The skies above Fréjus will become kite heaven with the return of the Festival International de l’Air this September.
The 26th edition of the festival promises three days of an abundance of kites, international competition, aerial displays and family entertainment.
Running from 18 to 20 September 2026, the event brings together some of the leading names in the international world of kite-flying, alongside sporting demonstrations, drones, workshops, concerts and activities across the vast former naval air base.
Admission is free throughout the weekend.
1,500 kites take to the skies
One of this year’s highlights will be the Cloud Kisser Challenge, an ambitious attempt to put 1,500 kites into the skies above Fréjus during the three-day festival.
The challenge takes its name from French aviation pioneer Roland Garros, who was nicknamed the Cloud Kisser, and visitors will be encouraged to play their part in reaching the target.
Kite-making workshops will be available in the FFVL area, allowing younger visitors in particular to create their own kite before adding it to what should be an impressive display above the Base Nature.
The challenge adds a participatory element to a festival already known for the sheer scale and variety of the kites it attracts.
Giant kites and international competition
Some of the most spectacular sights will come from the dedicated giant-kite zones, where huge single-line creations from France, Europe and further afield will take to the air.
These XXL kites have become one of the signatures of the Fréjus festival, transforming the skies above the Mediterranean into an ever-changing outdoor gallery.
There is a serious competitive side to proceedings too.
Fréjus will host the French Championship and International Sport Kite Open, with leading French and European pilots competing with two-line and four-line acrobatic kites.
Individual pilots, pairs and teams will demonstrate precision flying and choreographed routines set to music, requiring remarkable coordination and control.
Competitions will take place throughout the weekend, culminating in the prize-giving ceremony on Sunday afternoon.
Video via Office De Tourisme de Fréjus on YouTube
From drones to land yachts
While kites remain firmly at the heart of the festival, the programme has expanded to embrace other sports and activities connected with wind, flight and movement.
The FIA Drop Zone will host indoor Light Track Drone Shows throughout each day, with miniature drones combining precision flying and lighting effects.
On the ground, visitors can discover another way of harnessing the wind through land-yachting demonstrations and introductory sessions.
There will also be opportunities to discover activities including boomerangs, climbing, wingfoil, longboarding and kite buggy, alongside a storm simulator and other demonstrations.
The Base Nature’s new 3,000-square-metre skatepark joins the festival programme for the first time in 2026, with skateboarding introductions and demonstrations by professional riders taking place over the Saturday and Sunday.
Plenty for younger visitors
Families form an important part of the Festival International de l’Air, and this year’s Génération Fly’Air programme offers more than 25 free workshops and activities for children aged five to 12.
Spread across four dedicated areas, activities range from kite-making and boomerangs to micro-rockets, graffiti and creating mobiles from recycled materials.
Environmental awareness also features in the programme, encouraging children to learn about sustainability while getting involved in practical activities.
Elsewhere around the site, three Toon Zones will introduce some rather larger characters to the festival, with giant inflatables including one reaching 10 metres in height.
Music beneath the pines
Entertainment continues on the ground with a series of free concerts.
La Camerata Vocale performs at 5 pm on Friday, while Saturday features Tremplin – Explore ton talent at 3pm, providing a showcase for emerging performers.
The musical programme concludes on Sunday with a concert presented by the Casino de Jeux de Fréjus, also at 3 pm.
A gastronomic village will also be open during the festival, providing somewhere to take a break between the displays and activities.
From naval aviation to kites
The setting itself adds another dimension to the weekend.
The Base Nature François Léotard occupies the site of the former Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël naval air base, once home to military aircraft and French naval aviation.
Today, the extensive open space beside the Mediterranean provides an ideal location for a festival devoted to rather different forms of flight.
With giant creations overhead, some of Europe’s best sport-kite pilots in competition and thousands of visitors invited to send their own kites skywards, Fréjus should once again provide one of the most colourful spectacles of the Riviera’s September calendar.
VISITOR INFORMATION
EVENT: Festival International de l’Air de Fréjus
DATES/TIMES: 18–20 September 2026 | 10am–6pm daily
WHERE: Base Nature François Léotard, Fréjus
ADMISSION: Free admission
Four free car parks will be available, although organisers are encouraging visitors to arrive by public transport, bicycle, on foot or through car sharing where possible.
Once there, the free FIA Express tourist train will provide another way of getting around the extensive site, operating at regular intervals during the day.
Full programme available online
VENUE DETAILS
Base Nature François Léotard
1196 Bd de la Mer
83600 Fréjus
Tel: +33 (04) 94 51 91 10
PHOTO CREDITS
- All photos and images courtesy Festival International de l’Air / Office de Tourisme de Fréjus
- Video as credited
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