Rambouillet Lily-of-the-Valley Festival 2026: games, parade and fireworks on the agenda

On May 9 and 10, 2026, Rambouillet goes all out. Literally, the Fête du Muguet 2026 centers on board games and video games. In the Yvelines (78), this century-old tradition draws thousands of visitors for a festive weekend that blends a parade of floats, fireworks, music, and the crowning of the Lily of the Valley Queen. It’s a great chance to reach Rambouillet from Paris, about 35 minutes by Transilien line N from Montparnasse station.

What is the Rambouillet Lily of the Valley Festival?

Born at the dawn of the 20th century, Rambouillet’s May Lily Festival is one of the liveliest spring traditions in the Île-de-France region. Each year, the town dresses up in flowers, parade floats and costumes to mark the arrival of May. A queen is crowned, a theme is announced, and the whole town gears up for a weekend of free, community‑driven festivities that bring locals and visitors together in a notably friendly atmosphere. This year’s video games and board games theme promises colorful floats and activities, weaving together worlds from Mario to Star Wars, Alice in Wonderland and Pikachu for both children and adults who feel the nostalgia of their old gamepads.

The full schedule for the Lily of the Valley Festival 2026

Saturday, May 9

• From 2:00 p.m.: Rue de Gaulle becomes a pedestrian zone.
  
  
• At 3:30 p.m. Jardin du roi de Rome: fashion show, Rambouillet merchants celebrate the lily of the valley.
  
  
• At 10:00 p.m. Château Park, Rondeau site: the coronation of Émilie Jacquet, Queen of the Lily of the Valley 2026, in the presence of her two runner-ups, Sacha Turlure and Sarah Bouziat.
  
  
• At 10:20 p.m.: pyro-symphonic show themed around board games and video games

Sunday, May 10

• 10 h 30 Place Félix Faure: Prelude by the Rambouillet Musical Society, welcoming the queen and her dauphines in keeping with the Saint-Hubert tradition (horses, hounds, grooms, buglers).
  
  
• 10 h 45: departure of the procession for Saint-Lubin Church
  
  
• 11 h Saint-Lubin Church: traditional Saint-Hubert Mass sounded by the Bonnelles hunting-horn rally.
  
  
• 12 h 30 Garden of the Palace of the King of Rome: musical aperitif featuring the Bonnelles hunting-horn rally and the Rambouillet Musical Society.
  
  
• 14 h 30 Floral corso: departure of the floats from Rue Sadi-Carnot, roundabout of 23 August 1944
  
  
• 15 h: Capoeira demonstration by Capoeira Senzala, Place Félix-Faure. Passage through Rue Chasles, Rue du Général-de-Gaulle
  
  
• 16 h In front of the castle: arrival of the first float, concert by the Rambouillet Musical Society, vote on the prizes for the floats.
  
  
• 17 h 30: announcement of the voting results

Which floats will take part in the 2026 floral parade?

The flower parade remains the headline moment of Sunday. More than a dozen floats roll through the streets of Rambouillet, built and decorated by local associations. This year you’ll see: the Family Association for Education in the Pays d’Yvelines, the Entente of the Groussay neighborhood, the Bonnelles/Rambouillet Crew, Europa Scout Saint-Martin-de-Brethencourt, the Guides and Scouts of Europe, the Franco-Portuguese Association, Laser Run Rambouillet Pentathlon, the Friends of the Festivals, Rambouillet Roller Évasion, Renaissance Auto, Resources and You, and A Rose, A Hope.

• To be read
• This week's top picks in Paris and Île-de-France, April 6–12, 2026.
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On the musical entertainment front, the themed groups are promising a lively mood: Mario’s Gang, Star Wars, Alice’s Tribulations, and Royal Pikachu will march alongside the Rambouillet Musical Society, the Celtic circle Kan Breizh, the Rambouillet/Great Yarmouth Twinning Committee, Danse et vous 78, the Rambouillet Sports Gymnastics Rhythmic Club, and a host of other local associations.

What to know before you visit

The town of Rambouillet is rolling out several traffic restrictions over the weekend: no parking and no passage along the parade route and in several areas of the town, and no access to the château park with a dog or any other animal from Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. to Sunday, May 10 at 2 a.m. The decrees and the detailed traffic plan will be published on the city’s official website.

To reach Rambouillet, the simplest option is the Transilien N from Paris-Montparnasse, arriving directly at Rambouillet station, just a few minutes’ walk from the town center and the château.

Our take: The Lily of the Valley Festival is a classic, down-to-earth community celebration—lively, free, and family-friendly. This year's video-game/board-game theme adds a playful twist that should appeal to a broad audience. We’ll happily go for the festive floral parade atmosphere and the pyrosymphonic show on Saturday night. A smart pick for an easygoing May weekend.

Who this is for : families with children, fans of traditional celebrations, curious minds seeking a themed outing in Yvelines.

2 more ideas for outings:

L'Espace Rambouillet : just a short hop away, hectares of forest to spot deer, fallow deer, wild boar and birds of prey roaming freely—the perfect way to extend the weekend.

Esprit Jardin à Versailles: the premier spring horticultural gathering in Yvelines, ideal for garden and nature lovers.