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Sports & Music Festivals in the Alps

Throughout the year, the Alps hosts a slew of sports, music, and family-friendly festivals. In this beautiful region, discoveries, thrills, and good memories are guaranteed.

A Mix of Sports & Music

Twice a year, the Outdoormix Festival in Embrun shakes up the Hautes-Alpes by mixing electro, reggae and sports shows. On the programme for the winter version: snowboarding, freestyle skiing, freeride skiing, luge, and more. In spring, you’ll find kayaking, paddle-boarding, longboarding, and also kite surfing. In short, plenty of thrills! For fans of climbing, mark your calendar for May. Near Annot, between the Verdon and the Mercantour, the Annot à Bloc festival offers rock-climbing competitions, an introduction to rock-climbing, zumba, and yoga. A stellar lineup!

Sport in the Southern Alps

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Two-Wheel Fun

Bike or motorbike fans? The Alps have something to satisfy you. Since 2017, the Lapierre Bike Festival in Valberg has been welcoming lovers of mountain biking and electric mountain biking. Close by the Parc National du Mercantour, you can try out one of the four routes on offer all weekend. Chilled or straight-up punchy, there is something for all tastes. In September, make way for the Alpes Aventure Motofestival in Barcelonnette, a not-to-miss get-together for bikers! Training workshops, motorcycle trials, and especially the Hardalpitour, the hardest all-terrain course in Europe, guarantee adrenaline rushes for all.

Circuit moto : à l’assaut des Alpes

Every Style of Music…

A major contemporary music get-together, the Olivier Messiaen Festival au Pays de la Meije in July offers over a dozen concerts focused on 20^th-century masterpieces and new works. Also in July, escape to the shores of the Lac de la Colmiane for some musical madness: you have a date with the Folies du Lac festival. From classical to jazz, and blues to world music, let yourself go with concerts in the middle of nature at the heart of the Parc National du Mercantour. Jazz fans, head to Montgenèvre, where the Festival Jazz aux Frontières grooves every August. This festival has seen artists like Magic Malik, Erik Truffaz, and Kenny Garrett take the stage.

Traditional festivals in the Alps

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… In Exceptional Locations.

For unforgettable moments, full of peace and poetry, pop over to the Festival de Chaillol. Every summer, for more than 20 years, it celebrates contemporary and traditional music in churches and castles throughout the Hautes-Alpes. A sublime way to encounter the natural and cultural heritage of the Hautes-Alpes and its inhabitants. Finally, conceived by the Chinese pianist, Zhu Xiao-Mei, the Festival International de la Haute Clarée near the Parc National des Écrins makes the three churches of Névache vibrate to the sound of classical music in August.

Kid-Friendly Festivals!

Don’t miss the Festival des Enfants du Jazz in Barcelonnette, which brings together great names and budding artists. For two weeks, these young artists go from classrooms to jam sessions under the watchful eye of their teachers and for your pleasure. Do you know Griotte, the marmot mascot? If you don’t, you can fix that by going to the Festival Potes de Marmot’s, which will delight both the young and old. Head to Guillestre at the end of August to watch street shows and marvel at the fairy-tale parades and concerts.

Top summertime family activities in the Alps