The 20^th edition of the Main Square Festival will take place in the Citadel of Arras, on July 3^rd, July 4^th and July 5^th 2026.

The public entrance is located under the “Porte Royale” of the Citadel on the General De Gaulle’s Boulevard.

Friday, July 3rd 2026

• Doors opening: 4.00 pm
• Start of the shows: 4.45 pm
• Last entrance: 1.00 am
• End of the last show: 2.00 am

Saturday, July 4th 2026

• Doors opening: 2.30 pm
• Start of the shows: 3.00 pm
• Last entrance: 0.15 am
• End of the last show: 1.15 am

Sunday, July 5th 2026

• Doors opening: 2.30 pm
• Start of the shows: 3.00 pm
• Last entrance: 11.00 pm
• End of the last show: 0.20 am

Coming soon…

During a festival, it is really important to drink and eat in order to be in the best shape to enjoy the shows all day long.

The Main Square Festival provides, on the area, many stalls where you will find a wide range of foods and beverages offers to refresh yourself and eat.

Since 2016, you will get your beverages and foods by paying with the Cashless payment system.

Since 2016, the Cashless payment system is the only way to pay the various offers available on the festival ground (beverages, foods, merchandising…).

More info on the Cashless system is coming soon.

Please note: There is no cashpoint or ATM on the ground.

A festival is an event that always takes place in a friendly atmosphere, but where everyone has to be active and responsible, because by welcoming nearly 40,000 people a day, together we create unforgettable moments.

However, in all the excitement, you may lose your papers, your bag, a piece of clothing or anything else you hold dear.

DURING THE FESTIVAL

If you lose something, you can go to the Festival Info Point / Crédit Mutuel to fill in a form to report the loss and give your contact details. You are then invited to return to the Info Point between 8pm and midnight.

If you have found an item that does not belong to you, please return it to the Festival Info Point / Crédit Mutuel.

AFTER THE FESTIVAL

If you have lost an item, please go to the Arras Police Station.

If you have found an item that does not belong to you, please hand it in at the Arras Police Station.

Because music is universal, the Main Square Festival makes it a point of honour to optimise conditions for people with disabilities.

To help optimise these conditions, you and your companion must buy your ticket at the Festival’s dedicated ticket office here .

To organise your visit, please contact the team at: pmr@mainsquarefestival.fr to specify and justify your needs and requests.

Emails will be processed from February 2 to June 30, 2026.

IMPORTANT :

As our parking and platform capacities are limited, these services cannot be offered if capacity is reached.

• Only 1 accompanying person per person will be allowed.
• 1 ticket = 1 person.
• There are no special rates.
• All animals are forbidden on the festival site, with the exception of guide dogs for people with disabilities.
• Please consult the list of permitted and prohibited items before coming.

Use the calculator to estimate the carbon impact of your journey to the Main Square Festival, and choose the solution with the least environmental impact!

CARBON IMPACT CALCULATOR

By choosing train, you think green and your mind is completely free. No traffic-jam, no problem to park, no danger during your trip !

The Arras train station is served by many trains (Local and High-speed train). It’s located at about 1 000 meters to the festival site.

More informations and reservations at SNCF Connect

Offers will be available very soon.

Save money and help the planet by carpooling.

Offers available soon

5,000 free parking spaces are available in Arras and the surrounding area.
Free Artis shuttles serve each of the parking lots.

More details to come.

Get around smart with the free shuttles! In partnership with the town of Arras and Artis, the Communauté Urbaine d’Arras is making Main Square easier for you. When you arrive in Arras, don’t ask yourself any more questions… follow the routes and park in the park-and-ride facilities. Then… let us guide you, we’ll take you by shuttle bus to the Citadelle and back after the concerts.

The shuttles run every 10 to 20 minutes to all the festival car parks, the station, the bus station, the town centre and the Citadelle.
In the car parks, you’ll be given simple information about the shuttle bus routes to and from the festival. Artis, who will be providing the shuttle service, will be on hand to guide you.

