I’m so excited to write this article because it’s the first time in two years that I finally get to include some of my favorite summer events in Bordeaux. Events like Bordeaux Open Air, Dansons sur les Quais and La Bataille de Castillon are back and you don’t want to miss them! As usual, most of this list includes specific events, so if you want to see fun places to visit during the summer, check out the article about the best things to do during summer in Bordeaux. Also, I update about many more events taking place every weekend in Bordeaux in my newsletter, so don’t forget to subscribe to my email list if you’re not on it yet.
If it’s your first time in Bordeaux and you want to get more tips about traveling in Bordeaux and the Southwest of France feel free to join my Travel in the southwest of France group on Facebook or follow me on my Facebook/ Instagram accounts. This time the list is long so I divided the list to things to do in Bordeaux and things to do in Gironde and other parts of SW. Let’s start!
What to do in July 2022 in Bordeaux Metropole?
Bordeaux Open Air
Bordeaux Open Air is a series of free summer electronic music events, all set in different locations and with a great city vibe to them. The first event this summer will take place on July 3rd at Parc aux Angéliques. For more details and the full summer program click here.
When: July 3, 17, 24 and August 7, 21, 28 Sept 11, 18 / Where: Follow the website for the exact location
Vibrations Urbaines Festival
This is the 25th edition of the annual festival, Vibrations Urbaines, organized by the city of Pessac. The program is really cool and includes events like an international BMX contest, a skating contest, a hip hop dance battle, urban sports, workshops, street art exhibitions and more. The festival is taking place on July 5-10 at the Bellegrave sport complex in Pessac. See all the events on the website or facebook page of the festival.
When: July 5-10 / Where: Pessac (see specific locations in the program)
Initial Festival
For the first time Bordeaux is going to host one of the biggest electronic music festivals in France. Initial Festival will take place on July 9-10 at the Parc des Expositions. The long program includes 3 stages and 28 artists that will make you dance non-stop for two days. See more details here and for tickets click here.
When: July 9-10 / Where: Parc des Expositions, Bordeaux
Dance on the Quai
Dansons sur les Quais is a series of dancing classes and events where people gather to dance together and learn a variety of dancing genres like Tango, Salsa, Bollywood, Forro, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Zumba, and more. These activities will be guided by professional dancers from different dance schools in Bordeaux and they are completely free, so this is a great opportunity you don’t want to miss. The dancing events will take place on the quai almost daily on July 14-31. Many of the lessons and events this year require prior reservation, for more details and the full program see here.
When: July 14 – 31 / Where: Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux
Zinefest
Zinefest is a festival dedicated to comics, illustrations, photography, and poetry. The festival includes several expositions and concerts by both French and international artists and will take place in several venues in the south of Bordeaux. Check out the full program of events here.
When: June 25 – July 9/ Where: Different locations next to Marché des Douves in Bordeaux Sud (check out the program).
Jalles House Rock
Le Jalles House Rock is one of the biggest rock festivals in Gironde that annually proposes a rich program of local and international acts. The goal of the festival is to share the love for rock music with as many people as possible and that’s why the entrance is free (they do however encourage you to donate to the Estran association that organizes the event). This year the festival in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles takes place on July 7-9. For more details check out the website of the festival.
When: July 7-9 / Where: 1, chemin de Cantelaude, 33160 Saint-Médard-en-Jalles
Summer sales
Summer sales are a great opportunity to enjoy good deals on clothes, shoes, electronics, toys, and more. This summer Les Soldes d’été will take place from June 22 to July 19.
Celebrate the French National Day
July 14th is the French national day which is celebrated in every city in France. Like every year, Bordeaux will hold a series of popular events and parties. Apart from the traditional national day events, plenty of other parties will take place on July 13-14 in many parts of Gironde to celebrate this day. Follow my social media for updates about specific events.
Les Nouvelles Saisons – music festival
Les Nouvelles Saisons is a classic music festival taking place in Bordeaux on July 14-21 at Cour Mably, la Cathédrale de Bordeaux and the main library of Bordeaux. The festival was created by the violoncellist Jeremy Genet and the composer Christian Lauba offering a great variety of musical styles (baroque, romantic, modern, and more). For more details and tickets click here.
