An image of a street party in Chamonix Mont Blanc

Fête de la Musique

National celebration of music

Location: Chamonix
Imprint: Updated 2 September 2021

Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21st June in cities, towns and villages across France.

More than a music festival, the Chamonix Fête de la Musique is a free event that spills out from the bars and restaurants onto the streets and encompasses every type of music imaginable, from local amateur teen bands to professional classical musicians, from club DJ’s to traditional folk bands.

The celebration usually starts from midday with local choristers and musicians performing at the church Eglise Saint Michel beside the tourist office. There will be live performances in the centre of Chamonix throughout the day, with the bars and restaurants joining in on the fun as evening falls.

Licensing laws are waived for the night, so live bands and DJs can carry on playing as long as they like and we can keep on dancing until the sun comes up.

Where and when

Starts around midday, continues late into the night.

Venue

Chamonix town centre, bars, clubs, etc.

What to see

Have a wander round town throughout the day to soak up the atmosphere, head down Rue des Moulins later on for carnival ambience and dancing in the street until the small hours.

History

This annual celebration first took place in 1982 in Paris, initiated by the French Minister of Culture at the time. La Fête de la Musique has since spread across France, and is also celebrated in approximately 120 other countries around the world.