Beaujolais Days 2025: five days of wine, food, and festivities
Every November, Beaujolais Nouveau bursts onto the global scene with parties from Tokyo to New York. But here in its home region, this primeur wine release is more than a passing trend – it’s the heartbeat of a five-day cultural festival: Beaujolais Days. This year, from Wednesday, November 19 to Sunday, November 23, 2025, the region is relaunching the event under a renewed label uniting villages, winemakers, chefs, runners, and artists.
👉 Curious when Beaujolais Nouveau is released each year? Read this for the exact dates and traditions.
What are Beaujolais Days?
A festival born from a wine
Beaujolais Days began in 2009 to unify the scattered local celebrations marking the release of Beaujolais Nouveau. The idea was simple yet powerful: to create a single festival brand amplifying visibility, tourism, and pride for the entire region.
From dissolution to revival
The original association behind Beaujolais Days dissolved in 2021 after Covid-19 cancelled large gatherings. Yet the festival’s spirit never faded.
In 2025, it returns as a label, allowing each event to remain autonomous while benefiting from shared branding and communication – a strategy that reflects Beaujolais’ communal yet proudly independent character.
The 2025 Edition at a glance
Key dates
- Start: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- End: Sunday, November 23, 2025
- Highlight: The official release of Beaujolais Nouveau on Thursday, November 20, 2025 – always the third Thursday of November.
Festival scope
With over fifteen events scheduled across the RhĂ´ne and Beaujolais regions, the programme offers gastronomic fairs, cultural performances, wine tastings, sporting challenges, and immersive village experiences.
New highlights for 2025
The Guinguette Beaujolaise in Limonest
One of this year’s freshest additions is the Guinguette Beaujolaise in Limonest on Friday, November 21.
Expect an open-air village party with live music, traditional cuisine, and Beaujolais Nouveau poured generously in a warm, convivial setting – the perfect snapshot of French art de vivre.
Grande Soirée at Cuvage de Lacenas
Thursday evening brings the Grande Soirée at the Cuvage de Lacenas, co-hosted by the Marathon International du Beaujolais and the Compagnons du Beaujolais.
Featuring tastings of Cru wines, regional food pairings, and cultural performances, it exemplifies how Beaujolais Days go beyond Nouveau to showcase the region’s diversity.
Returning classics
This year’s festival also sees the return of its flagship events:
- Les Sarmentelles in Beaujeu, the cradle of Nouveau festivities.
- FĂŞtes du Beaujolais Gourmand in Tarare, blending local produce with primeur wine.
- Marathon International du Beaujolais, a race through vineyards from Fleurie to Villefranche-sur-Saône with wine stops along the course – a unique blend of sport and indulgence.
Other highlights include Nect’Art Nouveau in Belleville, Beaujol’en Scène in Lyon, Fête des Saveurs in Gleizé, and Nouvelles Voix in Villefranche, a music festival spotlighting emerging French artists.
Why this festival matters
Uniting under one identity
The Beaujolais Days label gives coherence to the region’s messaging, attracting visitors from across France and abroad. It amplifies the region’s tourism strategy by showcasing not just its wines but its people, traditions, and landscapes.
👉 Discover Beaujolais’ most enchanting villages and plan your festival route.
Beyond Nouveau: a showcase of diversity
While Nouveau remains at its heart, Beaujolais Days also spotlight the region’s full spectrum of wines – from mineral Beaujolais Blancs to structured Crus like Morgon or Fleurie.
Economic, cultural, and identity impact
With thousands of attendees each year, the festival boosts local economies: wineries, hotels, restaurants, and artisans.
It also strengthens community bonds, reminding locals and visitors alike of Beaujolais’ enduring cultural richness and conviviality.
Linking the experience
Beaujolais Days are a gateway to understanding wine culture. Whether you’re tasting your first Nouveau, running the marathon, or enjoying Cru Morgon, these five days connect seamlessly with your broader wine journey.
Beaujolais Days 2025 is not merely a festival – it is the embodiment of a region’s soul.
From guinguettes in Limonest to marathons through vineyards, from the fruity freshness of Nouveau to the earthy depth of Moulin-Ă -Vent, this five-day celebration reminds the world why Beaujolais is so much more.