Solidays Music Festival – France 2026

Background & History

The Solidays Music Festival, a beacon of music, solidarity, and social activism, was born in 1999 from the visionary efforts of two students in a modest 14m² maid’s room in Paris, driven by a passion to combat AIDS and foster a more compassionate world. Organized by the non-profit Solidarité Sida, the event was conceived as more than just a concert series—it was a call to action, blending electrifying performances with awareness campaigns to fund prevention, treatment, and support for those affected by HIV/AIDS and other vulnerabilities. The inaugural edition at Hippodrome ParisLongchamp drew nearly 4 million cumulative attendees over the years, kicking off with iconic openers like Robbie Williams, Youssou N’Dour, and Jean-Jacques Goldman, setting a tone of global unity and French joie de vivre. What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a cornerstone of French cultural life, raising over €100 million for more than 2,550 projects in 42 countries, from antiretroviral access in sub-Saharan Africa to psychosocial support in Eastern Europe, emphasizing equitable healthcare where systems fall short.

Solidays’ cultural significance lies in its dual role as a festive escape and a platform for societal reflection, challenging taboos around sexuality, mental health, human rights, and environmental justice through its Social Club conferences, where philosophers, doctors, comedians, and activists engage audiences in transformative dialogues. This “quest for meaning” has inspired over 25,000 solidarity vocations, particularly among youth, who volunteer in droves to amplify messages of inclusion and mutual aid. The festival’s growth—from 15,000 attendees in 1999 to peaks of 258,842 in 2025—mirrors Paris’s evolution as a global hub of diversity, while its relocation to the historic Hippodrome ParisLongchamp in 2004 amplified its scale, transforming the racecourse’s expansive lawns into a three-day haven of sound and solidarity. Amid challenges like the COVID-19 cancellations in 2020 and 2021, Solidays adapted with hybrid virtual events, emerging stronger in 2022 with a triumphant return that underscored resilience and community bonds.

By 2026, marking its 28th edition, Solidays continues to innovate, integrating sustainability through “Green Attitude” initiatives like zero-waste zones and carbon-offset partnerships, while expanding its Village Solidarité to host 100+ associations tackling poverty, disability, and exclusion. This evolution reflects France’s republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity, positioning Solidays as a “festival of public interest” that not only entertains but educates and empowers, proving that young people crave progress through collective action rather than individualism. Its legacy endures as a testament to how music can spark real-world change, with each edition weaving new threads into the fabric of global solidarity.

• Foundational Years and Early Milestones: Conceived in 1999 by students passionate about AIDS advocacy, the first Solidays at Hippodrome ParisLongchamp featured Robbie Williams and Youssou N’Dour, drawing 15,000 attendees and raising initial funds for Solidarité Sida’s prevention programs; by 2004, relocation to Longchamp boosted capacity, with attendance surging to 50,000 amid lineups blending pop, reggae, and hip-hop to amplify HIV awareness messages.
• Growth and Global Impact: Attendance exploded to 200,000+ by the mid-2010s, funding 2,550+ initiatives across 42 countries, including screening clinics in Africa and support networks in Asia; the 25th anniversary in 2023 launched a “25,000 vocations” challenge, achieved through youth volunteer drives, highlighting Solidays’ role in cultivating civic engagement.
• Cultural and Social Evolution: Beyond music, Social Club talks since 2010 have hosted luminaries on themes like mental health and rights, translated into sign language; pandemic adaptations in 2020-2021 included virtual streams, fostering global participation and resilience, while Green Attitude efforts since 2015 promote eco-practices, aligning with France’s sustainability goals.
• Future Vision for 2026: The 28th edition will build on 2025’s record 258,842 attendees, emphasizing hybrid digital elements for wider reach, expanded prevention exhibits like Sex in the City, and deeper ties to UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring Solidays remains a dynamic force for health equity and social justice.

Event Highlights

Solidays Music Festival pulses with an infectious blend of sonic euphoria and purposeful activism, turning the sprawling Hippodrome ParisLongchamp into a three-day utopia where over 200,000 souls converge to dance, reflect, and rally for a fairer world. Headlined by a kaleidoscope of genres—from pulsating electro and soulful reggae to introspective pop and raw hip-hop—the event features multiple stages like the Main Stage for global icons, the César Circus for emerging talents, and intimate setups for acoustic sets, all framed by the racecourse’s verdant expanses and Parisian skyline. In 2026, anticipate a lineup echoing 2025’s stars like Damso, Gims, Sean Paul, SCH, Zaho de Sagazan, and Fisher, with fresh additions in electronic, urban, and world music to mirror the festival’s commitment to diversity, potentially including AR-enhanced visuals and interactive crowd-sourced playlists via the Solidays app for personalized experiences.