Details of the routes will be posted shortly on the festival website.

Bicycle parking will be available in the immediate vicinity of the Citadelle, next to the entrance on boulevard du Général de Gaulle.

Further details to follow.

The Main Square Festival has partnered with HomeCamper | Campspace, the leading platform for booking micro-campsites in Europe.

Campspace: camping with locals, festival edition!

Do you live less than 30 km from Arras? Why not host festival-goers in your garden and make a little extra money ?

Open your garden, host campers, and get a chance to win 3-Day Passes for the Main Square Festival!
 3 prizes of 2 three-day passes are up for grabs!

To enter the giveaway, sign up as a host on Campspace before February 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Ready to welcome festival-goers? 

JOIN HERE!

Looking for a place to stay during the festival? 

DISCOVER THEM HERE!

Just minutes away from the Main Square, our campsites are waiting to offer you a unique and friendly experience.

Competition rules : Règlement 2026

Arras and the Artois region offer a wide range of accommodation options for your festival weekend.
Click here for accommodation options in the surrounding area: www.arraspaysdartois.com

The festival is a public event, open to all ages, as it is organised under optimum safety conditions. However, children under 16 must be accompanied by at least 1 adult.

HOWEVER, for hearing-health reasons, children under the age of 10 should not enter the festival unless they are equipped with suitable hearing protection.

However, if you decide to bring a child under the age of 10 without suitable hearing protection, the festival and the organisers cannot be held responsible for any problems that may arise as a result of the event.

The Main Square Festival welcomes over 40,000 people a day to the Citadelle. For everyone’s safety, a restricted list of items is allowed on site. Please refer to the list below to make sure you don’t get caught out.

Authorised items:

• Simple compact and disposable cameras.
• Soft bottles such as camelbags (empty)
• Plastic bottles without cap (empty)
• Sandwiches.
• Non-pointed retractable umbrellas.
• Blankets and plastic bags.
• Sun cream and sunglasses.
• Small bags and rucksacks.

The Main Square Festival welcomes over 40,000 people a day to the Citadelle. For everyone’s safety, a restricted list of items is allowed on site. Please refer to the list below to make sure you don’t get caught out.

Unauthorised items

• Glass bottles, plastic bottles with corks, metal cans, cups.
• Weapons, explosive, flammable or volatile substances.
• Pyrotechnics, candles.
• Rigid bottles (metal, glass, etc.) or bottles with stoppers.
• Sharp, pointed or blunt objects, penknives and knives.
• Objects likely to be used as projectiles.
• Audiovisual equipment (professional camera, DAT or MD recorder).
• Folding chairs, large rucksacks, tents and any camping equipment (bowls, etc.).
• Flagpoles, parasols, non-retractable umbrellas with tips.
• Pumps and repair equipment for bicycles, motorbike helmets.
• Signs or banners of a political, ideological, religious or advertising nature.

Because your safety is a priority, the security arrangements and teams for the festival will be commensurate with such an event, so that you can spend your days in complete peace of mind.

Of course, as we’re sure you’ll understand, we can’t go into detail about all the measures taken, as some of them must remain confidential.

Nevertheless, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

WE’RE COUNTING ON YOUR COOPERATION!

• A systematic and compulsory search will be carried out before you enter the Citadelle. Your bags will be checked and palpated in the screening areas.
• Anyone refusing to undergo these procedures will not be allowed access to the festival, with no refund of their ticket.
• Don’t hesitate to report any suspicious behaviour to the numerous security guards, police officers or festival staff without delay.

PLAN YOUR VISIT!

• The procedures for gaining access to the Citadelle can take a long time, so we advise you to plan your arrival early.
• Also, if possible, buy your tickets in advance to avoid any crowds at the outside ticket desks.

COME LIGHT!

• Please do not bring large bags or suitcases to facilitate and speed up checks.
• Any object considered dangerous will be confiscated before entry by our security teams.