The spirit of celebration is back in Caen as the Student Carnival returns in 2026. Here's what you can expect!

The gathering will start at 2 pm and the parade will start at 3 pm from the Caen University (Esplanade de la Paix, Campus 1). The procession will be accompanied by five floats. The route, 2.5 km in length, will cover Caen's most emblematic cultural and historical sites and end at the Parc des expositions.

At the end of the parade, a free electro concert, organised by the city and NRJ Extravadance featuring the artists Nopra, Øbin, Kyls and Hugs, alongside the DJs Bormin', DJ Bens et Oriska will take place. Starting from 4 pm, the final concert will start at 11 o'clock in the evening and bring the event to a close.

The carnival over the years

This year, the carnival adopted the theme of "Back to the 2000s," with nostalgia for the millennium at its heart. However, the tradition dates back to 1894, when it first took place. It was referred to as "Cavalcade" back then. After World War II, in 1946, the carnival resumed briefly before being interrupted again for 33 years, starting in 1963. Despite this hiatus, it has been attracting students and sometimes serving as a platform for the expression or dissemination of political and social messages.

On 3rd April last year, 36,000 students participated in celebrating this unique experience. This year, attendance is expected to surpass that of the previous edition.

Caen, the students' favourite

If William the Conqueror conquered England back in the 11th century, the city of Caen conquers the hearts of students today!

In 2024, the city ranked among the top 3 of the best student cities in France. Last year, it held 5th place in the ranking of students' favourite cities, chosen by the lecturers of "L'etudiante", following Angers, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Tours, with Paris ranking 34th.

Caen has considerable potential and proven appeal for students seeking to pursue their education, who constitute the majority of the city's population. The city is home to 36,000 students, a significant proportion given its population of approximately 110,000. The University of Caen alone hosts more than 32,000 students.

One of Caen's advantages is its strategic location, just a few hours from Paris, whilst also facing the UK across the Channel. It has a rich historical heritage, home of William the Conqueror, but also with its involvement in the Normandy landings and WWII.

Expecting the unexpected

In addition to the parade with floats and people partying on the street, the carnival is also known for its emergency interventions, which have already become a tradition in their own right.

Last year, twenty people were transferred to medical facilities, fifty-three fixed-penalty notices were issued for drug use, and six arrests were recorded. Despite a slight increase in incidents, these figures were considered reasonable given the larger number of participants compared to previous editions.

As a preventive measure, the prefecture has banned the sale of alcohol in the Carnival area from 12 am to 10 pm, as well as the possession and use of fireworks and nitrous oxide.

It could be a good idea to choose the creativity of costumes and floats as a means of going viral, rather than going a bit too wild. The organising association and volunteers have also made a great effort to prevent, or at least minimise, any incidents.

Did you know about the prevention kits that were distributed prior to the event, beginning on 19th March?

Each kit includes a prevention guide with the plans of the Carnival route and emergency numbers, as well as earplugs, a cereal bar (for those whose hunger could not wait in the queues at the food trucks stationed in the area), a condom, and an identification bracelet bearing the wearer's name and emergency contact. All this is to ensure the safety of the participants during the event.

The distribution will continue until the morning of the carnival to provide more students with the kits and ensure they enjoy the event as safely and as fully as possible.

According to local newspapers, around 13 tons of waste were collected during last year's Carnival. It is unclear how much waste this year's edition will generate, but perhaps this dilemma could serve as next year's theme.

Last but not least, the ecological concerns are not the only ones to consider when it comes to the weather. The 26th edition of the Carnival benefited from mild temperatures and clear skies. Given this week's forecast, fingers will be crossed for sunny, warm, and dry conditions. The weather is ever a gamble for the carnival as it can be quite unreliable at this time of year in Normandy.

What surprises this year's edition has in store remains to be seen. We look forward to following the carnival with you and expect it will have plenty of memorable moments to look back on for years to come.