When: July 14-21 / Where: Different location in Bordeaux
Talence Estival
Talence Estival is a series of fun events, taking place every Friday from June 24 to August 26 at the Peixotto park in Talence. It’s a chill event with a concert and some food trucks and many families coming to start their weekend in a fun way 🙂 For more info click here.
When: Every Friday from June 24 – August 26 / Where: Peixotto park, Talence
Bordeaux Metropolitan Summer
Like every year Bordeaux Metropolitan invites you to discover the city and the area around it through a series of cultural events and activities. More than 100 activities of music, dance, public reading, theater, circus and gastronomy will take place between July 16 and August 28. These events are so widely spread across the metropolitan area of Bordeaux that you are guaranteed to discover places (especially parks) that you have never heard of before. Check out the full program of events here.
When: Daily from July 16 to August 28/ Where: Bordeaux Metropolitan – check out the exact location of every event in the program.
Braderie d’été
Every summer the main streets of Bordeaux are getting filled with stands of clothes, shoes, toys, house supplies and more – this is the Bordeaux summer Braderie. If you’re in town for winter sales take the opportunity to check out the stands of more than 250 merchants on rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils. The Braderie will take place on July 21-23. For more details click here.
When: July 21-23 / Where: Center of Bordeaux: rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils
Go for a drink in one of Bordeaux’s summer bars
Plenty of rooftops, terrace cafes, and open bars are surging all over the city starting the end of May/beginning of June. Some are more posh and chic, others simple and chill but they are all super fun to hang out in during the summer in Bordeaux. Check out the list of the best summer bars in Bordeaux.
Puppet Theater for Kids
Le Guignol Guérin, founded in 1853, is the oldest puppetry show in France with daily spectacles for kids in Parc Bordelais during the summer (July and August). The show usually starts at 16:00 but can be canceled or postponed when it’s raining or getting too hot. Read more about the theater here.
When: Daily during July – August at 16:00 / Where: Parc Bordelais
What do in July in Gironde and other parts of SW France?
Festival Garorock
One of the biggest music festivals in our region is about to take place on June 30 – July 3 in Marmande (about an hour drive from Bordeaux). Garorock is an international festival with 5 big stages that will host more than 50 French and international artists. For more info and tickets click here.
When: June 30 – July 3 / Where: Plaine de la Filhole, 47200 Marmande
If you want to discover other festivals taking place in the region, check out my post about the best music festivals around Bordeaux.
Festival Rues et Vous
Rue et Vous is a performance arts festival that takes place every year in the charming villages of Rions, Virelade, and Cerons. This year the festival will take place on July 7-10 and will include a rich program of theater, dance, cirque, and music shows for both adults and kids. For tickets and the full program check out the website of the festival.
When: July 7-10 / Where: Rions, Virelade, and Cerons
Baroque Festival
Festes Baroques is a Baroque music festival taking place at different wine chateaux in South Gironde. So if you want to enjoy wine, beautiful music and some of the most interesting patrimony in this region, this event is for you. The event will take place from June 28 to July 12. See more details here.
When: June 28- July 12 / Where: Different chateaux in South Gironde
Summer of Music in Medoc
Les Estivales de Musique en Medoc is the only music festival in France dedicated exclusively to young laureates of international competitions. The festival was created in 2003 to discover new talents in classical music. The concerts are hosted in some of the most prestigious châteaux in the Medoc area and are followed by wine tastings. The concerts will take place from June 29 to July 15. See the full program here.
When: June 30 – July 15 / Where: Different locations, see program above
If you want to combine it with a trip to the Medoc region here’s my article about a weekend in Medoc.
Music O Teich
Music O Teich is a fun event taking place every year at the port of Le Teich in Bassin d’Arcachon. This year it will take place on July 14-17 and will include a big creators market and free concerts every night. For more info click here.
When: July 14-17 Where: 33470 Le Teich, Aquitaine, France
For more places to visit around the Bay of Arcachon, check out my article about a day trip to Arcachon.
Festival Les Plages Pop – the event is canceled
A magical pop festival will take place at Le Canon village in the Cap Ferret peninsula. A free music festival, taking place in one of the most charming villages in Arcachon. See all the details here.
When: July 19 – 20/ Where: Place Ubeda – Village du Canon, Lège Cap-Ferret
Les Escapades Musicales
Les Escapades Musicales is a big classical music festival taking place in different natural and historic sites around the Bassin d’Arcachon. During five weeks (from June 23 – to July 23) plenty of international musicians will take part in this festival, aiming to concert the unique sites of Arcachon with the elegancy of classical music. See the program here.