What elevates Solidays beyond typical festivals is its seamless fusion of revelry and reflection: the Social Club hosts three days of TED-style talks on sexuality, human rights, and living together, drawing philosophers and comedians to unpack taboos in an engaging, multilingual format; the Village Solidarité buzzes with 100+ NGOs offering workshops on poverty, environment, and disability, complete with immersive exhibits like Sex in the City—a playful installation demystifying safe sex through interactive art and no-judgment Q&A zones. Night owls revel in the Night Pass program, transforming the site into an open-air club from 11 PM to 5 AM with electro marathons, while family-friendly Kids’ Space bursts with storytelling, face painting, and mini-concerts, ensuring inclusivity for all ages. Sustainability weaves through every moment via Green Attitude, with solar-powered stages, reusable cup incentives, and biodiversity talks, creating a holistic vibe where attendees leave not just with memories, but with inspired actions for global change.

• Main Activities or Performances: A vibrant three-day roster of 50+ acts across stages, featuring Main Stage headliners in pop, hip-hop, and electro (e.g., past draws like Black Eyed Peas, David Guetta, and Martin Garrix, with 2026 expected to spotlight similar international heavyweights alongside French talents like MC Solaar and L’Impératrice); César Circus for up-and-coming artists via open calls; acoustic lounges and reggae corners for chilled vibes; nightly Night Pass electro sessions until dawn; interactive elements like crowd karaoke and artist-led jam circles; 2026 may introduce VR livestreams for remote global access.
• Special Traditions or Features: The Patchwork of Names ceremony, an annual tribute reading HIV victims’ names in multiple languages, fostering solemn unity; Social Club conferences with live translations and Q&A, covering mental health to climate justice; Sex in the City exhibit with tactile tours for visually impaired via Les Souffleurs d’images; volunteer-led prevention booths distributing free kits; Green Attitude challenges rewarding eco-actions with merch; the 25th anniversary’s solidarity vocation drive continues, aiming to inspire 30,000 youth engagements by 2026.
• Unique Attractions for Visitors: Immersive Village Solidarité with 100+ association tents offering hands-on activism like rights petitions or eco-crafts; Kids’ Space full of puppet shows and music workshops; bungee jumping platforms accessible via companion passes; app-guided “solidarity hunts” unlocking exclusive talks or backstage peeks; photo booths capturing “before and after” transformation stories; for 2026, expect drone-lit solidarity murals and AI-personalized awareness paths based on attendee interests.

Date & Duration

• Dates: June 26–28, 2026 (projected based on historical late-June patterns, following 2025’s June 27–29 and 2024’s June 28–30, aligning with summer solstice vibes for maximum daylight festivities).
• Duration: 3 days and 2 nights of non-stop action, with gates opening at noon daily and music from afternoon sets to midnight (extending to 5 AM via Night Pass on Friday and Saturday); total immersion spans 72 hours, including pre-festival volunteer orientations on June 25.
• Additional Notes: Weather-resilient with covered stages and rain plans; schedules released as interactive PDFs in spring 2026 via solidays.com, factoring in Paris’s variable June climate; extended access for PRM (reduced mobility) attendees with priority entry from 11 AM.

Venue / Location

• Main Venue: Hippodrome ParisLongchamp, 2 Route des Tribunes, 75016 Paris, France (48.8611° N, 2.2267° E), a historic 57-hectare racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne, blending manicured lawns, grandstands, and wooded trails for an urban oasis since hosting Solidays from 2004.
• Notable Areas: Main Stage on the central infield for epic crowds; César Circus tent for intimate electro and talks; Village Solidarité meadow with NGO pavilions; Kids’ Space in shaded groves; Night Pass zones under starlit arches; accessibility platforms with covered viewing; food alleys lining the perimeter with 40+ global stalls.
• Regional Context: Nestled in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, near iconic spots like the Eiffel Tower (5 km) and Seine River, enhancing post-festival explorations; the venue’s equestrian heritage adds a whimsical touch, with biodiversity zones preserving local flora amid the festivities.
• Google Maps Address: Hippodrome ParisLongchamp, 2 Route des Tribunes, 75016 Paris, France; site maps on solidays.com detail shuttle routes and PRM paths.

Ticket Information

• How Tickets Are Sold: Exclusively online via solidays.com and partner Yoola, with sales launching early 2026; limited on-site kiosks for will-call and accessibility upgrades; solidarity bundles with donations; Night Pass add-ons for late-night access; digital wristbands for seamless entry and cashless payments.
• Admission Type: Paid for ages 12+, with free entry for under-12s accompanied by adults; companion passes for disabled attendees (one free per verified PRM ticket).
• Ticket Pricing (USD): 3-day pass: $165-$187 USD (€150-€170); single-day: $66-$77 USD (€60-€70); Night Pass (Fri/Sat): $44-$55 USD (€40-€50); VIP with lounge and priority: $220-$275 USD (€200-€250); accessibility tickets at standard rates with free companion; prices include minor inflation from 2025.
• Special Seating or VIP Options: VIP offers shaded lounges, fast-track, and private bars ($220-$275 USD); PRM zones with covered platforms, wheelchair rentals, and dedicated volunteers (free companion pass); family packs with Kids’ Space perks ($0-$22 USD add-ons for extras).
• Price Range: $44-$275 USD (Night Pass to full VIP 3-day).

