To reach Beauregard Festival from Caen, take tram T1 to the Saint-Clair terminus, then the free Twisto shuttle (every 7 min): allow 30–40 minutes from Caen station. The festival runs from 1 to 5 July 2026 at Château de Beauregard, Hérouville-Saint-Clair — 18th edition, 38 artists, 156,000 festivalgoers expected (2025 record). As of 25 May, 98% of tickets are sold out; Day Passes at €69 (Thursday–Sunday) remain. Book via the official exchange zePASS.com and avoid Viagogo.
Think Glastonbury, but French — and without the mud. Beauregard Festival is Normandy’s answer to the great British summer festival: a 23-hectare château estate, a curated lineup that blends icons with rising acts, and the kind of crowd that returns year after year. This 18th edition delivers Aya Nakamura, Orelsan — Caen’s own — Pixies, Pulp, Armin van Buuren, Vanessa Paradis, and Dropkick Murphys across five days and two stages. For UK music lovers, it sits comfortably in the same league as a major British festival, with one added bonus: the Normandy countryside as your backdrop.
The 2026 edition is 98% sold out since late April. The Day Before (Wednesday 1 July) has been sold out for weeks, as have all multi-day passes. What remains are Day Passes at €69 (valid Thursday to Sunday), plus the official resale exchange. This guide covers how to get your hands on a ticket, how to travel from London or the UK, and how to make the most of a stay in Caen before or after the concerts.
Day-by-day programme — what to see and when
Wednesday 1 July — The Day Before (sold out)
The opening night brings together three radically different worlds: Aya Nakamura (20:45), the most-streamed French-language artist in the world following her record-breaking Paris 2024 Olympics performances; Macklemore (23:00), the two-time Grammy-winning rapper behind « Thrift Shop »; and Bob Sinclar (18:45), godfather of French Touch, to launch the festivities. According to ICI France Bleu Normandie, The Day Before sold out in late April 2026.
Highlights
- Aya Nakamura: the first French woman to fill the Stade de France for three consecutive nights
- Single stage only — more intimate atmosphere than the other evenings
- Gates at 16:30 — no Cage aux Fauves or Jardin de John: a more electric, club-focused night
Thursday 2 July — Orelsan on home turf + Pulp’s legendary return
Thursday may be the most emotionally charged evening. Orelsan (22:10 Beauregard Stage) — born in Alençon, raised in Caen — takes the main stage at what has become his adopted festival. Simultaneously on the John Stage, Pulp (23:45), Jarvis Cocker’s legendary Britpop outfit, make a rare return to the stage, 25 years after « Common People » — for British music fans, this is the headline event of the entire festival. According to JDS.fr, the Orelsan concert is seen as a landmark moment for the region.
Highlights
- Pulp — a bucket-list Britpop moment, 25 years of « Common People » and « Mis-Shapes »
- Orelsan performing on his Normandy home ground — a genuinely special atmosphere
- Girls in Hawaii + Thylacine as early acts — for fans of indie pop and French electronica
Friday 3 – Saturday 4: raw energy and midnight pop
Friday is for club music and alternative rock fans: The Hives (23:40 Beauregard Stage) tear up the site with their trademark hyper-kinetic Swedish punk, while Theodora (22:35 John Stage) — 2025 breakout act, second most-streamed French-speaking female artist — brings hip-hop and afro-electronic energy. The night extends with Nico Moreno and Mosimann until dawn. On Saturday, Dropkick Murphys (23:25) — beloved by UK audiences — smash the Beauregard Stage while Charlotte Cardin (22:20 John Stage) delivers polished Canadian pop. Franz Ferdinand close with a DJ set at 00:40.