When: June 23 – July 23 / Where: Different locations around Arcachon
Andernos Jazz Festival
One of the best Jazz festivals in the Gironde region will take place on July 29-31 in Andernos les Bains. 18 concerts will take place in four different scenes in this beautiful town on Arcachon Bay. For more details about Andernos Jazz Festival click here and the full program here.
When: July 29-31/ Where: the center of Andernos les Bains
Durassic Festival
An electronic festival will take place in one of the most beautiful castles in our region, Chateau de Duras. The event will take place on July 15-17. For more details and tickets click here.
When: July 15-17 / Where: Chateau de Duras
A beautiful 4D show on Chateau de Duras
Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday during the summer (July 3rd to August 30) the beautiful chateau of Duras is hosting an amazing 4D spectacle where they screen the history of the chateau and a fun story for kids at the end. The show is really well done and the location itself makes the drive from Bordeaux well worth it. The show starts at 22:30 but If you’ve never visited the chateau before, make sure to come earlier in the day so you’ll have the chance to visit the rooms and see the stunning view from the top. See more details here.
When: July and August / Where: Chateau de Duras
La Bataille de Castillon
La Bataille de Castillon is a spectacle taking place during the course of several weeks in the summer, replicating the famous fight from 1453. Castillon-la-Bataille, the town where the show takes place also hosts many activities and events revolving around the big show: tours of the city, exhibitions, and workshops of medieval art, and more. For more info and tickets click here.
When: July 21 – August 20 / Where: Association 1453, Mairie de Castillon, 33350 CASTILLON-LA-BATAILLE
Jazz in Marciac
Marciac is a nice little village in the Gers department (about 2 hours drive from Bordeaux) that hosts one of the biggest Jazz festivals in the region. The festival takes place for three weeks (from July 22 to August 6) and has a very impressive lineup of international Jazz artists. The tickets are sold separately to each and every concert. Check out the full program here.
When: July 22 to August 6 / Where: Marciac
Jazz in Sanguinet
Another cool festival this weekend (July 20-24) will take place in Sanguinet, just next to the Biscarrosse lake. This is a fun event with plenty of concerts and exhibitions. For more info click here.
When: July 20-24 / Where: Espace Gemme, Avenue du Born, 40460 SANGUINET
Festival Musicalarue
The Musicalarue is a big music festival taking place every year in Luxey (about an hour drive from Bordeaux), this year the festival will be taking place on July 29-31. You can see the lineup and all the other details here.
When: July 29-31 / Where: Luxey
Nuits Atypiques Festival
This multidisciplinary festival in south Gironde has been taking place every summer since 1992. From June 3 to July 23, more than 20 events will take place in different towns of south Gironde. The program includes a variety of activities such as concerts, theater, films, and more. Check out the full program here.
When: July 3- July 23 / Where: South Gironde- check out the exact location of every event in the program
Exhibitions not to miss this month in Bordeaux
Picasso, l’effervescence des formes
From April 15 to August 28, Le Cité du Vin will be presenting a temporary exhibition, called Picasso, l’effervescence des formes. The exhibition will look into the role wine and alcohol, in general, played in Picasso’s works. For more info click here.
Read about my visit to the Cité du Vin to learn more about one of Bordeaux’s modern symbols.
When: April 15 – August 28 / Where: 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Venise, la Sérénissime – Les Bassins de Lumières
Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting yet another exhibition and it’s very exciting! This time the exhibition is dedicated to the city of Venice and its cultural and architectural treasures. If you’ve been to the previous two exhibitions at the Bassins de Lumières you know that it’s an amazing experience and if you haven’t check out my video from the last exhibition. “Venise, la Sérénissime” will be presented from February 11 to January 2nd, get your tickets here.
When: February 11 – January 2nd / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux
Rosa Bonheur Exhibition
This summer the Bordeaux fine arts museum is hosting a beautiful exhibition to Rosa Bonheur. The exhibition is taking place at Galerie du musée et aile nord du musée des Beaux-Arts from May 18 to September 18. See more details here.
When: from May 18 to September 18 / Where: 20 Cr d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux
If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check up my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, that will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visits in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you choose your preferred location.
If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here: