Why the 2026 Carcassonne Off Festival could well be nothing more than a pale copy of previous editions

The RN town hall has still not communicated on the 2026 edition of the Off, the counterpart of the In, which allows attending almost eighty shows for free with prestigious artists. However, the dedicated market for show cancellation insurance, recently opened by the municipality, already indicates that the allocated budget will be significantly reduced.

At the beginning of August 2023, just out of the Festival de Carcassonne dates, the director of the City’s cultural department, Pascal Dupont, mentioned a “historic year,” with “shattered” scores. This enthusiasm was fueled by the 58,000 spectators for the In with 11 sold-out nights and an audience of 150,000 people on the Off side in 2023. One year later, Pascal Dupont was thrilled to talk about the “fourteen sold-out dates” of the In in 2024, which he called “unprecedented.” The director’s assessment of the 2026 edition remains unknown, but the turnout is unlikely to reach historic levels, possibly being the worst in the Off section.

While the 2026 In has been fully booked for seven evenings from July 1st to July 31st, the RN municipality, in power since March 22nd, has not disclosed any information about the Off. Unlike the previous team, which used to unveil the Off program in grandeur at the Dôme, there has been no announcement yet. In terms of culture, Mayor Christophe Barthès spoke about the Pig Festival and a “apolitical cinema festival” during the municipal council meeting on April 30, 2026. Culture was notably absent from the “Demain Carcassonne” campaign imagery, focusing primarily on security, finances, education, youth, sports, and patriotic and military affairs.

No mention of the Festival was found in candidate Barthès’ program, which includes events like the Pig Festival, a Month of Arts with various exhibitions, an annual Book Fair, and a live Nativity scene. While promising a procession of the Three Wise Men, the word “Festival” did not appear in the 16-page program. This absence might be deliberate, hinting at a possible decline of the Off which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.

The provision for the 2026 Festival services includes an insurance market for show cancellations from July 1st to August 30, 2026, to indemnify the Town in case of event cancellation due to various reasons. The city specifies the amounts to be covered each year, including artist contracts, accommodation, security, catering, technical services, and certain show profits. For the 2026 market, a total of 3,386,721.48 euros are allocated for the In, and an equal amount for the Feria, similar to the 2025 market.

The 2026 allocation for the Off marks a turning point, with an average of 80 free shows spread across different venues in the city. The Bastide Festival of Carcassonne is budgeted at 161,400 euros, representing 36% of the total 2026 allocation. This suggests a less prosperous Off program compared to previous years, possibly with fewer headline acts and a shorter duration, affecting the attendance of prominent artists and international guests. The city mayor declined to comment when approached for clarification.