Vive La République! France Market Report
Adam Woods earns that France’s live music professionals are experiencing mixed fortunes, with growing attendance at gigs but falling numbers at festivals
Feature By Adam Woods | 5 January 2026
As one of the world’s biggest live music markets, France has always enjoyed unique status as a must-visit destination for international touring artists and one of the strongest domestic territories on the planet.
With last year’s prestigious but frankly inconvenient Olympic in the rear-view mirror, music has had the run of France’s premier venues once again, and the nation has done itself full justice as both a generator of big-time talent and a showcase for the world’s best touring exports.
In April, French digital music giant Believe’s Live Affair division promoted Jul’s sold-out gig at Paris’s national stadium, the Stade de France, which drew a record 97,816 attendees – shading the benchmark set in 2022 by pop-rock band Indochine. The Marseille…
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