A flag flying atop a monument, a few stages set up on the esplanade—and just like that, Place des Quinconces, this nine-hectare expanse that has symbolized Bordeaux for two centuries, is gearing up for its most electrifying moment of the summer. In place of the former Château Trompette, on August 28 and 29, 2026, the square will host the first edition of the Pagaille Festival, a new music event designed to bring the summer season to a spectacular close.
The Cure to Headline the Pagaille Festival
On Friday, August 28, starting at 5 p.m., The Cure will kick things off. Led by Robert Smith since the late 1970s, the British band—creators of cult albums like *Disintegration* and fresh off winning two Grammy Awards in 2026—will set the tone for this inaugural edition. Rounding out the lineup is a cohesive and ambitious roster: Slowdive, a legendary figure in British shoegaze; Kittin, a leading name in the French electro-rock scene; and Just Mustard, a hypnotic Irish band highly prized by alternative audiences.
Charlotte de Witte and Boris Brejcha will turn Saturday into an open-air club
The atmosphere will take a radical turn the very next day. On Saturday, August 29, starting at 2 p.m., Place des Quinconces will shift into a completely different gear with a top-notch electronic lineup. Charlotte de Witte, the Belgian queen of hypnotic techno and a regular on the biggest international stages, will share the stage with Boris Brejcha, a master of minimal techno, and Meryl, a rising star of the French house and techno scene. An entire day designed as a dance-filled interlude, featuring concerts, street performances, and food trucks on the esplanade.
Practical Information
🗓️Dates:Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, 2026
📍Location:Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux
🎟️Prices:€75 on Friday, €40 on Saturday, €105 for the 2-day pass. More info on ticketing here.
🚇Access:tram lines B, C, and D, Quinconces stop
