20 years... and what memories at Cabaret Vert! Since its creation, the Carolomacerien festival has far exceeded local success to become one of the must-attend summer festivals in France. Late August: it has become the most awaited moment of the summer, often marking joyful reunions among friends at the end of the holidays. We happily dove into the archives of the festival, and let's just say it hasn’t aged a bit!
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Cabaret Vert 2006 © Darkroom
2005: Julien Sauvage (just shy of 19 years old at the time) and Alberto Fernandez, both music enthusiasts and passionate about their hometown, founded the Cabaret Vert in Charleville-Mézières, alongside the FlaP association. The name comes straight from a poem by Arthur Rimbaud, the famous poet born in Charleville.
Cabaret Vert 2005 | Concert by Mass Hysteria © Darkroom
The festival takes place at Square Bayard. For this first edition, it brings together 10,000 festival-goers. Here, we see the audience who came to enjoy the concert by the French metal band Mass Hysteria.
Cabaret Vert 2008 VS 2025 | Aerial Views | © Darkroom & Pixel 4D
The site has grown quite a bit since then, featuring 4 stages and a friendly gathering space. It now welcomes over 100,000 festival-goers each edition.
ASAP Rocky in 2013 & Will Smith in 2025 © C.CARON & M.TCHAKMAKD
We love to showcase all genres, from rock to rap, and everything in between like electro and reggae. In the 2010s, big headliners started performing here, like ASAP Rocky in 2013 all the way to Will Smith in 2025.
Cabaret Vert 2013 © T.MANTEAU
Music, culture… but also, since the very first edition, a real ecological commitment. In 2013, the festival was even awarded by the British organization "A Greener Festival" for its efforts, making it a first for a festival in France. Sustainable development is in the DNA of Cabaret Vert, with a fantastic team of volunteers who work throughout the event to keep the site clean and environmentally friendly.
Cabaret Vert 2013 © A.THOME
If there's one standout event within the event, it's the famous happy hours (at any time of day) at the Camping du Dormeur du Val ! Festival-goers are always there, no matter the weather.
Cabaret Vert 2013 © A.THOME
Eating during the festival has always been a hot topic, and the idea from the very beginning was to prioritize local players, regional culinary specialties, and local beers. The goal: to enjoy delicious food at reasonable prices.
Cabaret Vert 2013 © Darkroom & C.CZARNY
And the Cabaret Vert, since its very first edition, is so much more than just a music festival. Short films, exhibitions, street theater, comic book festival… throughout the entire event, it’s a real hub of life and culture for everyone!
Save the date for Thursday, August 20, 2026, to celebrate together the 20th birthday of this festival we adore!
Cabaret Vert Festival 2026
From August 20 to 23, 2026
Charleville-Mézières (08)
Information and Ticketing