On August 7 and 8, 2026, Parthenay is gearing up to become the world capital of the Citroën C15. Behind this endeavor, four 20-year-old friends are aiming to organize an unprecedented gathering.
Once thought to be destined for the scrapyard and relegated to the depths of barns, the Citroën C15, described as a “rural and iconic car,” is making a comeback at 42 years old. This small utility vehicle, launched in 1984, is set to celebrate a grand anniversary in the summer of 2026. The medieval city of Parthenay in Deux-Sèvres will transform into the world capital of the C15 for a unique event, as reported by Ouest-France.
On Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, 2026, the Festival C15 Tour 2026 promises nothing less than the largest C15 gathering in the world. Behind this somewhat audacious idea are four 20-year-old friends from the Bressuirais bocage and Gâtine regions: Pierre Verger, Killiane Letellier, Armand Goudeau, and Jason Lorioux. They met in the courtyard of Saint-Joseph High School in Bressuire, sharing a common desire to undertake projects. Now, with their association C15 Tour, they are clearly aiming for much more than just a meeting of enthusiasts.
The official event website boldly states the ambition to “organize the largest C15 festival in the world in Deux-Sèvres.” The scene is set: two days of celebration, within the ramparts and streets of Parthenay, featuring dozens, if not more, of C15 vehicles. HASA Automobiles, a partner of the project, envisions a future event with exhibitions of the finest models from across France, parades of customized C15s, and customization workshops for participants—a formula designed to appeal to both seasoned artisans and young drivers.
This is not their first time putting the C15 in the spotlight. Through PEPITE Pays de la Loire, which follows their journey as student entrepreneurs, their objective is clear: “organize the largest C15-dedicated event in the world.” In August 2025, they already gathered a convoy of around 40 C15s between Deux-Sèvres and Vendée, with 70 participants, hundreds of visitors, and 11 professional partners, as outlined in the project sheet. Their efforts were widely shared on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and even featured in national media such as RTL, TF1, or M6, creating a strong community around this small utility vehicle.
To grasp the scale of the challenge, one can look at what has been achieved before. On October 6, 2024, in Creysse, Dordogne, a gathering organized in collaboration with France Bleu Périgord and Les Chevaliers de l’arbre à cames brought together over 110 C15s. Youngtimers magazine hailed the event as “probably the largest C15 gathering in the world.” The photos from this event circulated widely, showcasing rare versions, C15s converted into campers or off-road vehicles, setting a very high standard.
It is precisely this benchmark that the organizers of the C15 Tour aim to surpass in Parthenay, leveraging their online community and rural word-of-mouth. They have not yet provided an official figure for the number of expected C15s in August 2026. No details have been disclosed on this aspect. However, the goal is clear: to attract more vehicles than Creysse and turn the streets of Parthenay into a showcase for this symbol of rural France. It remains to be seen how many C15s will actually line up this summer, but one thing is certain: the idea of a world record has already sparked fond memories among lovers of this small utility vehicle.
