Marseille fête la mer le 18 octobre : l'événement est annulé à cause des pillages et dégradations en centre ville

Event canceled by the city hall because of the looting and damage committed in Marseille this Saturday.

The city’s press release in detail:

The Fête de la mer and La Voie est libre canceled this Sunday, October 18 Following the violence and damage that affected Marseille, the City’s priority is to support affected shopkeepers and residents and help restore public spaces.

Municipal teams and the technical resources needed to organize certain events are being mobilized to address these urgent needs. This mobilization means that, with regret, the Fête de la mer, the Course pour la mémoire, La Voie est libre and the Vieux-Port market planned for this Sunday, October 18, are canceled.

We understand the disappointment of the public, associations and partners who devoted themselves to preparing these events. This decision makes it possible to focus available resources on supporting those affected and restoring our city.

The City of Marseille recognizes and thanks its staff for their mobilization and the people of Marseille for their understanding.

From the Corbière sailing center to Pointe Rouge, the Marseille coastline becomes a vast maritime playground for a day. With this Fête de la mer, the city wants to give everyone a chance to learn more about its coastline: its heritage, history and water sports, as well as the fragility of its ecosystems.

From 10am to 6pm, associations, sailing clubs, scientists and enthusiasts will host more than 40 free activities, in partnership with the Fédération des Sociétés Nautiques des Bouches-du-Rhône and the Office de Tourisme.

The highlight of the day: a special edition of La Voie est libre, which closes the Corniche to car traffic between rue Capitaine Dessemond and Stade nautique Florence Arthaud.

There is plenty to choose from on the water: a group sailing boat, sea kayaking, Optimist sailing, rowing, paddleboarding, trips in a traditional Marseille boat or snorkeling. On land, performances, storytelling, games and science stands are open to all ages, including toddlers from age 2.

How to plan your day

Places on boats are limited, and most water activities can be booked on site 15 to 30 minutes before departure.

A good tip: arrive early, bring closed-toe shoes, a swimsuit and a towel, and choose one or two stops rather than rushing along the entire coastline.

Some visits, such as those to the Marégraphe or the Digue du Large, require advance registration.

The pedestrianized Corniche: music, storytelling and heritage

Musical events (Arts et Musiques en Provence): concerts, performances, storytelling, workshops and roaming entertainment all along the Corniche.

Carrousel marin (Sud Side): a participatory carousel featuring thirteen figures designed by artists and made with 500 participants, most of them young people.

La mer à l’écoute: stories and podcasts to listen to through headphones while seated in a deck chair facing the sea, from 10am to 6pm, with live readings at 11am and 3pm.

Visit to the Marégraphe (Les Amis du Marégraphe): in operation since 1885, this instrument was used to define the zero elevation point for mainland France. All ages, registration required.

Walk in Malmousque (Office de Tourisme): country houses, faux-rock scenery and small fishing harbors. Departures at 10am and 2pm from the gates of Parc Valmer (2 hours), 30 places, no strollers, registration required.

The Village de la mer at Prophète: games, science and recycling

Located in the Prophète parking lot, the Village de la mer is open to everyone from 10am to 7pm.

Mediterranean challenges (Atelier Bleu du Cap de l’Aigle): quizzes, challenges and giant wooden games.

Mer en Jeux (Ligue de l’Enseignement – FAIL 13): group games about the marine world, for children and adults.

Science Tour (Les Petits Débrouillards): a mobile laboratory devoted to floating wind turbines, researchers on hand to answer questions, and the exhibition « Cette expo fait des vagues ».

Tapis volant (Bokra Sawa): three 30-minute games about sea routes and biodiversity, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

Mobile recycling center (Sauvage Méditerranée): a truck equipped with low-tech machines to transform collected waste.

« Fashion Wings » fashion show (Wings of the Ocean and collectif BAGA): outfits made from waste.