Highlights
- The Hives: one of the best live punk acts in Europe — pure, unapologetic rock
- Charlotte Cardin + Agnes Obel: quality pop for festivalgoers wanting a breather
- Vald × Vladimir Cauchemar × Todiefor (Saturday): a rap/electronic collab unique to Beauregard
Sunday 5 July — Pixies, Vanessa Paradis, Armin van Buuren
Sunday’s closing day is a condensed mix of three worlds that, somehow, work perfectly together. Vanessa Paradis (18:55) opens the main evening with an intimate, elegant set — a rare return to the stage. Pixies (21:15) — the alt-rock legends behind « Where Is My Mind? » and « Debaser », Black Francis alongside Kim Deal — headline the Beauregard Stage. Armin van Buuren (23:35), world’s No. 1 trance DJ, closes with an electric late-night set. On the John Stage, Gaël Faye (22:30) — the Franco-Rwandan singer-songwriter awarded the Prix Renaudot 2024 for « Jacaranda » — makes a long-awaited festival comeback. According to festivalbeauregard.com, the full programme is now confirmed.
Highlights
- Pixies: the band that invented quiet/loud before Nirvana — unmissable for any rock fan
- Gaël Faye: a poet and musician, one of the most important voices in contemporary Francophone culture
- Sunday is the most family-friendly day — perfect for first-time festivalgoers
Available tickets and resale — status as of 25 May 2026
What’s still available
According to ICI France Bleu Normandie, the Festival Beauregard is 98% sold out since late April 2026. The only option still available via direct sale is the Day Pass (€69 / approx. £59), valid for either Thursday 2, Friday 3, Saturday 4 or Sunday 5 July — chosen at purchase. The camping add-on (+€10) is still available.
| Pass | Without camping | With camping | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Pass — The Day Before (Wed) | €75 (~£64) | €85 (~£73) | SOLD OUT |
| Day Pass (Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun) | €69 (~£59) | €79 (~£68) | Available |
| 2-Day Pass (combinations) | €125 (~£107) | €145 (~£124) | SOLD OUT |
| 3-Day Pass | €165 (~£141) | €190 (~£163) | SOLD OUT |
| 4-Day Pass (Thu–Sun) | €205 (~£176) | €235 (~£201) | SOLD OUT |
| 5-Day Pass (Wed–Sun) | €280 (~£240) | €310 (~£266) | SOLD OUT |
Official ticket exchange: for passes sold by other attendees, the only official platform is zePASS.com (free for sellers). The festival explicitly warns against Viagogo and TicketBis.
Booking note for UK visitors: tickets are priced in euros and can be purchased directly on the festival website using a UK card. The approximate GBP equivalents shown above are based on a EUR/GBP rate of ~0.86 — check your card’s exchange rate before purchasing.
Highlights
- Children under 12 (born after 6 July 2014): free entry Thursday–Sunday with proof of age
- Accessibility companion (CMI card): free entry for the accompanying person
- No UK equivalent of Pass Culture — UK visitors book directly via festivalbeauregard.com
To purchase a Day Pass directly: festivalbeauregard.com/en/Ticketing
Camping and accommodation — on-site or in Caen
Beauregard Camp — the official campsite, 10 minutes on foot
Beauregard Camp (Avenue des Canadiens, Colombelles) is the official festival campsite. According to festivalbeauregard.com, it offers 2,000 pitches split between a « Cool & Calm » zone (families, couples) and a « Festive » zone. Open from Wednesday 1 July at 12:00 to Monday 6 July at 12:00. Glamping options (ready-erected tents, €100–€180) are available for those travelling light from the UK.
