Event Details
Welcome to the Fête du Piment d'Espelette 2026 in the Basque Country
On the last weekend of October, October 24 and 25, 2026, the small Basque village of Espelette turns into the heart of a pepper celebration. More than 20,000 visitors travel to the village each year to honor the famous Piment d'Espelette, the only spice in France with a protected designation of origin. Entry to the Fête du Piment is free.
Highlights and Attractions at the Fête du Piment in Espelette
- A solemn mass with the Espelette choir and the local brass band
- The blessing of the peppers right outside the village church
- A traditional procession of the pepper brotherhoods in historic costumes
- An induction ceremony that also awards the prize for the year's best pepper
- A bandas festival with musical groups parading through the narrow streets
- A farmers and craft market packed with regional specialties built around the pepper
- A shared community dinner under the market hall with live music and screenings
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Program and Schedule: What Happens and When in Espelette
Saturday is dedicated to market stalls and music, with the bandas festival filling the streets and a communal dinner in the evening. Sunday opens around 10am with the solemn mass and the blessing of the peppers, followed by the procession of the brotherhoods. Around noon, the induction ceremony takes place on the fronton, where the pepper of the year prize is also awarded. The afternoon once again belongs to the bandas festival and the market throughout the village.
Admission and Practical Information for 2026
Access to the entire Fête du Piment is free, there are no tickets to buy. Tastings, market purchases and dining at the village's bars and restaurants are paid for separately on site. Since the village itself is small and crowds are large, arriving early is well worth it.
Visitor Tips: Travel and Accommodation in Espelette
- Dedicated shuttle buses and parking areas are available, including space for motorhomes
- Late October can already be cool and rainy in the Basque Country, so a weatherproof coat is a good idea
- Accommodation within Espelette itself is limited, rooms in Cambo les Bains or Bayonne are a good alternative
- Anyone wanting to see the blessing and the Sunday morning procession should arrive early, as the narrow streets fill up fast
