Europe's Largest Latin Music Festival
16th July 2025
Europe’s largest salsa festival takes place this month in a small village in South-West France.
The 'Tempo Latino' festival is held in Vic-Fezensac, a picturesque village of 3,700 inhabitants nestling in the rolling countryside of the department of Gers. The historic village is a perfect backdrop for a celebration of Afro-Cuban and Latin and music.
The intimate, inclusive setting allows for a unique connection between artists and festival-goers, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared joy.
From the first concert held in a village hall in 1994, it now takes over the whole village and attracts over 50,000 visitors each year from all over the world.
It is held for four days and four nights, on the last weekend of July, this year from 24th July.
The main stage, located in the 7,000-spectator bullring, is the heart of the festival, where the biggest concerts and performances take place. Other venues, such as the L'église, Le Cap Tempo, and La Conga, host a variety of events, from intimate concerts to lively dance parties.
There is music and dancing taking place all over the village, in bars and on the streets.
The entire village moves to the sound of Cuban and Latin American rhythms, as it becomes a huge open-air music festival, under the heat of late July. Salsa music emanates from established and temporary bars many of which stay open until the early hours of the morning.
The concerts are graced by major artists from across the planet. This year the line-up includes Eliadas Ochoa (ex Buena Vista Social Club) Yuri Buenaventura and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Legendary musicians who have performed in previous years include Ibrahim Maalouf, Adalberto Álvarez, Israel Lopez Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco, El Gran Combo, and Rubén Blades.
But the festival is not just about music; it also offers a variety of activities and experiences for attendees. Workshops and dance classes are a significant part of the festival, providing opportunities for participants to learn and immerse themselves in Latin dance styles such as salsa, rumba, and cha-cha-cha. These workshops are led by experienced instructors who share their passion and expertise with festival-goers.
You can find more about the festival at Tempo Latino Festival, where you can also buy tickets.