Festival Rosa Bonheur 2026: Female creators in Seine-et-Marne housed in a château

This summer gathering has become a small ritual for music lovers who prefer nature over concrete and crowds. From July 4 to August 29, 2026, the Rosa Bonheur Festival brings a weekend-long celebration to the grounds of the Rosa Bonheur château, nestled in the hamlet of By, in Thomery, Seine-et-Marne (77), at the edge of the Fontainebleau forest. For its seventh edition, the festival stays true to its mission: spotlighting feminine creativity and heritage, with intimate, nature-set concerts.

Conceived in 2020 by Lou Brault, the event pays homage to Rosa Bonheur, the pioneering animal painter who turned her home into a haven of artistic emancipation as early as 1859. The guiding idea is simple: make summer weekends resonate with female talents, whether established stars or rising voices. Week after week, different aesthetics meet in the park (classical music, jazz, soul, folk, chanson, world music), offering a bucolic, transportive interlude.

Which artists are on the 2026 Rosa Bonheur Festival program?

The 2026 lineup gathers fifteen encounters, with concerts on weekends in the park. Here are the artists announced this year:

• Sandra Nkaké (soul)
• Tribute to Melba Liston by the Umlaut Big-Band (jazz)
• Pilar Almalé (early music, folk)
• Gaëlle Solal (classical)
• Ala.Ni (soul, jazz)
• P.R2B (chanson, pop, electro)
• Sélène Saint-Aimé (jazz, Creole-influenced music)
• Emmylou Homs (folk)
• Mélissa Laveaux (folk, alternative pop)
• Ysé
• Awa Ly (soul, world)
• “The Total Art” of Augusta Holmès, by Marine Chagnon and Yoan Héreau (classical)
• Chloé Antoniotti (neoclassical, contemplative)
• Gildaa (chanson, pop, soul)
• Flore Benguigui and The Sensible Notes (jazz)

Our pick for the night is Awa Ly on Saturday, August 15: her nuanced soul, bathed in the golden late-summer light beneath the trees, promises one of the season’s loveliest moments. A noteworthy discovery is Sélène Saint-Aimé, whose jazz with Creole inflections suits the venue’s spirit perfectly.

How to get to the festival and what are the prices?

The château sits in the heart of By-Thomery. The easiest route is by train: from Gare de Lyon, the R line toward Montargis stops at Thomery in about fifty minutes (fare included in Navigo pass), followed by roughly a twenty-minute walk. By car, plan for about 1 hour 10 minutes from Paris via the A6, but there is no dedicated parking—carpooling is strongly advised. As for budget, concerts start at 6 €, and advance booking is recommended through the festival box office. All access details are on the practical information page, and the event is supported by the Île-de-France Region.

Who is this festival for? For those who prefer intimate atmospheres over overcrowded main stages, for fans of musical discoveries and cultural heritage, as well as families or groups of friends seeking a nature-filled outing within an hour of Paris. A tip: bring something comfortable to sit on and arrive a bit early—the setting is as much a part of the experience as the music.

Want to extend your summer with more music? Browse our picks of the must-see music festivals in Paris and Île-de-France, and our roundup of the summer 2026 festivals across France.