| Camping option | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | €10 (~£9) |
| 2 days | €20 (~£17) |
| 3 days | €25 (~£21) |
| 5 days | €30 (~£26) |
| Glamping — 2-person tent only | €100 (~£86) |
| Glamping — 2-person tent with bedding | €180 (~£155) |
Highlights
- Bar, restaurant, small shop and phone charging stations on the campsite
- 3-star sanitation, showers, volleyball, tennis, bike hire on-site
- Lit towpath open until 04:30 — cycle or walk to the festival direct
Hotels in Caen — the ideal base for non-campers
In July (high season) in Caen, expect €80–€150/night for a 2–3 star hotel, or €150–€250 for 4 stars. The festival has negotiated promotional rates with partner hotels:
- Séjours & Affaires Le Clos Beaumois (Caen city centre) — code « I Love John » for festival rate
- Mercure Caen Côte de Nacre (Hérouville-Saint-Clair) — 15 min walk from the festival
- Gîtes de France Calvados — 100+ properties within 15 km, code JOHN2026 for 5% off
Getting to the festival — from London, from Caen, by train or bike
Free shuttles + tram T1 — easiest option from Caen
From Caen station, the tram + free shuttle combination is the simplest option. According to Twisto, the network runs a special festival service:
- Exit the station on the tram side
- Take Tram T1 towards Saint-Clair to the terminus (last stop)
- 50m from the stop: free Beauregard shuttles, running every 7 min
- Total journey: 30–40 min from Caen station
Return shuttle times (night service):
| Day | Return shuttle times | Stops |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 1st | 23:30–02:50 | Hérouville / Clémenceau / Caen Centre (Tour Leroy) |
| Thursday 2nd | 22:30–03:00 | same |
| Friday 3rd / Saturday 4th | 22:30–04:00 | same |
| Sunday 5th | 22:30–02:00 | same |
Other transport options
- Cycling: signed cycle paths from Caen + the towpath along the Caen–Sea canal, lit until 04:30. Secure bike parking for 3,300 bikes on site. Decathlon repair station available.
- Driving: 5 km from Caen via N13 then D7. Free parking in Colombelles (1.9 km signposted walk). Accessible parking at the gates (European Blue Badge required).
- Carpooling: official platform transport.festivalbeauregard.com with merchandise prizes for participants.
Getting there from London
UK visitors have two main options to reach Caen. The fastest is by Eurostar + train: take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (approx. 2h15), then the Intercités train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Caen (approx. 2h). Total journey: around 5 hours. Eurostar tickets from London to Paris start from around £45 booked in advance; Paris–Caen from around €10–€20. Book via eurostar.com and oui.sncf or Trainline. The second option is the Brittany Ferries crossing from Portsmouth to Ouistreham (Caen) — a 6-hour crossing with departures several times daily, ideal for those driving. See brittany-ferries.co.uk for schedules. Discover our complete France travel guides for complementary itineraries.
Normandy on a plate — food stalls and local flavours
« Vivez la Normandie » zone — local producers at the festival
The festival dedicates an entire area to Norman gastronomy: the « Vivez la Normandie » zone, near the Grande Roue, features an oyster bar (Isigny oysters, Precious brand), an AOP Pays d’Auge cider bar, a cheese bar (Camembert, Pont-l’Évêque, Livarot, Neufchâtel), locally brewed Norman beers, and a butter station (Isigny AOP butter). According to festivalbeauregard.com, 75% of food stalls are Norman producers and 65% are local suppliers. For UK cheese and cider lovers, this is a genuine highlight.
Highlights
- Every stall must offer a vegetarian option — good news for meat-free festivalgoers
- Free drinking water fountains + refillable bottles available — helps manage your budget
- Norman artisan hall (fashion, jewellery, vintage) — perfect for bringing back a local souvenir
To extend your Norman food adventure before or after the festival, explore our selection of experiences and itineraries in Normandy.
Practical information — eSIM, travel insurance, flights and activities
Keep your UK number and add a data eSIM to stay connected for live schedule updates and shuttle info in real time. Works seamlessly across France and the EU.
From a few eurosNomad Insurance: global coverage from $56/4 weeks. Covers festival travel, medical emergencies and last-minute cancellations. 10% off via our link.
From $56 / 4 weeksCompare flights from London to Caen (via Paris or direct), and train options across Europe. Book early for best prices on the Eurostar + Paris–Caen connection.
London–Caen from ~£45 booked earlyMake the most of your festival trip with a private guided tour of Caen’s historic highlights — the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, the Memorial and the old town. 5 stars, 24 reviews.
From €54 (approx. £46)Frequently asked questions — Beauregard Festival 2026
Are there still tickets available for Beauregard Festival 2026?
