Bordeaux’s event calendar revolves around wine, food, and riverside festivals. The signature event is the Bordeaux Wine Festival (biennial), and the city fills the gaps with antique fairs, music festivals, and Christmas markets. Here’s the full calendar with specifics.
Bordeaux Events and Festivals: Annual Calendar
Bordeaux Wine Festival / Fête le Vin (Mid-June, Even-Numbered Years)
Bordeaux’s signature event runs for 4 days in mid-June during even-numbered years (next: 2026, 2028). The festival stretches 3 km along the Garonne quays with tasting pavilions representing Bordeaux’s appellations. A tasting pass (€20-25) includes 11 wine tastings, a souvenir glass, and access to all pavilions.
Masterclasses (€15-30) offer vertical tastings of specific chateaux. The Friday and Saturday night fireworks over the Garonne (11:00 PM) with the son et lumière is the highlight. In odd-numbered years (2025, 2027), Bordeaux Fête le Fleuve (River Festival) fills the same June slot with tall ships, nautical displays, and a more family-oriented program (free).
June weather averages 24°C (75°F) with 62mm of rain; evenings cool to 14°C (57°F). Our best time to visit Bordeaux guide covers weather expectations.
Bordeaux Heritage Days / Journées du Patrimoine (Third Weekend of September)
The European Heritage Days weekend sees normally closed buildings open to the public for free, including the Palais Rohan (City Hall), private mansions (hôtels particuliers), and the submarine base at Bacalan. Free entry to all participating sites. The program is released in early September on the Bordeaux tourist office website. Arrive early (9:00 AM) for the most popular sites like Palais Rohan, where queues can exceed 2 hours by midday. September weather: 24°C (75°F), 84mm rain possible.
Fête du Vin Nouveau (Third Thursday of November)
Coinciding with the Beaujolais Nouveau release, Bordeaux celebrates its own new wine (Bordeaux Nouveau) on the third Thursday of November. Wine bars across the city offer free or low-cost tastings of the year’s young wine. The Bar à Vin on Cours du 30 Juillet (the CIVB wine school’s tasting bar, 3 Allées de Tourny) is the main venue with €3-5 glasses. No central festival; it’s a distributed bar-by-bar event. November weather is typically wet (107mm) and cool (13°C / 55°F).
Bordeaux International Antiques Fair (Late January to Early February)
Running since 1976, this 10-day antiques fair fills the Hangar 14 exhibition space on the Quai des Chartrons with 80+ dealers selling furniture, jewelry, art, and collectibles. Entry: €10 for the full run. The dates shift slightly each year but always span late January to early February. A major event for collectors and a fun browse for casual visitors.
Bordeaux Spring Fair / Foire de Printemps (Mid-April, 10 Days)
A large consumer fair at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux (Bordeaux-Lac, 10 km north of the center) with home goods, gastronomy, and entertainment across 10 days in mid-April. Free entry. Tram C to Parc des Expositions. A funfair runs alongside it. More of a local event than a tourist attraction, but the food hall showcases regional producers.
Bordeaux Christmas Market (Late November to December 27)
The Allées de Tourny Christmas Market runs from the last week of November through December 27 with 30+ chalets selling crafts, food, and mulled wine. Smaller and less elaborate than Strasbourg’s or Cologne’s markets, it’s still a pleasant evening activity. The Ferris wheel on the Quinconces (€8) offers city views.
The market is open Sunday-Thursday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday-Saturday until 9:00 PM. Mulled wine (vin chaud): €3.50-5. Free entry. December weather: 10°C (50°F), 99mm rain guarantee a wet visit; see our Bordeaux weather by month for packing advice.
