What are the main concert venues in Bordeaux?

The Arkéa Arena, in Floirac, is the reference big venue for headliners. The Rock School Barbey in the city centre, Le Krakatoa in Mérignac and Le Rocher de Palmer in Cenon carry contemporary music and mixed scenes, alongside places like the I.Boat on the quays.

What is the biggest concert venue in Bordeaux?

The Arkéa Arena, located in Floirac in the Bordeaux metropolis, is the reference big indoor venue. It can host several tens of thousands of spectators depending on the configuration and receives the biggest tours that stop in Bordeaux.

Is Bordeaux a stop on major tours?

Increasingly so. The opening of a big modern arena and the growth of the metropolis have strengthened Bordeaux's place on the route of national and international tours, which regularly schedule large-scale dates there.

How do you find out which concerts are scheduled in Bordeaux?

The Bordeaux bill changes constantly, which is why our guides do not publish fixed dates. To learn about announced concerts and tickets still available, check directly on the ticketing of the event and the venue that interest you.

Cities

Concerts in Bordeaux: the live scene

Between the Garonne and the ocean, Bordeaux has traded part of its quiet reputation for an assertive live scene. The Gironde capital now combines a big modern arena on the outskirts, firmly established contemporary-music venues and a cultural life carried by a booming city. From major international tours to club discoveries, the wine city knows how to host. This guide travels through the Bordeaux scene, its signature venues and its practical landmarks for attending a concert.

Bordeaux, a rising scene

Long seen as a peaceful city, Bordeaux has watched its music scene grow in scale, driven by the arrival of a big modern arena and by a metropolis in full growth. The city now combines the big nights of international headliners and a recognised network of contemporary-music venues, heir to a very much alive rock and indie tradition. Between river, vineyards and the nearby ocean, Bordeaux cultivates a gentle way of life that does not preclude the energy of concerts.

The Bordeaux venues to know

From the big arena in Floirac to the contemporary-music venues, the places that make the Bordeaux live scene.

Floirac · big arena

Arkéa Arena

The metropolis's big indoor venue, in Floirac. Able to host tens of thousands of spectators, it receives the biggest tours passing through Bordeaux.

See on OWTicket Centre · contemporary music

Rock School Barbey

An emblematic contemporary-music venue in central Bordeaux, a historic pillar of the local rock and indie scene.

See on OWTicket Mérignac · contemporary music

Le Krakatoa

A well-known contemporary-music venue in Mérignac, west of the conurbation, with a varied, trailblazing programme.

See on OWTicket Cenon · concert venue

Le Rocher de Palmer

A cultural venue in Cenon, praised for its programming open to world music, jazz and mixed scenes.

See on OWTicket Bordeaux · clubs and concert bars

The clubs and city-centre venues

Le Bootleg, the I.Boat moored on the quays and other places carry emerging acts, electronic music and more intimate concerts.

See on OWTicket

Landmarks by type of venue

Type of venue	Indicative capacity	Atmosphere
Club / concert bar	A few hundred	Intimate, close to the stage, often standing
Contemporary-music venue	~500 to ~1,500	Rock, indie and discoveries, standing pit common
Cultural venue (Rocher de Palmer)	Several hundred to ~1,000+	Open programming, varied configurations
Big arena (Arkéa Arena)	Up to several tens of thousands	Grand spectacle, headliners, giant screens

Indicative capacities: the actual capacity depends on the configuration chosen for each show.

Centre, quays and outskirts

The geography of Bordeaux concerts is organised around several hubs. The Arkéa Arena, in Floirac on the right bank, concentrates the big nights. The Rock School Barbey and the I.Boat liven up the centre and the quays, while Le Krakatoa (Mérignac) and Le Rocher de Palmer (Cenon) spill over into the neighbouring towns. Depending on the venue, plan to take the tram, which serves the metropolis well, or the car for the more out-of-centre places, watching the concert finishing times.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main concert venues in Bordeaux?: The Arkéa Arena, in Floirac, is the reference big venue for headliners. The Rock School Barbey in the city centre, Le Krakatoa in Mérignac and Le Rocher de Palmer in Cenon carry contemporary music and mixed scenes, alongside places like the I.Boat on the quays.
What is the biggest concert venue in Bordeaux?: The Arkéa Arena, located in Floirac in the Bordeaux metropolis, is the reference big indoor venue. It can host several tens of thousands of spectators depending on the configuration and receives the biggest tours that stop in Bordeaux.
Is Bordeaux a stop on major tours?: Increasingly so. The opening of a big modern arena and the growth of the metropolis have strengthened Bordeaux's place on the route of national and international tours, which regularly schedule large-scale dates there.
How do you find out which concerts are scheduled in Bordeaux?: The Bordeaux bill changes constantly, which is why our guides do not publish fixed dates. To learn about announced concerts and tickets still available, check directly on the ticketing of the event and the venue that interest you.