Event Details
What is Les Trans Musicales?
The Rencontres Trans Musicales, known as "Les Trans", has been one of Europe's most influential discovery festivals since 1979. Every year in Rennes, Brittany, mostly unknown young bands and artists take the stage long before they break through internationally. Names like Björk, Daft Punk, Portishead, Stromae and LCD Soundsystem all played at Les Trans while still largely unknown. Rather than big headliners, musical curiosity is the whole point of this festival.
When does Les Trans Musicales 2026 take place?
The 48th edition of Les Trans runs from Wednesday, 2 December, to Sunday, 6 December 2026, following the festival's traditional slot on the first weekend of December. The main concerts at Parc Expo run into the early morning hours, with shuttle buses returning visitors to the city center after midnight.
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Where does the festival take place?
The heart of the festival is Parc Expo Rennes Aéroport in La Haie Gautrais, Bruz, about five kilometers southwest of the city center and just minutes from Rennes airport. Concerts also spread across roughly a dozen other venues throughout the city, including the theatre L'Aire Libre in Saint Jacques de la Lande (hosting artist residencies since 1997), Le Liberté downtown (free afternoon concerts) and the club Ubu.
Program and lineup 2026
The official 2026 lineup has not been announced yet; Les Trans traditionally reveals its artist list in late autumn. For reference, the 47th edition in 2025 brought together 77 artists from around 40 countries over four days, with a focus on rock, electronic music, rap, groove and reinvented traditional music. We will update this page as soon as the 2026 program is released.
How much do tickets cost?
As a reference point, the last edition's 3 day pass for Parc Expo ranged from around 35 to 90 euros depending on category and how early it was booked, with cheaper single day tickets also available. The afternoon concerts at Le Liberté are traditionally free and require no reservation. Exact 2026 pricing will be published on lestrans.com once sales open.
Getting there and visitor tips
- Travel by TER train: Brittany's regional rail operator BreizhGo usually offers a discounted festival fare.
- Parc Expo sits outside the city center; dedicated night shuttle buses connect it to downtown Rennes.
- If you only plan to attend one or two evenings, single day tickets can be a better option than the full pass.
- Arrive early for the free concerts at Le Liberté and in the city center, as space fills up fast.
- Book accommodation in Rennes and the surrounding area well in advance due to high demand.
