©Timothé Lovergne Festivals, concerts and fireworks in Calais
Summer 2026 promises to be a festive one in Calais XXL! The area will be transformed into a giant open-air stage to celebrate the return of warmer weather. Between contemporary music festivals and maritime celebrations, the program is packed with events. outdoor promises unforgettable moments for young and old alike. Whether you're a music lover or simply looking for good vibes by the sea, discover the unmissable events that will make the heart of Calais XXL beat this season.
Concerts and highlights!
Summer 2026 will be in full swing at Calais XXL! It will be buzzing with concerts, festive evenings, and free activities. Dance, move, sing, raise your arms… Here are the dates to remember for the coming weeks!
The Dragon and the Traveling Monitor are on the airwaves!
Saturday June 20 2026
As every year, the Compagnie du Dragon also switches to summer time! And that often means a huge open-air disco. The traditional 'Silent Party,' which transforms the Dragon's Lair into a seemingly silent dance floor, returns on Saturday, June 20th. The concept? Put on headphones and choose one of the sets currently playing from three DJs mixing simultaneously! An event suitable for everyone, since all musical tastes mingle on the dance floor of the two reptiles.
Silent Party by the Dragon Company
©Nohcab 
©Nohcab The Return of the Gutted 2026:
The festive spirit is 100% community-based in Sangatte!
Saturday June 27 2026
Please note the date: June 27, 2026, from 16 p.m. to 01:30 a.m. the Sangatte stadium, near the famous cliffs of Cap Blanc NezThe city will be buzzing with excitement for the 8th edition of the Retour des Étripés (Return of the Gutted). More than just an open-air festival, it's a human adventure among friends, now a must-attend event for all ages and families. Here, the spirit is 100% community-based: every drink or snack shared goes directly towards funding the next edition! Driven by this dynamic team, the event welcomes 2500 people to create shared memories through music and good times. This year's lineup is still a mystery, so stay tuned!
100% Tribute Weekends: Legends Take Over the Place d'Armes
Friday July 10
Friday, July 10th at 20 PM, the Place d'Armes will host the Biopic Live Once Upon a time Bowie. This staged live performance, a regular on prestigious stages like the Bataclan, will retrace the artist's career over two hours, from the extravagance of Ziggy Stardust to the energy of Let's Dance. This free concert is part of the "David Bowie" theme of the 2026 season, echoing the Bowie Odyssey blockbuster exhibition presented at the Gambetta Forum.
Tribute Concert to Daniel Balavoine
On Saturday 25 July 2026
Nostalgia and energy take over the Place d'Armes for a musical event brimming with emotion. To kick off the evening at 21 pm, the Calais music scene takes center stage with Color Snake, who will deliver an electrifying opening set. The evening will continue with an exceptional concert in tribute to Daniel BalavoineForty years after the tragic death of this icon, his politically charged lyrics and cult melodies—from "L'Aziza" to "Tous les cris les SOS"—will resonate in the heart of Calais. A free concert not to be missed to celebrate the legacy of an artist whose hits have stood the test of time.
The complete summer program in Calais
©Stephan Muntaner Rock at Minck: the historic and vintage event facing the port
Saturday, August 1, 2026
The Courgain Maritime reconnects with its rock legend at Rock au Minck. A Calais institution, the event traces its roots back to the 1960s, to the sound of "Rock across the Channel" with icons like Gene Vincent and local band Les Bourgeois de Calais. From 19 pm, head to the Quai de la Colonne for an immersion in the golden age of rock 'n' roll. Facing the port, the bands Freaky Billy, Les Vinyls, and the Vintage Music Club will take turns performing, plunging you back into the energy of the pioneers of the 50s and 60s. A vintage and convivial evening in the open air!
Rock at Minck 2026
©Fred Collier Vauxhall Concert: an 80s musical interlude in the heart of the big street fair
Sunday August 2, 2026
Take advantage of the lively atmosphere of the Vauxhall Flea Market, Calais' largest flea market, to enjoy a musical interlude. Near the stalls, Parc St Pierre will host a nostalgic event at 16 pm: a concert by the band AVÛ. Specialists in French hits from the 1980s, this group performs the greatest standards of the era with the power of a live orchestra. It's the perfect opportunity to relax after hunting for bargains, while enjoying the iconic melodies that defined a generation.
The Vauxhall Concert: AVÛ
©City of Calais Calais For Night: the cream of the crop of electronic music sets the Place d'Armes ablaze
Saturday, August 8, 2026
The excitement of Calais LA Plage reaches its peak with the second edition of Calais For Night. From 20 pm, the Place d'Armes transforms into a giant open-air dance floor with a lineup worthy of the world's biggest festivals. The evening kicks off with North Project (Warner Music & LMBD label), followed by 14-year-old sensation El Figo, Ibiza resident and Tomorrowland 2025 revelation. The show builds momentum with Morgan Nagoya, an iconic figure from NRJ Extravadance, Chris Willsman, a regular at Miami's Ultra Music Festival, and the return of Siks. An exceptional night to groove to the rhythms of the best DJs of the moment, in the heart of Calais' summer!