« Un œil sur la planète » (Recyclop): raising awareness about cigarette-butt pollution, with pocket ashtrays distributed.

Also present: Clean My Calanques and its Brigades Vertes, as well as the Marseille apprend à nager program.

Prophète Beach: first aid and an introduction to kayaking

Maison de la Mer (Naturoscope, Surfrider, École de Secourisme en Méditerranée), from 10am to 6pm: a bioacoustics quiz, waste collection, and an introduction to first-aid techniques and sea rescue.

Introduction to kayaking (Centre municipal de voile and MMCK): one-hour trips, with departures from 10am to 3:15pm. Ages 8 and up, 8 places, sign up on site 30 minutes beforehand.

Corbière sailing center: rescue dogs and a group sailing boat

Rescue demonstrations with Newfoundland dogs: from 10:30am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm, free admission. Visitors can be towed by the dogs (must be able to swim; swimsuit and closed-toe shoes required).

Sea kayaking (Le Grand Bleu): 45-minute sessions from 10am to 4:15pm. Ages 7 and up, 8 places, closed-toe shoes required, sign up on site.

Group sailing boat (Centre municipal de voile): departures at 10:30am, 1:15pm, 2:45pm and 4:15pm for 1.5 hours of sailing. Ages 6 and up, 10 places, sign up on site 30 minutes beforehand.

L’Estaque: lateen sailing and coastal cleanup

Traditional boats and lateen sailing (Batèu d’Eici and Lei Pescadou de l’Estaco): one-hour trips from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm. Ages 10 and up, 20 places, sign up on site.

Introduction to sailing (Voile Impulsion – Sauvegarde 13): from 9:30am to 12pm and from 1:30pm to 4pm, ages 5 and up; open to people with disabilities. 19 places, register at voileimpulsion@sauvegarde13.org or call 04 91 03 71 56.

L’Estaque en mer (Mer Veille): coastal cleanup from 10am to 12pm, shared picnic, then a discussion with a waste archaeologist at 3:30pm. The sea trip is for adults only; register at info@assomerveille.fr or call 06 73 50 88 30.

Digue du Large: a special opening

Normally closed to the public, the Digue du Large will open for a self-guided walk organized by the Office de Tourisme and the Grand Port Maritime. Departure at 10am from quai du Port, opposite La Samaritaine, for a 1.5-hour walk.

160 places, weather permitting; registration required through the Office de Tourisme.

Vieux-Port: traditional boats, a theater boat and sailing trips

Activities take place on Quai d’Honneur.

Traditional Marseille boats: 20-minute harbor tours from 10am to 11:40am, no minimum age; life jackets provided for children. In the afternoon, a nautical parade along the Corniche. Sign up at the stand.

« Des tempêtes se préparent » theater boat (APRES and Compagnie OO): a 30-minute participatory performance aboard the sailing boat Kantren, at 11am, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. Ages 7 and up, 10 places, register online.

Marseille Vue de la Mer: one-hour sailing trips every hour from 10am to 4pm, ages 6 and up. On land: nautical knots, heaving-line throwing, storytelling and plankton observation. Pre-register on HelloAsso or sign up on site.

Group sailing boat (Centre municipal de voile): eight departures from 10:15am to 4:30pm (1.5 hours). Ages 6 and up, sign up in front of City Hall 30 minutes beforehand.

Trips aboard the Girolata (La Fresque Océane): 2.5 hours at sea at 10am, 1pm and 4pm, by the fish market. Ages 12 and up, 21 places, sign up at the stand.

Mediterranean biodiversity (La Fresque Océane): stand and games from 10am to 6pm.

Boat engine depollution (Marcelle & Nous): demonstration from 10am to 5pm.

« Autour du Vieux-Port » guided tour (Office de Tourisme): departures at 10am and 2pm in front of the ferry-boat landing (2 hours) 30 places, registration required.

