2026 Fall Festivals and Events in Provence

Fall Events and Festivals in Provence

As temperatures drop in Provence in autumn, restaurant menus shift toward heartier dishes. Enjoy slow-roasted meat (lamb, wild boar, bull (taureaux), rabbit, fowl) with herbes de Provence and seasonal root vegetables. These recipes pair well with well-balanced red wine blends from the Rhône Valley.

Fall Recipes Inspired by Provence

At this time of year, hiking is fabulous, biking is possible, and golfers often get an extended season. Best of all, the autumn months move at a slightly more relaxed pace for many people living in or visiting Provence. The summer crowds have departed, replaced by smaller groups of visitors and bike tours. In the fall, no guilt is involved in lighting a fire, curling up with a book, or perhaps taking a siesta.

Books to Read

Fall Colours in Provence

One September morning in Provence, you wake up to notice a difference. Something is missing. The chirping choir of the cicadas has stopped, and in their place, the abrupt sound of hunters’ dogs barking followed by gunshots. A slight dampness in the air becomes noticeable as you walk. Despite a chilly start, being in shirtsleeves by lunchtime is normal. The annual grape harvest typically occurs in September, depending on the weather.

October often rolls in like a lamb with a gentle touch. A soft pink hue, reminiscent of “painter’s light,” fills the evenings, with mysterious, foggy mornings. The smell of bonfires in agricultural zones fills the air, and the olives begin to turn a deep shade of purple-black. Eye-catching red, orange and yellow berries of Pyracantha bushes (Firethorns) along the roadsides replace the fields of lavender and sunflowers. The Plane trees begin dropping their big, noisy brown leaves.

November is crisp like a freshly minted bill. The sunny skies remain a brilliant blue, but leaving the house without an extra layer of clothing would be folly. The mistral wind, mild in the summer months, blows an Arctic chill from the NW, intensifying into forceful gusts as it rolls down the Rhône River. The grapes have been harvested and crushed. The winemakers watch the fermenting juice as the vines turn gold and red in their fields.

NOTE: The cultural events and festivals listed below are annual (or bi-annual) happenings in Provence and on the Côte d’Azur in September, October and November. However, the dates change from year to year. The websites below list the current details. Please note this is not a comprehensive list of all the current events. For activities near your location, check local newspapers, flyers at grocery stores, and tourism websites for upcoming festivals.

September: Provence and on the Côte d’Azur

Visit the Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence. The museum’s collection has evolved over the years, swelled by the city’s acquisitions and several significant bequests, including works donated by François-Marius Granet, to become what it is today—a collection of more than 12,000 works and masterpieces. The museum has added Rembrandt’s self-portrait to its collection. The painting is included in the collection of French, northern European and Italian paintings of the 14th-18th centuries.

Bulls and Rice: (September 11-13, 2026) The annual Feria du Riz in Arles features festivities throughout the city, with plenty of rice to sample.

Until October 4, 2026: The Rencontres d’Arles – Les Rencontres de la Photographie. The Rencontres is a major photography festival that draws international photographers and viewers from around the globe.

There is so much to do in Avignon! Something is always going on: galleries, concerts, guided tours, markets, and more. Visit the Avignon Tourist Office in person or online for information on all current activities.

Book Your Stay in Provence – Côte d’Azur.

Sound, Light and Art at Carrières des Lumières: Located in Les Baux de Provence, this historic limestone quarry is France’s largest fixed multimedia installation. The 14-metre-high walls serve as the backdrop for 70 video projectors, which project images onto them. For the 2026 long program, we have “Picasso, Art in Motion.” Additionally, a short projection highlights work from Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, “At the Very Heart.” (Check the website for dates and times).  Here are our tips for your visit to Carrières de Lumières.

September 19-20, 2026 – Throughout France, the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days). Public buildings, private homes, gardens, and many other attractions are open to the public free of charge. However, many of these venues are only open once a year. Check the official website for the program in your area.

Check the Tourism website for a list of activities in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

August 30 – October 25, 2026: Le Festival Ventoux Saveurs – The Parc naturel régional du Ventoux celebrates autumn flavours with village festivals that highlight local produce.

October: Provence and on the Côte d’Azur

Until October 4, 2025, Visit Hôtel de Caumont in Aix-en-Provence to see the exhibition “Toulouse-Lautrec, Creator of Icons.” For more information, click here.

Pumpkins, Gourds, and Squash: The village of Rians turns shades of orange all weekend during the Fête de la Courge, a community celebration of the Cucurbitaceae family. The annual gourd, squash, and pumpkin harvest is an excuse for an autumn-themed market. Many stands sell squash-based food, such as soup à la courge, jams, cakes, and more.

Gratin de Courge (Butternut Squash Gratin)

A Niçoise favourite casserole (tian), this side dish made with squash - gratin de courge - originates from Roman cuisine. It requires a minimum of work and a bit of skill. This tian is even better when reheated in a low oven and then grilled for about five minutes the next day.

