This year's 4th edition of the Fête de l'Huma is being held in Essonne, France, with exceptional security arrangements in place. The former217 airbase in Plessis-Pâté and Brétigny-sur-Orge temporarily becomes the department's largest city, with 300,000 visitors expected over three days. A considerable logistical and security challenge, which the authorities have meticulously anticipated.
The Prefect of Essonne, Frédérique Camilleri, makes no secret of the scale of the event: "It's the biggest city in Essonne over the weekend, with 80,000 to 110,000 visitors expected every day". This massive influx requires an unprecedented level of security, mobilizing a total of 250 gendarmes and 75 national police officers daily, for a total of over 800 agents throughout the festival.
The Vigipirate plan remains activated at "urgence attentat" level, placing the risk of terrorism at the forefront of security concerns. In the event of a major incident, the French government has revised the red routes to allow emergency services to arrive and casualties to be evacuated. At the same time, the forces of law and order are anticipating ordinary crime, with particular attention paid to pickpockets and sexual assaults. "Last year, some ten offences were recorded", explains Colonel Langou, a remarkably low figure for an event of this scale.
An ephemeral gendarmerie brigade will operate 24 hours a day, staffed by soldiers specialized in receiving complaints of sexual or gender-based violence. This proximity will enable festival-goers to report any wrongdoing immediately, and to be accompanied in their efforts.
Managing the flow of traffic represents a colossal challenge for the authorities. The N104, RD19, RD31 and RD312 roads, as well as the Brétigny-sur-Orge interchange, will be particularly hard hit by the influx of motorists, pedestrians and shuttle buses. "The road network is not designed for an event of this size", reminds the Prefect of Essonne.
Gendarmerie forces will deploy 35 soldiers and 50 motorcyclists, including motorcyclists from the Garde Républicaine, to keep traffic flowing in real time. A zero-tolerance policy will be applied to illegal parking, with dangerous vehicles being impounded. The Préfecture de l'Essonne strongly recommends avoiding the area around the Brétigny-sur-Orge interchange, and giving priority to public transport.
Fête de l'Humanité 2025: disruptions forecast on Essonne roads
Due to the new edition of the Fête de l'Humanité planned in Essonne, the department's prefecture is announcing disruptions on the roads this Friday, September 12, Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, 2025, with heavy crowds expected in several sectors around Base 217 and traffic "heavily impacted". We tell you all about it. [Read more]
Technological innovation plays a central role in this security system. A 3D group with drones provides a permanent view from the unified command post, which brings together all government services, internal security forces and the organizer. The Villacoublay helicopter completes this aerial surveillance to manage the situation in real time and minimize traffic black spots.
These aerial vehicles are the only ones authorized to fly over the 50-hectare perimeter of the Fête de l'Humanité. This technological approach enables optimum coordination between all the public safety players.
Secured pedestrian routes from the Brétigny-sur-Orge station are a priority for the French National Police. Free shuttle buses run between Brétigny-sur-Orge RER C and Orangis Bois de l'Épine RER D stations to the festival's main entrance. Officers from the Paris Police Prefecture and Sûreté ferroviaire are providing security for public transport carrying participants from the capital.
This strategy is designed to encourage the use of public transport in the face of foreseeable parking saturation. Organizers have increased the number of shuttles and the frequency of RER trains to make it easier for festival-goers to get around.
The organization draws on the experience acquired since the Fête de l'Humanité was set up in Essonne. "An event of this magnitude requires nine months of planning with all partners to ensure the safety of the area surrounding the festival," explains Colonel Hugues Sublet. This meticulous preparation involved municipalities, police forces and the organizer in thematic working groups.
The authorities also drew on the experience of their counterparts in Seine-Saint-Denis, where the festival was held for 21 years. This collaborative approach makes it possible to anticipate problems specific to the Essonne site, while capitalizing on the best practices developed.
The aim remains to ensure that this major cultural event, which combines concerts, debates and associative meetings, takes place in the best possible conditions. These exceptional arrangements bear witness to the importance attached by the public authorities to this event, which brings together French and international artists at the former Air Force Base 217, which has temporarily become the beating heart of cultural life in the Paris region. Practical information and tickets available on the official Fête de l'Humanité website, with recommendations for public transport to Le Plessis-Pâté and Brétigny-sur-Orge.
In 2025, the legendary Fête de l'Humanité returns to Base 217 in Essonne on September 12, 13 and 14. So how do you get there by public transport or by car? Here are a few practical tips for getting to Plessis-Pâté, the site of the Fête de l'Huma. [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From September 12, 2025 to September 15, 2025
Fête de l'Humanité 2025: disruptions forecast on Essonne roads
Fête de l'Huma: how to get to Base 217, the site of the famous popular festival
