Events in Le Touquet: the Enduropale and the Year's Big Dates

Le Touquet's number one highlight is the Enduropale, the famous motorbike and quad race on the sand, held every year over three days in late January or early February. But the “four-seasons resort” lives up to its nickname: jazz in winter, rallying and show jumping in spring, music festivals in summer, a book fair in autumn and lights at Christmas.

Here is the typical calendar of major events, with the usual time of year for each. Exact dates change from year to year: always check them on the official websites before booking.

The Enduropale, the legendary winter race

Created in 1975 by Thierry Sabine, then the town's press officer and later the founder of the Paris-Dakar rally, the Enduro du Touquet has become the Enduropale du Touquet-Pas-de-Calais. The first edition brought together 286 riders; today, nearly 2,800 competitors, quads included, set off on a circuit of around fifteen kilometres laid out entirely on the beach, between Le Touquet and Stella-Plage. The event is the final of the FIM Sand Races World Cup.

What you need to know:

• When? Every year over three days, Friday to Sunday, in late January or early February.
• Which races? Five events: Enduro Vintage, Quaduro, Enduropale Juniors, Enduropale Espoirs and the main race, the three-hour Enduropale.
• The parade: before the start, the bikes ride through town in convoy past crowds lining the route, a tradition since the very first edition.
• The crowds: the tourist office reports hundreds of thousands of spectators over the weekend, and the resort's hotels are fully booked.

Access to the public areas set up on the promenade and the beach is free; grandstands and VIP areas are ticketed. The dunes are strictly off-limits to the public during the race. The town is closed to traffic on Sunday morning: the organisers provide a large car park at the airport with shuttles to the centre. Bring warm, waterproof clothing and arrive early.

Month-by-month calendar of typical events

To choose your dates according to the weather and crowds, see also our guide on when to visit Le Touquet.

Spring: rally, show jumping and the first festivals

The Rallye du Touquet, the resort's historic motorsport event, is held in spring, usually in March, on the roads of the hinterland; it often opens the French Rally Championship season. Expect a lively atmosphere around the service parks.

In May, the equestrian park hosts Le Touquet Classic, an international CSI 3* show-jumping competition, with qualifying rounds, a derby and the Grand Prix on Sunday. The equestrian park is also the starting point for horse rides: see our article on where to go horse riding in Le Touquet.

Spring is also the season of the Printemps de l'Art déco, which showcases 1920s–1930s heritage in several towns across the Hauts-de-France, and of the Musica Nigella opera and vocal music festival, which also holds an autumn edition.

Summer: music, beach and the Air Show

Summer is the liveliest season, with concerts and shows almost every week:

• Touquet Music Beach Festival: born in 2016 out of “la nuit touquettoise”, this electronic music festival takes place over two evenings at the end of August and draws several tens of thousands of spectators.
• Les Pianos Folies: a piano festival featuring international pianists in unusual venues around the resort. Its dates vary from one edition to the next, between late spring and August.
• Jazz Wednesdays (Mercredis jazz), free open-air concerts, and Polartifice, the crime fiction festival, around 14 July.
• The Touquet Air Show: a free air show over the seafront, featuring the Patrouille de France and, some years, foreign display teams such as the RAF Red Arrows. Its date varies from year to year: look out for the announcement on the tourist office website.

On the busiest days, get around by bike or on foot: everything is close by. Our article on things to do in Le Touquet rounds out this programme with everyday activities.

Autumn and winter: book fair, jazz and Christmas

Out of season, the resort stays lively. In mid-November, the Salon du livre du Touquet-Paris-Plage, founded in 1979, brings together authors, book signings and prize-givings over three days, including the Grand Prix de la Biographie politique. It is one of the most important literary fairs north of Paris.

From late November, the town lights up for around five weeks of festivities: an open-air ice rink, a Christmas village with chalets selling treats and crafts (at weekends, then every day during the school holidays), shows and light projections on the Palais des Congrès. In February, the Winter Jazz Festival brings in big names in jazz, with free stages for regional talent.

All year round, the Palais des Congrès cultural season offers concerts, comedy and theatre, ideal for a weekend evening out. Autumn is also the season of spring tides and walks in the Canche bay: a good complement between two events.

Coming for an event: our practical tips

Major events push up demand for accommodation very quickly. A few good habits:

1. Book early for the Enduropale: accommodation in the resort is snapped up several months in advance.
2. Check the official dates on the tourist office or organiser's website, as they can change from year to year.
3. Plan your access: on certain days, streets are closed and parking is limited; coming by train to Étaples-Le Touquet is a good option (see how to get to Le Touquet).
4. Stay within walking distance of the centre so you can enjoy the events without getting back in the car.

Charles's tip: for the Enduropale, our guests often book both apartments together, as a duplex for 8 people, as soon as the calendar opens. On Saturday, go and watch the bike parade in town, then walk to the promenade: from the villa, the beach is 5 minutes away, and you will avoid the traffic jams entirely.