Check out this recipe

Chestnuts: Collobrières in the Var celebrates the season with Fêtes de la Châtaigne three Sundays in October. Let October be your excuse to visit this village near the Massif des Maures, where you will be treated to the scent of roasting chestnuts. Spend some time wandering through the chestnut trees, and you will probably see the nuts being picked. Now, it’s your chance to sample these gourmet treats – crèmes de marron and marrons glacés.

Chestnut Soup for the Holidays

This dish is easy to make chestnut soup perfect for holiday celebrating. Whether you're wanting a toasty lunch in front of the fire or a great accompaniment to a holiday meal, this soup is sure to give you what you need.

Check out this recipe

Mushrooms: If October arrives with humidity, you might get lucky and start to see wild mushrooms in the markets. In early October, the tiny village of Saint Trinit in the Vaucluse celebrates a fungi-filled day with la Fête du Champignon (October 11, 2026), including a market, local artisans, and gourmet treats.

Sautéed Wild Mushrooms

When wild mushrooms appear in the Provencal markets, do not hesitate to buy them, as the season is short. This starter course is quick to prepare and simply delicious. The recipe below will serve four people as a starter.

Check out this recipe

Mushroom Spinach Ricotta Cannelloni

Although we served this recipe as a starter, it could easily be the main course, if you increase the quantities. The trickiest part is stuffing the cannelloni shells with the mixture of mushrooms, spinach and cheese. Serve hot with a small side salad.

Check out this recipe

Head to the Beach: Since the 12th century, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer has been a pilgrimage site for the Romani people from Europe and around the globe. A large celebration takes place in May, with a smaller version scheduled for the weekend closest to October 22 (details available here). The pilgrimages to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer began in the 12th century and gained momentum with the discovery of the saints’ relics in 1448. Keith Van Sickle asks, “Mary Magdalene in Provence: Legend or Fact.”

Visit the seaside town of Cassis, a picturesque spot tucked into a curve along the Mediterranean Sea between the calanques. The city, with approximately 8,000 inhabitants, is located about 20 km east of Marseille. It’s a fishing port on a steep hillside with vineyards and pastel-coloured houses layering the slope to the seaside. Check the tourist office website for current events.

September to December, 2026: The city of Aix-en-Provence has plenty of events during the autumn. Take a self-guided tour of the Camp des Milles, the only major French internment and deportation camp still intact and accessible to the public. Enjoy a family adventure as you search for the secret place where thieves hid Cézanne’s stolen paintings in 1961. Visit the Aix-en-Provence website for more details about events and adventures.

October 25: Rognes is the place to be for a giant pumpkin festival. Fête de la Courge: Rognes celebrates the harvest of this gourd with festivities and a chance to try soups, sweets, and other culinary delights. This family-friendly event includes a market.

October 31 – Happy Halloween! Learn more about how Halloween is becoming a tradition in Provence.

November: Provence and the Côte d’Azur

November 1—Toussaint (All Saints) is a public holiday. Make sure to visit a cemetery to see the headstones decorated with chrysanthemums. Virginie Van Der Wees explains the Provençal All Saints traditions.

Book Your Stay in Provence – Côte d’Azur.

November 11: Armistice Day (1918) is a national holiday to commemorate the end of World War One. City halls often hold memorial services, and parades march through town streets.

November 10-11, 2026: Riders in the Sand! Head to Saintes Maries de la Mer for the final abrivado festival of the season. One enormous equine event on the beach with 200 gardiens (cowboys & cowgirls), 1000 horses and 11 abrivados. The video (below) will give you a flavour of the energy surrounding this two-day festival.

Truffles, the Black Gold of Provence. November 13, 2026 is the first marché aux truffes for the season in Carpentras. The Ban des Truffes in Richerenches takes place on December 5, 2026. Please read The Truffle Markets in Provence – Planning Your Visit and Recipes.

Christmas Shopping: (November 19-22, 2026) Salon Provence Prestige annual holiday fair in Arles at the Palais des Congrès with 170+ exhibitors—perfect timing for Christmas shopping.

Holiday markets start early in Provence. Look for them in significant centres and villages everywhere. Many vineyards decorate their boutiques for the season. What could better get you in the mood than wine tasting and shopping? Château de Berne (vineyard, hotel, and spa) in the Var has a series of pre-Christmas markets.

November 30- December 6, 2026: PriMed takes place in Marseille. Previously known as the International Festival of Mediterranean Documentary Film and Reportage, the festival originated in Monte Carlo in 1994 and has been held in Marseille since 2009. The public is invited to free screenings of international documentaries, discussions, and workshops.

The Annual Christmas Market at the Dora Maar House in Ménerbes takes place in early December.

Discover the Art of the Christmas Market in Provence

Saint-Tropez - Jewel of the French Riviera: Full day tour with a winery visit

Spend your day as a movie star in Saint-Tropez! The departure is set early in the morning to avoid the traffic towards the legendary town, with which a thousand stories are associated. The experience will start with a tour of this enchanting small fishing town of Saint-Tropez, which inspired numerous painters and whose beauty of the port always attracted the cinematographic world.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).