Vendanges Musicales 2026: lineup, tickets and how to get to Charnay

Vendanges Musicales 2026 at a glance

The 12th edition takes place outdoors at Place du Château, 69380 Charnay en Beaujolais. The organisers expect up to 3,000 people per evening, supported by around 140 volunteers. Charnay sits among the golden-stone villages south-west of Villefranche-sur-Saône; the festival describes the journey as roughly 25 minutes from Lyon, 15 minutes from Villefranche and 30 minutes from Mâcon, depending on traffic.

The official 2026 programme lists 11 artists across the three nights. Detailed set times were still marked as forthcoming when this guide was checked, so treat the door times below as your planning baseline and consult your ticket before travelling.

Which night should you choose?

Thursday 17 September: French songwriting with an electronic edge

Gaëtan Roussel leads Thursday’s bill, joined by Sam Sauvage and Lisa Claudie. It is the most chanson-focused evening, but not a quiet one: Roussel brings a rock catalogue, Sam Sauvage works in contemporary French pop, and Lisa Claudie shifts the mood towards electronic music. The festival’s practical page lists doors at 7 p.m., while the individual ticket listing currently says 6:30 p.m. for the same evening. Because those two first-party sources disagree, use the time printed on your ticket and check both pages shortly before travelling. Concerts are scheduled to begin about an hour after doors open.

Friday 18 September: the broadest pop-rock mix

Friday brings Suzane, Skip The Use and Adèle Castillon, plus 2026 springboard act Fleur Sous Bitume. The combination moves from French electro-pop to high-energy rock and indie pop, making this the most stylistically varied night. Doors are listed for 6:30 p.m. Friday tickets were sold out when checked on 25 August 2026, so use only the festival’s approved resale channel if you are still looking for a place.

Saturday 19 September: rap, soul and a dance-floor finish

Ofenbach headlines Saturday alongside Bekar, TeddyBear and springboard act Leonem. This is the clearest choice for visitors who want rap and pop before an electronic closing act. Doors are listed for 6 p.m. As of 25 August, standard Saturday tickets were still offered through the official box office.

Tickets: what was still available on 25 August

Standard single-night admission was listed at €45. Thursday and Saturday remained available, while Friday and the €115 three-day pass were sold out. The festival homepage advertises reduced rates for students, under-16s and jobseekers. Its FAQ defines student proof as a student or secondary-school card, or a school certificate, and separately states that children under eight enter free. Because those first-party pages describe age eligibility differently, choose only the category displayed in the official ticketing flow and bring the corresponding proof. Availability can change quickly, so check the official ticketing page rather than relying on screenshots or third-party listings.

Download the ticket before leaving home. Mobile reception may be unreliable on site, and the organisers state that advance purchases are non-refundable. If you buy a reduced ticket through the approved resale service, you still need the corresponding proof at the gate.

How to get to Charnay

Driving is the simplest option for a group. The free festival parking opens at 5 p.m. and is signposted from the entrance to the village. Car-sharing is worth arranging in advance, both to reduce traffic and because every exit from the festival site is final.

A better option for many visitors is the official bio-CNG shuttle. It runs each evening from Lyon Gorge-de-Loup and the Villefranche-sur-Saône bus station, with a guaranteed return after the concerts. The return fare is €5 per evening; advance booking is compulsory and capacity is limited. Travellers arriving by train can connect at Villefranche, but should check the evening railway timetable and reserve the festival shuttle separately.

What to know before entering

The event is standing-room and outdoors. It goes ahead in rain, so bring suitable shoes and clothing, but check the prohibited-items list before packing: umbrellas, bags and folding chairs are among the items not allowed. The FAQ says a cloakroom is available at the entrance for prohibited items. Pets are also excluded, except guide and assistance dogs.

Cards are accepted at every food and drink stand. Visitors paying cash must first load a cashless card at the entrance. The site includes bars and several food stalls featuring local Beaujolais products. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter that evening.

Visitors who need step-free or seated access should buy their ticket and then complete the organiser’s accessibility form. The arrangement includes a dedicated parking area and a slightly raised seated viewing space, subject to confirmation by the festival team. The official festival FAQ carries the current transport, accessibility and site rules.

Make it a Pierres Dorées weekend

Charnay is part of the Beaujolais des Pierres Dorées, where pale limestone gives villages their warm ochre colour. If you are staying overnight, use the concert as one part of a wider visit rather than driving in and out in the dark. Our guide to the Golden Stone villages of Beaujolais provides a useful starting point for planning the following day.