Champigny Beach 2026: free swimming in the Marne and its activities

Swimming in the Marne makes its grand return to Champigny-sur-Marne with Champigny Plage 2026, from July 4 to 19, 2026. On the agenda for this 21st free edition: a beach, an designated swimming zone, concerts, games, and a guinguette vibe by the water.

Champigny Plage returns to animate the banks of the Marne from July 4 to 19, 2026, at the Champigny-sur-Marne nautical base, in the Val-de-Marne (94). For its 21st edition, the summer rendezvous beloved by Campinois goes beyond cooling the feet on the shore: it now invites you to take a dip in the river, thanks to a temporary swimming zone set up on the historic Champigny bathing site, along Rue de la Plage. A wonderful way to reconnect with the “guinguette spirit” that made the place famous at the end of the 19th century.

Champigny Plage: preserving the guinguette spirit on the banks of the Marne

You have to go back to the early 1900s to understand why locals are so attached to this gathering. Back then, the banks of the Marne drew a family-friendly, popular crowd who came to dance, boat, and swim at the guinguettes. The modern version of Champigny Plage, born from proposals by residents during the Citizen Encounters, keeps that tradition alive and, together with the Foire au Troc et aux Cochons, ranks among the town’s most popular open-to-the-public events. People come here for the cool river breeze, a convivial dining scene, and musical evenings—just as our ancestors did in their day.

Is swimming in the Marne at Champigny-sur-Marne allowed in 2026?

The big question of the summer, and the answer is yes! Following the lead of Joinville-le-Pont, Maisons-Alfort and Saint-Maur, Champigny-sur-Marne invites us this summer to river swimming in the Val-de-Marne, a practice banned since the 1970s and now feasible again thanks to the cleansing efforts ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In concrete terms, the setup takes the form of a supervised swimming zone, marked out by buoys and water lines, with direct beach access and a gentle slope—perfect for families. The capacity is capped at 70 swimmers at a time, and access is free, with scheduling by time slot right on site. Plan to arrive early on hot days, because spots will disappear as fast as gelato in July.

What activities are on the schedule for Champigny Plage 2026?

Beyond swimming, Champigny Plage 2026 offers a holiday vibe just minutes from Paris. Among the animations we enjoyed last year, you can expect:

Paddleboarding on the Marne
Games and activities for all ages
Concerts and DJ sets
Karaoke nights
A scenic tourist train

The full program is still to come and will be unveiled soon on the City of Champigny-sur-Marne’s website. To plan your visit, please note that the event takes place at the nautical base, Plage Street, with free and open access from July 4 to July 19, 2026, and that information about other swimming sites in the department is available from Val-de-Marne Tourism & Leisure.

This gathering is geared toward families, groups of friends, and anyone dreaming of a vacation vibe without leaving Île-de-France. And if the urge to splash around sticks with you all summer, we invite you to check out our guide Swimming in Paris and Île-de-France this summer 2026, as well as our selection of the best swimming spots in Val-de-Marne.

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