©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.
The unmissable Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival in the spring
From 2 to 26 April, 2026
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 Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival 2026
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 Calais Marina Festival:
The Western Basin in “Open Air” mode
Saturday 30 May 2026
The kickoff for these great festive and convivial outdoor moments will take place on May 30, 2026 with the highly anticipated return of the Calais Marina Festival. For its 2nd edition, the marina is transformed into an open-air stage, accessible free of charge to all.
From noon onwards, the West Basin will vibrate to the rhythm of DJ sets. Boris WayA key figure in French tech-house, and the vibrant world of Odetto. Between demonstrations by the SNSM (French Sea Rescue Society) – a reminder of the area's maritime heritage – you can enjoy the rock of Mr. Peabody, the disco house of Monsieur Toulouse, or the urban energy of Cypher Element × La Case. With its gourmet food trucks and official after-parties in Calais Nord bars until 3 a.m., this is the unmissable event to kick off your summer on the Opal Coast, with your feet on the quays and your head in the stars.
Calais Marina Festival 2026
©Calais Marina Festival Mark Attack Festival:
The second electro act of the Opal Coast and its international stars
Saturday June 6 2026
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.
Marck Attack 2026: Circus Mirabilis
©City of Marck 400 years of the French Navy: the Bagad de Lann Bihoué in Calais!
Saturday June 6 2026
6st June 2026 It will be a very lively day in Calais XXL. On the same day as the Marck Attack Festival, Calais has the honor of being one of the host cities for the 400th anniversary of the French Navy. This day aims to strengthen the bonds between the local population and its sailors. The public is invited to the port of Calais for a fully immersive experience with workshops, demonstrations, a ship tour, and a film screening at the open-air theater in Calais LA Plage.
On the musical front, the rhythm will be set all day long by the sounds of bombardes, bagpipes, and percussion. Calais welcomes the prestigious Bagad de Lann Bihoué. This renowned military band, among the best known in France, will perform at parades, mini-concerts, and commemorative events. For a port city with such a strong maritime identity as Calais, the arrival of the prestigious Bagad de Lann-Bihoué is a major event!
©Marine Nationale 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.
©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!
Fireworks 2026
Tuesday July 14
Calais: The traditional national holiday fireworks display launched from Calais LA Plage on the seafront.
©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