montendre
Local Lodging Tip: On-site camping or cabins are the way to go.
14. Macki Music Festival
Dates: June 14–15, 2025
Location: Carrières-sur-Seine (near Paris)
Top Acts: Ciel, EGNA, Art Longo
Why Go: Boutique vibes with global grooves and creative crowd.
Closest Airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Closest Train Station: Houilles–Carrières-sur-Seine (RER A)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in western Paris or La Défense for quick RER access.
JAZZ & CLASSICAL FESTIVALS
15. La Défense Jazz Festival
Dates: June 23–29, 2025
Location: La Défense, Paris
Top Acts: Avishai Cohen, Mélissa Laveaux, Alfa Mist
Why Go: Free outdoor jazz in Paris’ business district, with lunchtime concerts and evening headliners.
Closest Airport: Paris Orly (ORY)
Closest Metro: Esplanade de La Défense (Line 1)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in La Défense or take the metro from central Paris.
16. Jazz à Vienne
Dates: June 26–July 11, 2025
Location: Vienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Top Acts: Jamie Cullum, Herbie Hancock, Melody Gardot
Why Go: Ancient Roman amphitheater, world-class jazz, Rhône river sunsets.
Closest Airport: Lyon–Saint Exupéry (LYS)
Closest Train Station: Vienne (TER)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Lyon and take the short train ride.
17. Jazz a la Villette
Dates: August 28 – September 7, 2025
Location: Various venues in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, including Grande Halle de la Villette, Philharmonie de Paris, and Cité de la Musique
Top Acts: Tshegue, Jalen Ngonda, Sona Jobarteh, Jeff Mills
Why Go: A premier jazz festival blending traditional and contemporary jazz with genres like hip-hop, soul, and funk, set in iconic Parisian venues.
Closest Airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Closest Train Station: Gare du Nord
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in the 19th arrondissement or nearby areas like Belleville for easy access to venues and a vibrant local atmosphere.
18. Festival Django Reinhardt
Dates: June 26–29, 2025
Location: Fontainebleau, Île-de-France
Top Acts: Marcus Miller, AYO, Deluxe
Why Go: Gypsy jazz under the trees near the historic Château de Fontainebleau.
Closest Airport: Paris Orly (ORY)
Closest Train Station: Fontainebleau–Avon (TER)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Fontainebleau or Avon for walkability.
19. Festival de Saintes
Dates: July 12–19, 2025
Location: Abbaye aux Dames, Saintes, Charente-Maritime
Top Acts: Jeune Orchestre de l’Abbaye (dir. Philipp von Steinaecker), Maxim Emelyanychev & Aylen Pritchin, Pulcinella (dir. Ophélie Gaillard), Le Poème Harmonique (dir. Vincent Dumestre)
Why Go: A week-long celebration of classical music spanning four centuries, set in the historic Abbaye aux Dames.
Closest Airport: La Rochelle – Île de Ré Airport (LRH)
Closest Train Station: Saintes Station
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Saintes' city center for easy access to festival venues and local attractions.
20. Musique-Cordiale
Dates: July 29–August 9, 2025
Location: Seillans, Provence
Top Acts: Chamber ensembles, vocal quartets, international soloists
Why Go: Classical music, choir, and jazz in hilltop villages of Provence.
Closest Airport: Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE)
Closest Train Station: Draguignan–Les Arcs + car rental
Local Lodging Tip: Book early in Seillans or Fayence—charming and walkable.
WORLD, REGGAE & ECLECTIC FESTIVALS
21. Les Déferlantes Sud de France
Dates: June 27–30, 2025
Location: Argelès-sur-Mer, Occitanie
Top Acts: Bob Sinclair, Cypress Hill, Camila Cabello, DJ Snake
Why Go: A sun-drenched mix of pop, reggae, and hip-hop steps from the Spanish border.
Closest Airport: Perpignan–Rivesaltes (PGF)
Closest Train Station: Argelès-sur-Mer (TER)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay near the beach or in Collioure for a picturesque village base.
22. Festival Bobital
Dates: June 28–30, 2025
Location: Bobital, Brittany
Top Acts: GIMS, Kavinsky
Why Go: A beloved small-town fest with a loyal local crowd and French pop focus.
Closest Airport: Rennes (RNS)
Closest Train Station: Dinan + shuttle
Local Lodging Tip: Book early in Dinan or camp on site.
23. Europavox Festival
Dates: June 28–30, 2025
Location: Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne
Top Acts: Kavinsky, Polo & Pan, Madness
Why Go: Discover Europe’s next big artists in a mountain-ringed university town.
Closest Airport: Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne (CFE)
Closest Train Station: Clermont-Ferrand (TER, Intercités)
Local Lodging Tip: Stay near Place de Jaude for convenience.
24. Rencontres & Racines
Dates: June 28–30, 2025
Location: Audincourt, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Top Acts: Dub Inc, Groundation, La Yegros
Why Go: A multicultural fest with roots reggae, world beats, and strong community vibes.
Closest Airport: EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (MLH)
Closest Train Station: Montbéliard
Local Lodging Tip: Stay in Montbéliard or Belfort for more options.
BOUTIQUE & THEMATIC FESTIVALS
25. Cabourg Mon Amour
Dates: June 19–21, 2025
Location: Cabourg, Normandy
Top Acts: Dylan Dylan, Saint DX, Piche
Why Go: Indie pop and electro on a romantic beach once loved by Marcel Proust.
Closest Airport: Caen–Carpiquet (CFR)
Closest Train Station: Dives–Cabourg (TER from Caen)
Local Lodging Tip: Beachfront hotels fill fast—book well in advance.
Final Notes
Whether you're chasing guitar riffs in Carhaix, synth drops in Cannes, or sax solos in the Roman theaters of Vienne, France in summer is pure magic for music lovers. Planning ahead will help you make the most of it. especially for transportation and lodging. Many of these festivals sell out or spike local hotel prices, so don’t wait too long.
And if you’re building a travel itinerary around these events, remember: regional trains are your friend, big cities offer more flexible lodging, and boutique festivals might require a car. Trust us, the detour is worth it.
Bon voyage—and bon festival season!
