Les Fêtes Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc Festival) is a moving historical and patriotic celebration held each May in the city of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was tried and executed in 1431. The festival honors her legacy as a national heroine with medieval reenactments, costumed parades, concerts, and ceremonies at the city’s historic landmarks, including the Old Market Square and Joan of Arc Church. Blending faith, history, and pageantry, the event brings the Middle Ages vividly to life while paying tribute to Joan’s courage and enduring spirit. Deeply rooted in French heritage, the Joan of Arc Festival reflects Rouen’s pride in its place in France’s storied past.
DATES & TIMES
• Festival dates (2026): Wednesday, April 29–Sunday, May 10, 2026. Official dates.
• Key official timings already published for 2026 include: Wed, Apr 29 at 7:00 PM (sword ceremony at Cathédrale Sainte-Croix), Fri, May 1 at 10:00 AM (Jeanne d’Arc cavalcade departing Place du Martroi), and Thu, May 7 at 9:45 PM plus Fri, May 8 from 9:00 AM for the main commemorations. Official highlights · Official program.
• Medieval market dates/hours (official): Thu, May 7–Sun, May 10, 2026 at Campo Santo; Thu 10:00 AM–10:00 PM, Fri–Sat 10:00 AM–11:00 PM, Sun 10:00 AM–7:00 PM. Official program.
LOCATION
• Orléans, France. Open in Google Maps.
• Main ceremonial sites published by the city include Cathédrale Sainte-Croix, Place du Martroi, Place Sainte-Croix, Porte Bourgogne, and Campo Santo. Cathédrale Sainte-Croix on Google Maps · Place du Martroi on Google Maps · Campo Santo on Google Maps.
• Public information / welcome point during the festivities: Office de tourisme, 23 place du Martroi, 45000 Orléans. Open in Google Maps · Official practical info.
TICKETS & ENTRY
• Public ceremonies, processions, and the Set Electro are presented by the city as public events; the 2026 Set Electro is explicitly described as free. Official program · Set Electro (official).
• Some festival-linked museum visits, guided tours, and workshops use reservation pages or museum ticketing; confirm booking terms on the official tourism reservation pages and venue listings. Official reservation example · Hôtel Cabu listings · Maison de Jeanne d’Arc.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Official public-information point: Office de tourisme, 23 place du Martroi, phone +33 2 38 24 05 05. Official practical info.
• Parking guidance is published by the city on the practical page; listed 24/7 parking options include Cathédrale, Cheval Rouge, Hôtel de Ville, Les Halles Charpenterie, Les Halles Châtelet, and Münster. Parking (official).
• The city also publishes circulation / traffic notices and a general festival map on the official practical page; check those pages close to your visit for current access conditions. Official practical info.