As of 25 May 2026, 98% of tickets are sold out. The only option still available via direct sale is the Day Pass at €69 (valid for Thursday 2, Friday 3, Saturday 4 or Sunday 5 July) on festivalbeauregard.com. The Day Before and all multi-day passes are sold out. For resales, monitor the official exchange zePASS.com — free and official. Avoid Viagogo and TicketBis.
How do I get to Beauregard Festival from Caen station?
From Caen station, take Tram T1 towards Saint-Clair to the terminus, then the free Twisto shuttle (50m from the tram stop, every 7 min). Allow 30–40 minutes total. The tram costs €1.50–€3 (Twisto ticket). Return night shuttles run until 04:00 (Friday and Saturday) or 02:00–03:00 depending on the day. Full details at twisto.fr.
Can I camp at Beauregard Festival 2026?
Yes. Beauregard Camp (Avenue des Canadiens, Colombelles) is a 10-minute walk from the site. It offers 2,000 pitches with toilets and showers, a bar, restaurant and shop. Prices: €10/day up to €30 for the full period. Glamping options (ready-erected tents, €100–€180) are ideal for UK visitors travelling without camping equipment. The campsite is fully accessible. The camping add-on (+€10) is added to your Day Pass at booking on festivalbeauregard.com. Full 5-day camping passes are sold out.
What is the weather like at Beauregard Festival in early July?
In July, Caen sees temperatures of 13–14°C at night and 21–23°C in the afternoon. July is one of Normandy’s wetter months — around 17 light-rain days. The site is on grass, which can become muddy in wet conditions. Pack layers (a light windproof jacket is essential for evenings), waterproof footwear or wellies, and a poncho if the forecast is uncertain the week of the festival. UK festivalgoers will feel at home with Normandy’s famously changeable weather.
Can children attend Beauregard Festival?
Yes, children under 12 (born after 6 July 2014) enter free on Thursday to Sunday with proof of age. This free admission does not apply to The Day Before (Wednesday). Children under 3 are not admitted due to sound levels. The Cage aux Fauves (kids’ area: workshops, games, circus arts) is open Thursday–Sunday until 22:00 with festival admission. An adult must accompany children under 16. Source: festivalbeauregard.com.
Is Beauregard Festival accessible for people with disabilities?
Yes, the festival is fully accessible. Accessible parking is available at the site entrance (European Blue Badge or CMI card required). Dedicated viewing platforms (wheelchair accessible) are installed near each main stage. Ramps are present throughout the site. Beauregard Camp is also fully accessible. Holders of a CMI card with « need for accompaniment » notation receive free entry for their accompanying person. Full details at festivalbeauregard.com/PMR.
Sources
- Festival Beauregard — Official website — programme, ticketing, practical information (accessed 25 May 2026)
- Ticketing — festivalbeauregard.com — 2026 prices and availability
- Beauregard Camp — festivalbeauregard.com — official festival campsite
- ICI France Bleu Normandie — « Le Day Before du Festival Beauregard affiche complet », 30 April 2026
- ICI France Bleu — « Festival Beauregard: 156,000 festivalgoers in five days, attendance record for the 17th edition »
- Twisto Caen la mer — free shuttles to the festival
- JDS.fr — « Orelsan at Beauregard Festival 2026: a landmark concert in Normandy »
- Eurostar — London St Pancras to Paris, from ~£45 booked in advance
- Brittany Ferries — Portsmouth to Ouistreham (Caen), 6-hour crossing
- Normandy Tourism — Festival Beauregard 2026 official destination guide
- Sortiraparis.com — « Beauregard Festival 2026: Full Day-by-Day Lineup »
- Gîtes de France Calvados — partner accommodation for Beauregard Festival
Data and availability verified on 25 May 2026. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Ready to experience Beauregard 2026?
Beauregard Festival is five days of music on an exceptional château estate in Normandy — a short hop from the UK via Eurostar or ferry. Whether you’ve already secured your ticket or are still hunting for one, Caen is an ideal base for combining great concerts with one of France’s most rewarding regions.
Explore our France travel guides