Humanity Festival 2026: Artists, dates, and practical information

🟪 A mythical event since 1930

A story rooted in popular heritage

The Fête de l’Humanité, born in 1930 at the initiative of Marcel Cachin, then director of the newspaper L’Humanité, is much more than just a festival. It is an institution. A crossroads between culture and commitment, music and activism, which brings together more than 500,000 people from all over France each year. An event shaped in the DNA of the French left, but which has long transcended divisions to embody a welcoming, generous, multifaceted celebration.

From generation to generation, the Fête de l’Huma has managed to reinvent itself without ever losing its soul. It has hosted speeches from political figures, guitar riffs from rock legends, lyrical flights from poets, the cries of youth, and the dance steps of a loyal audience. From Stevie Wonder to Johnny Hallyday, from Noir Désir to Angélique Kidjo, it has seen icons parade.

From La Courneuve to Essonne: a new chapter

Long based in La Courneuve, the Fête had to pack up in 2022 to make way for the future media village of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. It is now Essonne, and more specifically the former air base 217 of Plessis-Pâté, that hosts the event. A new XXL playground, in line with the festival's ambitions: to gather, to resonate, and to continue writing a collective story.

📅 Dates and location of the Fête de l’Huma 2026

After two initial editions in Essonne that marked a historic turning point for the festival, the Fête de l’Humanité is returning to the 217 air base in Plessis-Pâté for a third consecutive time. The site, vast and green, offers an open-air stage ideal for welcoming enthusiastic crowds and artists from all backgrounds.

Key dates to remember?
🗓️ Friday 11, Saturday 12, and Sunday 13 September 2026.
Three days to vibrate, debate, dance, discover, share, and live a unique experience, in a place at the crossroads of a music festival and a social forum.

The site is easily accessible by transport from Paris and Île-de-France, with shuttles planned from several train stations. The spaces are designed to allow smooth circulation, rest areas, a large central stage, and thematic villages (books, arts, youth, world…).

🎤 The musical lineup 2026 (established artists)

Every year, the Fête de l’Huma rolls out the red carpet for a rich, mixed musical scene, without fixed labels. The 2026 edition is no exception: the lineup is an ode to artistic diversity, featuring big names and emerging talents.

🌟 Unmissable headliners

• Patti Smith (quartet) – The icon of engaged rock returns for an intimate and powerful performance.
• Eddy de Pretto – Between poetic fragility and impactful flow.
• Fianso – The voice of the neighborhoods and a key player in the French rap scene.
• MEUTE – The German techno marching band that electrifies everything in its path.

🎶 An eclectic and vibrant scene

• Hoshi – Emotion on the surface, between pop and gentle anger.
• Ascendant Vierge – The hybrid electro-pop duo that breaks the codes.
• Aliocha Schneider – Indie sensitivity and a sunny voice.
• Adé – Modern folk and liberated femininity.
• Les Ogres de Barback & La Rue Kétanou – Raw popular and festive energy.
• 47Soul – Electro-Arab fusion, straight from Palestine and Jordan.

And this is just a taste: the rest of the lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks, promising more major surprises. Between alternative music, hip-hop, electro, French chanson, and world sounds, the Fête de l’Huma once again establishes itself as one of the most eclectic and politically vibrant musical events of the year.

🎭 The other highlights of the festival

If music is the beating heart of the Fête de l’Huma, it is far from being its only breath. This extraordinary festival is also a forum for ideas, a laboratory of living culture, and a crossroads of artistic, social, and activist disciplines.

📚 A festival with multiple faces

• Book Village: independent publishers, committed authors, signings, and literary debates around contemporary struggles.
• Live performances: street theater, performances, circus, dance… the stage extends well beyond concerts.
• Engaged cinema: documentary screenings, meetings with directors, and film debates under a tent.
• Exhibitions: photography, painting, graphic arts, often carrying strong messages, with a significant place given to emerging artists.

💬 Round tables, debates & conferences

People also come to the Fête de l’Huma to reflect, debate, and confront ideas. Societal issues are addressed head-on: ecology, social justice, feminism, education, peace, digital freedoms, international struggles...
Round tables led by journalists, researchers, activists, and artists enrich the discussion throughout the weekend.

ℹ️ Practical information & ticketing

🎟️ Tickets & offers

The ticket office is open, with a launch offer at a reduced price available until April 17 2026. It is strongly advised to book online to avoid queues and take advantage of the best rates.

→ Link to the official ticket office of the Fête de l’Humanité

🛤️ Access to the site

• Address: Air Base 217, Le Plessis-Pâté (Essonne)
• Transport:
  • Shuttles from Brétigny-sur-Orge station (RER C)
  • On-site parking for vehicles
  • Soft mobility advice (carpooling, cycling, etc.)

🛏️ Where to sleep?

• Temporary campsites set up nearby
• Hotels and guesthouses in neighboring towns (Brétigny, Arpajon, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois...)
• Advance reservations recommended!

💡 Good to know

• Free entry for children under 10
• Children's area & youth activities
• On-site catering: world cuisines, food trucks, activist stands
• Accessibility: site adapted for people with reduced mobility

🔁 A Look Back at Previous Editions

The Fête de l’Humanité is also a collective memory. A condensed collection of suspended moments, fiery speeches, and unforgettable live performances. Each edition is a patchwork of emotions, between legendary memories and new vibrations.

🎶 Looking Back at 2024: An Electric Edition

Last year, the audience danced to the sounds of Shaka Ponk, Calogero, SCH, Jain, Santa, Anetha, Vladimir Cauchemar, Jahneration, Angélique Kidjo… The stage resembled a musical world tour, blending alternative rock, electro, Marseille rap, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

But the Festival is never just about its headliners. It is enriched by the numerous concerts of independent bands, exchanges at the corner of a militant stand, and that rare ability to coexist a mosh pit and a climate debate just a few meters apart.

👑 A Living Legend Since 1930

And what if we go even further back? Stevie Wonder, Noir Désir, Cesaria Evora, Johnny Hallyday, Juliette Gréco, Jimmy Cliff… so many mythical figures who have graced the stages of the Festival. It is this continuity, between a prestigious past and a bubbling present, that forges the unique identity of this festival like no other.

❓ FAQ – Everything you need to know about the Fête de l’Huma 2026

📍 Where is the Fête de l’Humanité taking place this year?

It will be held at the former air base 217, in Plessis-Pâté, in the Essonne department (91), about thirty kilometers south of Paris.

📅 What are the dates?

From Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13 2026.

🎫 How to buy tickets?

Tickets are on sale at the official site of the Fête de l’Humanité. Take advantage of the launch offer until April 17 2026.

🚗 How to get there?

Free shuttles from Brétigny RER station, parking available, carpooling encouraged. A detailed map will be available on the official site.

🎵 Which artists will be present?

Among the headliners: Patti Smith, Eddy de Pretto, Fianso, MEUTE, Hoshi, Ascendant Vierge, Aliocha Schneider, Adé, Les Ogres de Barback & La Rue Kétanou, 47Soul… And many more to come.

🧒 Is it a family event?

Yes! Entry is free for children under 10 and a children's area will be provided, with suitable activities.

🏕️ Can we camp on site?

Yes, temporary campgrounds will be offered near the site.