SAINT-GILLES Five days to celebrate Provençal culture

The event will take place over five days and will include both programming open to the public and several meetings reserved for members of Félibrige. Parades, shows, conferences, concerts, exhibitions and institutional times are announced in different places in the town. This edition returns to Saint-Gilles more than a century after the last passage of the Santo Estello in the city.

Une grande fête ppopular in the heart of Saint-Gilles

Santo Estello 2026 will offer completely free programming, mixing heritage, music, Occitan language, living traditions and Camargue culture. Here is the program for these five days which promise to be very festive:

Friday May 22

2:30 p.m.: Provençal musical entertainment in schools. Félibres will meet students from the Jules Ferry school and their correspondents from Raphèle-lès-Arles around the Provençal language and traditions.

6 p.m.: Official visit to the exhibitions at the Émile Cazelles media library.

7:30 p.m.: Inauguration of the Santo Estello with Eddy Valadier, mayor of Saint-Gilles, Paulin Reynard, Capoulié du Félibrige, and Camille Hoteman, queen of Félibrige. With the participation of school students, the choir of the Gilbert Bécaud music school and the Li Cigaloun Jounquieren association. Place Jean-Jaurès.

9pm: Conference-show “In the company of the Felibre LaforÃat” with the members of the Escolo La Sant-Gilenco, the Escolo d’Argà ̈nço de Fourques, Patricia David Disset, Gady and Ribeset. Pavilion of Culture and Heritage, Place Émile-Zola.

Saturday May 23

8 a.m.: Meeting of the Félibrige General Office. Saint-Gilles town hall.

9:30 a.m.: Meeting of the Consistory of Félibrige. Saint-Gilles town hall.

9:30 am: Guided tour in Provençal of the abbey and the Vaquette factory.

4:30 p.m.: Bilingual conference “Saint-Gilles gateway to the Camargue, splendor of a pilgrimage city, medieval influence and contemporary heritage” proposed by Daniel Abela with Katia Baglioni. Pavilion of Culture and Heritage, Place Émile-Zola.

7 p.m.: Balèti de l’Assemblado di Joine dóu Felibrige followed by a discovery of Saint-Gilles wines. In front of the abbey church, Place de la République.

9 p.m.: “La Camargo dóu Marqués” show. Bullfighting demonstration and herdsman games by the Aubanel herd, evening presented by France Simian. Émile Bilhau Arena.

Sunday May 24

10 a.m.: Mass celebrated in the Langue d’Oc by Father Michel Desplanches and Father Pesenti, with the participation of the Boisseron choir and the musicians of Félibrige. Abbey church, Place de la République.

12 p.m.: Parade of felibrarian groups with performances from Aquitaine, Auvergne, Gascogne-Haut-Languedoc, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin and Provence. The route will notably pass through rue de la République, rue Victor-Hugo, place de la Chicanette and the courtyard of the arenas. A commemorative plaque Santo Estello 1909-2026 will be unveiled at the birthplace of Guillaume Laforêt.

4 p.m.: Conference “Dins li piado by Gabriela Mistral: a look back at the Félibres’ journey to Chile in October 2025”. Pavilion of Culture and Heritage, Place Émile-Zola.

9 p.m.: Cour d’Amour, traditional dance and music show with Félibréan groups. Evening presented by André Gabriel. Émile Bilhau Arena.

Monday May 25

9 p.m.: Concert “Frederi Mistral e Felibre en cansoun” by the Revoulun association. Concert around songs in the Langue d’Oc accompanied by violins, galoubets-tambourins, transverse flutes and guitars. Abbey church, Place de la République.

Exhibitions all weekend

Cazelles Room – 6 rue Gambetta

Friday from 2 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

• “Manadiero and Arlatenco: the bouvino au femenin” by Guillaume Chevalier
• “Manado Sant-Gilenco” by Annelyse Chevalier and Jean-Pierre Cuillé
• « Bouvino, regard dóu foutougrafe manadié Pèire Aubanel » by Annelyse Chevalier

Médiathèque Émile Cazelles – 34 avenue Émile Cazelles

Friday from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

• “1876 – 2026: 150 years of Santo-Estello!” by the young people of Félibrige
• « Lou Felibre carretié Guillaume Laforêt » for La Sant-Gilenco school

For more information: https://www.saint-gilles.fr/evenement/santo-estello/