Press & media
Escape in style
Three hours from Paris, Calais XXL stands out as a destination that surprises those who thought they knew it. On this coastline open to the Strait, hospitality is not a false promise: It's a natural attitude. inherited from a territory accustomed to passages and encounters.
Between chalk cliffs, preserved natural areas With its revitalized maritime districts, the destination holds a simple promise: that of a human-scale experience, embodied by a guide, a craftsman, a chef, or an artist deeply connected to their stretch of the Opal Coast. Calais XXL delivers. to new travel aspirations, closer and more authentic, without ever giving up the ambition to do things on a grand scale.
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The press kit is available for free download in PDF format. Need a printed copy? We'll send it to you upon request!
What's in store for this season
Plan Large is about opening up the lens to a destination that lives life on a grand scale! This second issue presents an overview of the 2026 season in four main parts: the cultural and emotional life of the territory routes and trails on the coast, the generosity of natural spaces from the Opal Coast, and the meeting with the inhabitantsartisans and actors who make up the identity of the Calais region.
©Nohcab The secrets of the Opal Coast, the hidden side of the coastline
Log out Nature Slow tourism panoramas
Everyone knows Cap Blanc-Nez. But the Calais XXL area still holds other landscapes for those willing to venture off the beaten path. East of Calais, far from the famous cliffs, lies a little-known coastline shaped by the wind and sea. Golden dunes, wet meadows, shimmering marshes, and intertidal zones stretching as far as the eye can see make up a mosaic of fragile ecosystems.
From Cap Blanc-Nez in the west to the Fort Vert nature reserve in the east, the Calais coastline boasts one of the most spectacular natural heritages in northern France. Dunes, limestone cliffs, plains open to the sea: a prime location for outdoor topics, hiking and slow tourism.
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©Nohcab Museums and heritage: an exceptional cultural season
exhibitions Rodin Sculpture Object design Textile design
From June 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027, Calais hosts a unique exhibition in its format: for the first time, the Museum of Fine Arts and the City of Lace and Fashion are joining forces to to jointly present the work of the duo Maurizio Galante & Tal Lancman. Haute couture, design and applied arts respond to each other in two places, in a dialogue between Calais lace and a contemporary creation that is both delicate and bold.
In addition, research since 1895 Rodin's name is inextricably linked to Calais. But the relationship between the sculptor and the city goes far beyond the Burghers of Calais sculpture group installed opposite the Town Hall. The Calais Museum of Fine Arts has taken a further step. by opening a gallery entirely dedicated to the master's work, in a 265 m² space bathed in natural light, open onto Richelieu Park.
©Charles Delcourt The Dragon Company welcomes the Traveling Monitor Lizard
Type Culture Outdoors Urban theatre
Since 2019, Calais has been home to the Dragon of Calais, a monumental creature created by La Machine and designed by François Delarozière. The city now welcomes a second inhabitant to this exceptional mechanical menagerie: the Traveling Monitor Lizard. This new giant reptile has made the Courgain Maritime its playground, roaming between the sea, the fishing port, and the historic districts.
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©Timothé Lovergne 93 Street Art Works, including the most beautiful in France in 2025
Street art Urban Graffiti
In just a few years, Calais has established itself as one of the most dynamic street art destinations in northern France. Launched in 2020, the annual street art festival has given rise to a trail that now boasts 93 works scattered throughout the city and its surrounding area, transforming each neighborhood into an open-air space for discovery. Monumental murals by artists from across Europe stand alongside works by local artists, creating an ongoing dialogue between the local environment and contemporary art. The trail reached a symbolic milestone in 2025: the work by Bayonne-based artist Flow, “Samurai and Dragon,” painted on Rue de Valenciennes, was awarded the Golden Street Art prize for the most beautiful mural in France.
©Flow Graffiti 
©Fred Collier Maritime itineraries and rediscovery
Accompanied Maritime Heritage Coastal gentleness
This year's main route ventures into the Courgain Maritime of Calais, a fishing district with a preserved identity, where the huts and quays tell the story of a Calais turned towards the sea since the 12th century. It is in this district that renewal is taking root, with the renovation of Fort Risban, a legacy of the English presence in the Middle Ages. Its powder magazine, ramparts, and Major's Lodge now host temporary exhibitions. This route offers a comprehensive perspective, blending history, Reconstruction architecture, and port and maritime identity.
The press kit also details several cycling routes and seaside strolls along the coast, between Blériot-Plage, Sangatte and the Courgain Maritime. Concrete ideas for practical tourism topics or immersive reports.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao 
©Nohcab A season of seaside festivals: The Avener, Boris Way, Henri PFR
festivals concerts test Outings
From late April to early August, the region hosts a series of open-air festivals, most of which are free. The 2026 season marks a milestone: the Calais Marina Festival on May 30th welcomes Boris Way, triple gold record and a rising star of the international tech-house scene, supported by Tiësto and David Guetta. The Marck Attack Circus Mirabilis on June 6th brings together... The Avener headlines, alongside Henri PFR and Augis. Two free events, two major stage programs, in towns just minutes apart. 20th edition of the Beautiful Swamp Blues Festival, le Return of the Gutted in Sangatte and Rock at Minck complement a packed musical season, from blues to rock and jazz.
©Calais Marina Festival 
©Timothé Lovergne Calais XXL Marathon: a historic first, on June 28, 2026
Sports Running Courses Landscapes
Never before in its history has Calais hosted a marathon. This will change on Sunday, June 28, 2026, with a course that runs from Cap Blanc-Nez to the heart of the city, along the Gaston-Berthe dike and facing the Strait of Dover.
Three distances are offered: the marathon (42,195 km), the half-marathon et the 10 kmto reach all types of runners. The event is organised by the Nord Littoral group with the support of Calais XXL, SOCalais Athlétisme and the running specialist Foulées.
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©Philippe Turpin And so many other topics to discover in the 'Large Plan 2026'
Our Broad Plan covers many other topics that can provide unexpected angles or in-depth features.
- Calais lace celebrates its 210th anniversary : a still-living expertise, between international Haute Couture and local designers like Emma Boutoille, who created the regional dress for Miss France 2024
- Portraits: Clémentine Becquet, a stained-glass artist based in Coulogne, notably restored the stained-glass windows of the Calais belfry, one of the city's listed monuments.
- French fries as heritage From its disputed origins between France and Belgium to the Calais chip shop, via the American style and the salt and vinegar ritual inherited from exchanges with England
- The Great Tables of the Channel Portraits of chefs and the culinary heritage of the region, between bistronomy and socially conscious cuisine
- The art of living in Calais: Bars, terraces, casino, nightlife: the report also documents the city that goes out and that welcomes
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Shall we arrange your visit?
Stéphane Ribeiro Da Ascencao,
Marketing & Communications Director+33 (0)6 42 92 42 35 — sribeiro@calaisxxl.com
Elise Bué,
Communications and Press Relations Officer+33 (0)6 42 92 50 71 — ebue@calaisxxl.com