Fête de la Musique on the Riviera
A guide to the Fête de la Musique on the French Riviera — the free 21 June street-music festival, and how to enjoy the night.
On the summer solstice, all of France takes to the streets to play. The Fête de la Musique fills every square, terrace and corner with free live music on 21 June, and the Riviera's old towns are among the liveliest places to be. Here is a guide to the Fête de la Musique on the coast.
France sings on the solstice
Held every 21 June since the 1980s, the Fête de la Musique is a free, open-air celebration of every kind of music — professionals and amateurs alike playing on street corners, in squares and outside bars from evening into the night.
It is one of the warmest, most spontaneous nights of the French year.
- Held every 21 June, the summer solstice
- Free live music of every genre
- Streets, squares, terraces and bars
- From evening late into the night
On the Riviera
Along the coast, the Old Town of Nice, the streets of Cannes and Antibes and the squares of the villages all fill with music, in the warm solstice air by the sea. Each quarter has its own sound, so an evening becomes a wander from one to the next.
The seaside setting and mild night make it a special version of the national fête.
- The Nice Old Town at its liveliest
- Music through Cannes, Antibes and the villages
- A different sound in every quarter
- Warm solstice nights by the sea
How to enjoy it
The pleasure of the Fête de la Musique is simply to wander and follow the music, drink and food in hand, with no tickets and no schedule. An early dinner in an old town sets you up for a night of stumbling on stages.
It is free, informal and family-friendly, at its best explored on foot.
Getting around
The centres fill and some streets close, and the night runs late. A private chauffeur carries you between quarters or towns and home whenever the music finally stops, so a long evening is no trouble.
It is the easy way to take in more than one town's celebrations.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Fête de la Musique?
Every 21 June, the summer solstice, when free live music fills the streets and squares across France, including the Riviera.
Is the Fête de la Musique free?
Yes. It is a free, open-air celebration of music of every genre, played on street corners, in squares and outside bars into the night.
Where is best for the Fête de la Musique on the Riviera?
The Old Town of Nice is especially lively, with Cannes, Antibes and the villages all filling with music in the warm solstice air.
How do I get around on the night?
A private chauffeur carries you between quarters or towns and home late, so you can take in more than one town's celebrations.
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