Contact Information

• Email: contact@solidays.com (general and ticketing); access@solidays.com (accessibility and PRM support); presse@solidays.com (media kits and accreditation); benevoles@solidays.com (volunteer sign-ups).
• Phone: +33 1 40 67 19 19 (Solidarité Sida office, French/English, 9 AM-6 PM); +33 1 47 05 55 55 (ParisLongchamp venue inquiries).
• Website: https://www.solidays.com (official hub for programs, maps, and registrations); https://www.solidaritesida.org (parent NGO for impact reports).
• Social Media: @Solidays (Instagram/TikTok for live stories and teasers); @SolidaysOfficiel (Facebook for galleries); #Solidays2026 (engagement hub); YouTube for talk archives; newsletter for lineup drops.
• Key Staff: Olivia Serfaty (Festival Director, programming oversight); Solidarité Sida board for solidarity initiatives; venue team at France Galop for logistics.
• Press/Volunteers: Press via presse@solidays.com with embeds for Social Club footage; 3,000+ volunteer spots (prevention, setup) via benevoles@solidays.com, open winter 2025 with training and free entry perks.
• Note: 24-48 hour responses; multilingual (English/French/LSF); cookie-compliant site with consent tools; emergencies via 112 on-site.

Cultural Experience

Solidays Music Festival is a profound cultural odyssey in the heart of Paris, where the rhythmic pulse of global sounds intersects with unflinching dialogues on humanity’s most pressing issues, all set against the elegant expanse of Hippodrome ParisLongchamp. Since 1999, it has embodied France’s Enlightenment ideals—reason, tolerance, and collective progress—by marrying euphoric concerts with the Social Club’s intellectual feasts, where thinkers dissect sexuality without shame, mental health stigmas, and rights for marginalized voices, often in sign language to universalize access. This fusion creates a space of radical empathy, where 200,000+ attendees, from Parisian locals to international activists, co-create a tapestry of shared stories, challenging individualism with calls for “vivre ensemble” (living together) amid France’s diverse immigrant heritage and evolving social landscape.

The festival’s ethos, rooted in Solidarité Sida’s fight against AIDS, extends to broader justice themes via the Village Solidarité, a vibrant agora of 100+ associations illuminating poverty, ecology, and exclusion through interactive exhibits and raw testimonies. Traditions like the Patchwork of Names ceremony—a multilingual roll call honoring HIV victims—evoke solemn catharsis, while Sex in the City invites playful exploration of consent and pleasure, blending education with levity. Costumes range from glittered bohemian layers echoing Paris Fashion Week to solidarity tees emblazoned with activist slogans, fostering an atmosphere of unapologetic expression. In 2026, expect amplified inclusivity with AI-translated talks and eco-art installations, reinforcing Solidays as a mirror to France’s multicultural soul, where music becomes a conduit for healing, awareness, and unbreakable bonds.

• Musical Diversity and Activist Traditions: A genre mosaic from hip-hop (Damso, SCH) to electro (Fisher, James Hype) and reggae (Sean Paul), reflecting France’s urban-global fusion; traditions like César Circus open mics empower emerging voices; Social Club panels on rights and health, with LSF translations, demystify taboos, echoing France’s republican discourse.
• Costumes, Customs, and Community Bonds: Attendees dazzle in eclectic attire—neon for Night Pass raves, embroidered shawls for world music—from Paris’s vogue scene to activist pins; customs include solidarity picnics and group chants at Patchwork, building “useful togetherness”; inclusivity via Souffleurs d’images tactile tours and PRM companions.
• Global and Local Resonance: Drawing on Paris’s revolutionary history, Solidays spotlights immigrant narratives via Mediterranean fusions; globally, it funds 42-country projects, with 2026 poised to integrate UN themes, creating a cultural crossroads where French elegance meets worldwide urgency.

Food & Drinks

Solidays’ culinary landscape is a flavorful extension of its inclusive spirit, with 40+ vendors across the Hippodrome’s food alleys dishing up Parisian fusion alongside global comfort eats, all in compostable packaging to honor Green Attitude sustainability. Amid the beats, attendees graze on market-fresh stalls blending French finesse—like buttery escargots or charcuterie boards—with vibrant international bites, fueling marathon dances while sparking conversations on ethical sourcing and food equity. Bars hum with extended hours, offering craft cocktails that nod to the lineup’s diversity, from reggae-inspired rum punches to electro-fueled gin tonics, all while free water hubs promote hydration in Paris’s summer warmth.