Les Catalans: sports rescue and historic sailing ships

Introduction to sports rescue (AMS Croix Blanche): 10- to 15-minute workshops from 10am to 6pm. Ages 10 and up, swimsuit required, sign up on site.

Urban walk and historic sailing ship regatta (Traverses): a walk led by an anthropologist, departing from the Pharo gardens at 9:30am, with a stop at Les Catalans from 11am to 12pm. 20 places, register at traverses.contact@gmail.com.

Stade nautique Florence Arthaud: the festival’s nautical hub

This is the day’s largest stop, with activities at sea, performances for young audiences and opportunities to meet others.

Group sailing boat (Centre municipal de voile): departures at 10:30am, 1:15pm, 2:45pm and 4:15pm (1.5 hours), ages 6 and up.

Inclusive crew sailing (Mixivoile): departures at 11am, 1:30pm and 3:15pm (1.5 hours), ages 6 and up, register online.

Sea rowing and inclusive rowing machine (L’Avi Sourir): 45-minute sessions from 9:30am to 2:30pm, ages 8 to 10 depending on height; must be able to swim, register online.

Sea aerobics and lifesaving skills (Massilia Neda): from 1pm to 4:30pm, ages 4 and up, register online.

« Marseille vue de la mer » (UCPA): 2-hour trips at 10am, 1pm and 3:30pm, ages 10 and up, 7 places, register online.

Sea kayaking (Le Grand Bleu): 45-minute sessions from 10:15am to 2:15pm, ages 7 and up.

Snorkeling (Refaire Surface): from 10:30am to 12:30pm, ages 12 and up, equipment provided, sign up at the stand from 10am.

Optimist or dinghy sailing (Club La Pelle): from 1pm to 5pm, departures every 30 minutes, for families, children and teens who can swim.

The Corniche from the sea (Ville de Marseille): a one-hour trip on a rigid inflatable boat, with departures from 10:30am to 4:30pm, ages 8 and up, sign up on site.

Behind the scenes of Olympic sailing (Pôle France Voile): a 1-hour-15-minute visit and a chance to meet athletes, with departures from 10:15am to 5:30pm, ages 7 and up.

Virtual diving: explore the Prado artificial reefs with a virtual reality headset, continuously, ages 10 and up.

« Elle est où la mer ? » (Compagnie Pica Pica): a participatory performance for children ages 2–7 accompanied by a parent, at 10:30am, 11:30am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

Shadow and light storytelling (Bibliothé Nomade): an audio journey at 10:15am and 1:45pm; « Contes de poche » at 11:15am and 3:15pm, ages 4 and up, followed by a shadow-making workshop for children at 4:30pm.

« Oxygène » documentary: the film follows freedivers bringing waste up from the Mediterranean. Screenings at 11am and 4:30pm in the presence of the team, ages 8 and up; book online or on site.

Talk by Muriel Sivazlian: the first female saturation diver, who dived on the wreck of the Titanic, recounts her journey from 2pm to 4pm. Ages 10 and up, book online.

« Les poissons marseillais dorment-ils ? » (Refaire Surface): a short walk with a marine biologist from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, 50 places, sign up at the stand.

Stands open to everyone from 10am to 6pm: plankton under a microscope (Boud’mer), Ocean Academy games, coastal biodiversity (Planète Mer), climate (Naturoscope), litter (MerTerre) and Bleu Tomate Junior magazine.

Roundtable on cleaning up the sea (Un Prétexte): from 3:30pm to 5pm, register at unpretexte.marseille@gmail.com.

Pointe Rouge: everyone in the water with ASPTT

Tous à flots (ASPTT Marseille), from 10am to 6pm: kayaking, paddleboarding, dinghy sailing, rowing, diving, coastal walking and sea swimming. On the beach, workshops about the marine environment, a cleanup and a treasure hunt for children. Ages 5 and up, sign up on site.

Practical information

Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 10am to 6pm (Village de la mer until 7p