Biarritz’s event calendar reflects its dual identity as an elegant seaside resort and a surf-town with deep Basque roots. From international documentary film festivals to traditional Basque pelota tournaments, from motorcycle-and-surf culture gatherings to classical dance performances, the city hosts events in every month except the deepest winter. Most festivals are concentrated between June and September, when the weather cooperates for outdoor venues. Here’s what’s on throughout the year, with practical details for planning your trip around specific events.
Biarritz Events and Festivals: Winter (January to March)
FIPADOC, the International Documentary Film Festival, runs for one week in late January or early February at the Bellevue Congress Centre and the Casino Municipal. It screens roughly 100 documentaries across multiple venues with English-subtitled showings for major films. Day passes cost 6 EUR, and many screenings are free. The festival draws documentary filmmakers from 40+ countries and is one of the top three documentary festivals in France alongside Cinema du Reel in Paris. In March, the Biarritz en Vert eco-festival brings workshops, film screenings, and pop-up gardens around environmental themes. Dates shift annually: check the Biarritz tourist office website for exact schedules.
Biarritz Events and Festivals: Spring (April to May)
May brings several public holidays that affect business hours: May 1 (Labour Day) and May 8 (Victory Day) both close most shops and some restaurants. The upside is that these long weekends bring French visitors and a festive atmosphere to the city. The Biarritz Cheese and Wine Festival typically happens over a weekend in late May at the Halle d’Iraty exhibition center, with producers from across the Basque Country and wider Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Entry costs 5 EUR and includes a tasting glass. The Biarritz Sport Festival in late May showcases watersports and outdoor activities with free trial sessions: stand-up paddleboarding, surf lessons, and beach volleyball.
Biarritz Events and Festivals: Summer (June to August)
Wheels and Waves (Mid-June)
Wheels and Waves is Biarritz’s signature summer event, a three-day festival blending vintage motorcycles, surfing, art, and live music. It takes over the Cote des Basques area with a dedicated village of food trucks, pop-up bars, and retail stands. The highlight is the “Ride Out” on Saturday morning: 500+ vintage motorcycles ride from Biarritz through the Basque Country back roads, returning in the afternoon. The “El Rollo” surf contest runs on Cote des Basques during the same weekend with a retro-surfboard rule. Entry to the village is free; the evening concerts require tickets (roughly 25 EUR). Accommodation books out months in advance: if you want to attend, reserve by March.
Fete de la Musique (June 21)
France’s nationwide free music festival fills Biarritz’s streets, bars, and squares with live performances on the summer solstice. Every bar and restaurant hosts musicians, from classical quartets in the Eglise Sainte-Eugenie to DJ sets on Grande Plage. It’s entirely free, runs from early evening until late, and is one of the best nights of the year to experience the city’s social energy without spending on tickets.
Biarritz Surf Festival (July)
The Biarritz Surf Festival, held over a long weekend in mid-July, celebrates the city’s surf heritage with competitions, film screenings at the Casino Municipal, and beach concerts on Grande Plage. The festival was founded in 1993 and includes the “Surf de Nuit” (night surfing) event where surfers ride under floodlights on Grande Plage. The Surfilm Festibal screens surf documentaries at the casino cinema (free entry). Dates vary but it’s typically the second weekend of July. The village on Grande Plage has surf brand stands, food stalls, and a bar, open 10am to midnight.
Biarritz Piano Festival (Late July to Early August)
The Biarritz Piano Festival runs for two weeks from late July into early August, bringing international classical and jazz pianists to the auditorium at the Bellevue Congress Centre and the Hotel du Palais ballroom. Past performers include Yuja Wang, Lang Lang, and Herbie Hancock. Ticket prices range from 25 to 80 EUR depending on the seat and venue. Book online through the festival website as popular concerts sell out. Free open-air piano concerts take place in the Jardin Public park on weekend afternoons during the festival period.
Fetes de Biarritz (Second Week of August)
The Fetes de Biarritz is the city’s traditional Basque festival, running for five days in the second week of August. The schedule includes daily Basque pelota matches at the fronton, folk dancing in the streets, a corso (parade of decorated floats), an open-air mass at the Eglise Sainte-Eugenie, and fireworks over Grande Plage on the final Sunday night. Everyone wears white with a red neckerchief and belt, the traditional Basque festival uniform. The atmosphere is family-friendly during the day and more raucous at night with bands and bodegas (pop-up bars) in the streets. Most events are free. This is the busiest week of the year: book accommodation by April.
Biarritz Events and Festivals: Autumn (September to November)
Le Temps d’Aimer la Danse (Second Week of September)
Le Temps d’Aimer la Danse is a 10-day dance festival showcasing 75 performances of classical, contemporary, and traditional dance. Venues include the Gare du Midi theater, the Casino Municipal, and outdoor stages at the Jardin Public and Place Clemenceau. Many outdoor performances are free. The festival attracts dance companies from across Europe and North Africa. The opening night gala at the Gare du Midi runs 35-60 EUR; outdoor performances are typically free. This festival is the cultural highlight of Biarritz’s calendar and a major reason to visit in September.
One to One Biarritz (October)
One to One Biarritz is a premium B2B event connecting senior marketing and digital decision-makers in a format of pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings. Held at the Bellevue Congress Centre over two days in early October, it’s a business-focused event that fills hotels during what would otherwise be a quiet period. Not a tourist event, but worth knowing about if you’re trying to find a hotel room in early October.
Biarritz Events and Festivals: Christmas Season
The Biarritz Christmas Market runs from late November through December 24 at Place Clemenceau. Roughly 40 wooden chalets sell Basque crafts, Espelette chili pepper products, Bayonne chocolate, and mulled wine. There’s an ice skating rink at the Jardin Public from mid-December through early January. The city’s holiday lights illuminate the Grande Plage promenade, the lighthouse, and the main shopping streets. The Hotel du Palais hosts a celebrated New Year’s Eve gala dinner (from 350 EUR per person, black tie). For practical planning around weather conditions during your visit, see our Biarritz weather by month guide. For more information, see our best time to visit Biarritz.
For more information, see our things to do in Biarritz.
For more information, see our Biarritz neighborhoods guide.
For more information, see our where to stay in Biarritz.
For more information, see our Biarritz travel tips and FAQ.