This gastronomic village fosters communal feasting, with picnic zones under oaks where families and friends share plates, tying into the festival’s ethos of nourishment for body and soul—vegan options abound for health-conscious crowds, and solidarity-themed stalls donate proceeds to nutrition programs in vulnerable regions.

• French and Parisian Specialties: Croque-monsieur twists with Comté cheese and ham (~$8-10 USD) or fresh baguette sandwiches with saucisson and cornichons (~$6 USD); escargot skewers grilled garlicky (~$9 USD); seasonal ratatouille salads or onion tarts (~$7 USD) from local Île-de-France farms, evoking Paris brasserie vibes.
• Global and Fusion Delights: Moroccan tagines with couscous (~$10 USD) or Jamaican jerk chicken wraps (~$8 USD), inspired by reggae acts; vegan falafel bowls or gluten-free grain salads (~$7 USD); Caribbean plantain fries from Night Pass zones (~$5 USD); desserts like macarons or crêpes with Nutella (~$4 USD).
• Drinks and Eco-Refreshments: French wines like rosé from Provence (~$7-9 USD/glass) or craft beers from microbreweries (~$6 USD); cocktails such as kir royal or mojitos (~$9-11 USD); non-alcoholic citron pressé or herbal infusions (~$3 USD); VIP champagne lounges (~$12 USD); reusable cup system with refill discounts for sustainability.

Getting There

Navigating to Solidays is a breeze, leveraging Paris’s world-class transit to shuttle 200,000+ revelers to Hippodrome ParisLongchamp with eco-conscious flair—RATP’s free festival shuttles from Porte Maillot (Metro Line 1) minimize cars, aligning with Green Attitude by cutting emissions. The venue’s western edge in the Bois de Boulogne offers seamless access via public lines, bikes, or walks from central Paris, with real-time app updates dodging crowds and closures. International arrivals funnel through CDG or Orly, then swift RER/Metro hops, ensuring even remote participants feel the solidarity vibe from afar.

On-site, pedestrian paths and PRM shuttles create fluid movement, turning transit into an extension of the festival’s communal energy.

• Airports and International Access: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG, 30 km) or Orly (ORY, 20 km) with RER B/C trains to Porte Maillot (~$12 USD, 30-45 min); Eurostar from London to Gare du Nord, then Metro Line 2/6 (~$100 USD total); high-speed TGV from Lyon or Brussels to Gare de Lyon, linking via RER C.
• Public Transport Options: Free RATP shuttles from Porte Maillot (every 10 min, 5-min ride); Metro Line 1 to Porte Maillot, then shuttle; RER C direct to Avenue Foch (~$3 USD); Vélib’ bike shares (~$2 USD/hour) through Bois de Boulogne; app alerts for Night Pass extensions; PRM priority boarding and shuttles.
• Parking, Driving, and Accessibility: Limited eco-parking (~$25 USD/day, pre-book); carpool via festival app; walking from Trocadéro (2 km); accessibility drop-offs, ramps, and wheelchair shuttles; avoid peak drives with Metro emphasis.

Accommodation Options

Solidays lodging spans Paris’s eclectic offerings, from budget hostels near the Bois de Boulogne to luxe Seine-view hotels, with festival packages easing the 200,000-strong influx—rates spike 25-40% in late June, so spring bookings via Booking.com or Airbnb are key. The venue’s west Paris locale favors stays in the 16th or 7th arrondissements for quick Metro hops, blending festival adrenaline with downtime in charming neighborhoods. No on-site camping, but nearby campsites or glamping pods offer outdoor alternatives, while many spots feature solidarity-themed amenities like donation-linked discounts.

Extended stays invite Eiffel Tower jaunts or Seine cruises, enriching the cultural immersion.

• Budget and Hostel Stays: Generator Hostel Paris (Andrésy, 15 km, $40-60 USD/night) with shuttle ties; MIJE youth hostels in Latin Quarter ($35-55 USD) via Metro; Airbnb shared flats near Trocadéro (~$50-80 USD); Bois de Boulogne campsites (~$30 USD/tent) for nature vibes.
• Mid-Range Hotels and Apartments: Ibis Styles Paris Auteuil ($90-130 USD/night) with Bois access; citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon ($110-150 USD) for modern pods; Airbnb in 16th arrondissement (~$100-160 USD) with kitchens; packages include late check-outs for Night Pass.
• Luxury and Themed Options: Hôtel de Crillon ($500-800 USD/night) with Eiffel views; Shangri-La Paris ($600-900 USD) spa retreats; eco-boutiques like Hôtel Alfred Sommier ($250-400 USD); solidarity discounts at partner hotels (~10% off for volunteers).