Ajaccio’s events calendar revolves around two big anchors: Napoleon’s birthday celebrations in August and the Aio Festival in late July. Between them, you’ll find Corsican music nights, religious processions, and a lively Christmas market. Most events are concentrated between June and September, though the city stays active through December. For year-round attractions, see the things to do in Ajaccio guide.
Ajaccio Events and Festivals: Summer Highlights
Journees Napoleoniennes (Napoleonic Days) – August 13-16
Ajaccio’s biggest annual event celebrates Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthday on August 15, which also happens to be the Assumption Day public holiday in France. The city transforms with over 200 costumed reenactors in period military uniforms, horse-drawn carriages, and cannon salutes. Events kick off on August 13 with the opening parade from Place Foch to the cathedral. August 14 features the imperial ball in Place de Gaulle (free, 21:00-midnight) where participants dance in First Empire costumes. August 15 begins with a religious mass at Ajaccio Cathedral at 10:00, followed by a grand military parade along Cours Napoleon at 11:00. Fireworks over the Gulf of Ajaccio cap the evening at 22:30. August 16 closes with Napoleonic-era games and fencing demonstrations. Most events are free and open to the public. Book accommodation 6 months ahead for this week: hotels fill completely, and rates triple.
Aio Festival – Late July to Early August
The Aio Festival runs for 6 days between July 28 and August 2, 2026 at the Theatre de Verdure du Casone, an open-air venue on Route des Sanguinaires. Now in its 7th edition, the festival draws about 12,000 attendees with a lineup of French pop, rock, rap, and variety acts. Single-day tickets start at 34 euros. The 2026 edition features Jean-Louis Aubert among the headliners. The venue has a capacity of about 2,000 standing and seated spaces, surrounded by pine trees with views of the Gulf. Food trucks serve Corsican cuisine (figatellu sausage sandwiches, brocciu cheesecake) from 18:00. Bus line 5 stops 200 meters from the entrance. Parking is limited; the festival runs a shuttle from Place de Gaulle every 30 minutes starting at 18:00.
Fete de la Saint-Jean – June 24
On the night of June 23-24, beach bonfires known as fuochi di San Ghjuvanni light up the Ajaccio coastline for the Feast of Saint John. The largest gathering is at Plage du Trottel, where a central bonfire is lit around 21:30 followed by traditional Corsican polyphonic singing (paghjella). Locals bring picnics of cheese, charcuterie, and wine. The fire is traditionally jumped for luck. Smaller bonfires appear on Plage de Marinella and Plage Saint-Francois. The event is organized by neighborhood associations, not the tourism office, so exact locations are announced on local radio (Alta Frequenza, 98.0 FM) and social media about a week before.
Ajaccio Events and Festivals: Autumn and Winter
Ajaccio International Comic Book Festival – October/November
The Festival International de la Bande Dessinee d’Ajaccio typically runs over a weekend in late October or early November. The 2025 edition hosted 40+ French and Corsican comic artists with signings, exhibitions, and drawing workshops at the Palais des Congres (Quai l’Herminier). Entry is 5 euros per day, free for under-12s. The event draws about 8,000 visitors. Exact 2026 dates are announced in September on the festival’s Facebook page and the Ajaccio tourism office website.
Ajaccio Christmas Market – December
Place Foch transforms into a Christmas market from early December through December 31. About 30 wooden chalets sell Corsican crafts (knives from Sartene, pottery from Calvi, olive oil from Balagne), regional food (chestnut flour cakes, clementine liqueur), and Christmas gifts. A small ice rink (100 square meters, 3 euros per 30 minutes including skate rental) operates in Place de Gaulle. The Christmas lights along Cours Napoleon and Rue du Cardinal Fesch switch on the first weekend of December. Market hours: 10:00-20:00 daily, extended to 22:00 on Friday and Saturday. The tourist office runs free guided walks of the old town in French and Italian on Saturday afternoons during December.
Corsican Polyphonic Singing Nights – Year-Round
Throughout the year, particularly in July and August, free concerts of Corsican polyphonic singing (cantu in paghjella) take place at Ajaccio Cathedral and the Saint-Erasme chapel near the citadel. These 30-45 minute performances by local groups like A Filetta or I Muvrini (when in Corsica) are announced on posters around Place Foch and in the tourist office. The paghjella style, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, features three-part male harmonies without instruments. Check the Ajaccio tourism office (Rue du Roi de Rome, open Monday-Saturday 9:00-18:00) for the current week’s schedule.
