The announcement was made on Wednesday, April 15, 2026: the concert by Vanessa Paradis scheduled for that evening at the Printemps de Bourges has been canceled for “medical reasons”. The singer was supposed to perform at 9 p.m. on the W stage, the largest tent at the festival. In the midst of promoting her album “Le retour des beaux jours”, released at the end of 2025, Vanessa Paradis had a full schedule of dates. This appearance at the Printemps de Bourges, celebrating its 50th edition from April 14 to 19, was supposed to be her first major festival appearance, before Brussels and Amiens.
Vanessa Paradis stuck in bed
The festival confirmed the news on its social media: “For medical reasons, it is with much sadness and regret that Vanessa Paradis must cancel her performance tonight on the W stage”. Vanessa Paradis’ team explained on Instagram: “Vanessa was looking forward to this first festival appearance and is very sad she can’t meet her audience”. The statement also thanked “the fans and the teams for their understanding and support” and concluded: “We apologize for the inconvenience caused”.
Backstage, the singer’s manager, Laurent Manganas, told Le Parisien that Vanessa was bedridden. “Vanessa is very ill, she is in bed, she can’t sing, she has lost her voice. Vanessa is devastated, it was her first festival, we’ve been preparing for it for a week. She has been on antibiotics since Tuesday. It’s really heartbreaking that we had to cancel Bourges”, he continued.
What this setback means for Vanessa Paradis and the public
This performance at the Printemps de Bourges was meant to be a symbolic moment in the promotion of “Le retour des beaux jours”, after the historic hit “Joe Le Taxi” and decades of being on stage. Vanessa Paradis is expected to perform on Thursday evening at Forest National in Brussels, and then in Amiens on Friday. Her manager remains hopeful that she will recover in time for these concerts.
For the ticket holders, the festival directly addresses them. “For those who wish to be refunded, we ask you to please be patient”, says the Printemps de Bourges, promising to communicate the details “at the end of the festival”. Tickets for the evening at the W stage are still valid with Imany, Oxmo Puccino, Charlie Winston, and Feu! Chatterton. Spectators who wish can request a refund once the details are specified. The schedule adjustments at the Auditorium, especially for Dressed Like Boys, allow the essential part of the program to be maintained.