Calais For Night 2026
©Timothé Lovergne Sea Courgain Festival: traditions, gastronomy and fiesta!
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Immerse yourself in the heart of Calais' identity with the Fête du Courgain Maritime (Seafood Festival). Organized by Calais Histoire et Traditions (Calais History and Traditions), this day celebrates the fishing district. Between processions honoring sailors and traditional costumes, the Minck district comes alive from 12:30 pm to 20 pm in a friendly atmosphere. It's the perfect opportunity to savor seafood and the ever-popular moules-frites (mussels and fries)! To end the day in style, a free concert takes place on the Quai de la Colonne: the band Big Fiesta will get the crowd rocking at the end of the day. With their 100% French-language repertoire, these party specialists will have you singing and dancing to the greatest hits to cap off the day in style.
Don't Stop Queen Now: A Masterful Finale with the Mickey Callisto Phenomenon
Saturday, August 22
The curtain rises on one of the most anticipated events of the season: the 'Don't Stop QUEEN Now' show! Join us at Place d'Armes at 21 pm for a spectacular concert featuring Mickey Callisto, a true revelation from Britain's Got Talent. Having achieved global fame thanks to his Bohemian Rhapsody flash mob, viewed over 50 million times, the artist is praised by critics for his uncanny vocal and stage resemblance to Freddie Mercury. Prepare to be immersed in the world of Queen, where timeless rock anthems will resonate throughout Calais. A moment of intense musical communion to end the summer!
'Don't stop QUEEN Now' with Mickey Callisto
©City of Calais Fireworks 2026
Tuesday July 14
On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Calais celebrates Bastille Day with an evening full of excitement. The festivities will begin on the Place d'Armes from 20 pm to 22 pm with the show “Back to the Hits 80/90”. This show blends hits from the 80s and 90s for two hours of live covers, guaranteeing a festive and intergenerational atmosphere. The traditional national holiday fireworks will then be launched from Calais LA Plage on the seafront.
Concert 'Back to the Hits 80/90'
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao Take the opportunity to explore Calais
The Opal Coast festivals, This is the perfect opportunity to (re)discover Calais XXL! Between two concerts, let yourself be surprised by the Belfry, listed by UNESCO, and enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. Stroll along the Seafront, breathe in the salty air and admire the majestic sculpture of the Bourgeois by Rodin. Want a cultural immersion? Beaux-arts museum opens its doors to you with its inspiring exhibitions. And for a nature getaway, head to the Calais Dragon : climb aboard this fascinating creature and let yourself be carried along the coastline. Between heritage, culture and the great outdoors, Calais vibrates to the rhythm of the blues and much more!
Getting around & parking in Calais XXL
©Fred Collier 
©Nohcab IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED
But we'll see you again next year!
The unmissable Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival in the spring
Every spring, Calais XXL becomes the meeting point for blues enthusiasts from all over France and beyond! With its big evenings at La Halle de Calais, the Place d'Armes becomes the vibrant heart of the festival, where the captivating rhythms of the blues resonate until late at night. Whether you are a fan of Chicago Blues, fiery soul or vintage rock'n'roll, the festival has breathtaking performances in store for you. But the Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival is also an immersive experience that goes beyond the official stages: with an OFF that takes over the bars of the city center and Calais Plage, transforming the city into a true temple of the blues. Expect a vibrant atmosphere, where Wild harmonicas, haunting guitars and gravelly vocals awaken the city's musical soul.
The Calais Marina Festival:
The Western Basin in “Open Air” mode
Every year, at the dawn of summer, the Calais marina transforms into an open-air stage, free and open to all! Between demonstrations by the SNSM (French Sea Rescue Society), highlighting the port's maritime heritage, artists (often top-tier) perform on two stages. With its gourmet food trucks and official after-parties in the bars of Calais Nord until 3 a.m., it's the unmissable event to kick off summer on the Opal Coast, with your feet on the quays and your head in the stars.
©Calais Marina Festival Marck Attack: the electro festival of the Opal Coast
The excitement won't die down anytime soon! Just one week after the Calais Marina Festival, the party moves nearby for another major event. Saturday, June 6, 2026, the town of Marck will be ablaze for the second edition of the Marck Attack Festival. This event is already establishing itself as one of those great festive and convivial outdoor moments that mark the beginning of the season on the Opal Coast, transforming the Place de l'Europe into a monumental dance floor, from 16 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Under the captivating theme of Circus Mirabilis, the festival immerses spectators in a reimagined funfair world. Completely free of charge, you can thrill to the sounds of world-renowned headliners such as The Avener and Henri PFR, supported by rising talents such as Sara Costa and Augis.
©City of Marck