Festivals near Arles

Set on the final bend of the Rhône, where the river splits to enter the Camargue, Arles carries music the way it carries its stones: in the open air, inside Roman arenas and ancient theatres that twenty centuries have failed to wear down. The town of Van Gogh and of the Rencontres de la photographie is also home to Les Suds, à Arles, which fills the old town's cloisters, squares and antique theatre every mid-July with a sweeping journey through world music — Mediterranean voices, Saharan trance and unexpected collaborations stretching late into the Provençal night. A few days later, Les Escales du Cargo take over the heart of the city with a more pop, more adventurous lineup.

Beyond the ramparts, the Arles compass opens onto the whole lower Rhône valley. Over in the Gard, This Is Not A Love Song turns nearby Nîmes into a haven for indie rock and left-field sounds, while Jazz à Junas sets its stages inside old stone quarries, half an hour's drive away. Further south, toward the Camargue, Insane Festival gathers the metal and hardcore scene for one intense weekend. To find your way through this constellation of events, FestT calculates your FestiScore — how closely a lineup matches your favourite artists — and keeps dates, headliners and ticketing up to date all year round.