FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Sacred Festival of the Yam 

The festival marks the beginning of the yam harvest, which is the most important event in the Kanak calendar. When the yams are declared ready by the elders, they are pulled up and presented to the older clansmen and the chief, signalling the beginning of the harvest. The yams are blessed the following day by the priest, then distributed among the villagers. Yams are present in all important events such as births, deaths and marriages.

There are several yam festivals that take place across the country between February and April, when each village celebrates the harvest.

New Caledonia Triathlon, Nouméa

New Caledonia Triathlon features 300 athletes from around the world. There are four categories: elite, adults, teams, and children. There is also entertainment on the side with music, dance shows and pasta parties.

Avocado Festival, Maré

The Avocado Festival has become one of the most important cultural events in New Caledonia for two reasons; it places high value on the work of the agricultural community; and secondly it offers the possibility of a home stay experience within the tribe. Numerous leisure activities such as tastings, music and traditional dances are held to celebrate the avocado.

Giant Omelette Festival, Dumbéa

Held the second weekend following Easter, this festival features the making of a giant omelette to commemorate Napoleon’s army being fed omelette by Southern French villagers, as a show of charity during wartime. Around a dozen chefs make a huge 3.5 metre diameter omelette using some 7,000 eggs, which is then shared by everyone.

New Caledonia Ultra Trail, Nouméa

Established in 1985, the New Caledonia Triathlon features 300 athletes from around the world which gather in Nouméa each year. The ultra trail follows the breathtaking coastline of the island.

Cheese Festival, Nouméa

The “French Cheese Festival” is a buffet with over 130 cheese specialties presented by a “Maître fromagier” or cheese master.  For over 20 years, award-winning French cheese masters have visited Nouméa and shared their knowledge about a wide variety of cheeses and wines.

Great Lagoon Regatta

The New Caledonia Great Lagoon Regatta is an international boating event open to all types and sizes of boats. The regatta is a celebration of Melanesian culture and traditions and features traditional food, music and dancing.

Bastille Day

Held on July 14th each year, Bastille Day is a national holiday in France and New Caledonia, marked by a military parade, fireworks, music and dancing.

Trans Caledonian Mountain Adventure Race 

The Trans Caledonian Mountain Adventure Race is a two-day endurance running event that traverses New Caledonia’s south mountain chain. It is a unique experience for active travellers seeking a challenge abroad.

Bourail Fair, Bourail

The Bourail Fair is a three day agricultural and craft fair held each year in Bourail, a small town on the West Coast of New Caledonia, it is very popular with locals. Each stand at the fair showcases the best local products from stock-car racing, motocross, tasting of local specialties, sheep dogs, wood chopping, horse riding and the very popular rodeo.

New Caledonia International Marathon, Nouméa

The New Caledonia International Marathon was established in 1983 in collaboration with the Japanese city of Tachikawa. Every year it sees the return of a growing group of loyal participants and attracts high-level international competitors who travel from Europe, Africa, Pacific Islands and Japan.

Mégarando Biking Event, Deva

Megarando Biking is a weekend-long trail riding event in the superb Deva Domain, a must for cross country biking fans. Different trails are on offer for kids, adults, keen amateurs and ultra-serious bikers alike. The Mégarando weekend is hugely popular amongst locals and visitors.

Nouméa Carnival, Nouméa

Nouméa Carnival is one of the islands largest events, it is attended by over 15,000 people and features concerts, music, costumes, dancing and food. The grand parade takes place in the early evening, it starts at Birhakeim Squareand finishes at Jules Ferry Quay where the day ends with a fireworks display.

South Pacific Golf Championship, Bourail 

Arguably the biggest golf event in New Caledonia, the South Pacific Golf Championship is one of the 13 tournaments held in the PGA Tour of Australasia. It is played on two golf courses, the Tina Golf Course (Nouméa) and the Exclusiv Golf (Deva).

Francofolies, Nouméa

This three-day festival is associated with the famous Francofolies Festival in La Rochelle (France) although it is strongly oriented towards the Pacific Region with local and regional artists.

Blackwoodstock Festival

The Blackwoodstock Rock Arts and Music Festival offers music-lovers three days of open air concerts in the fabulous setting of Fort Téremba, on New Caledonia’s west coast. Festivalists can camp onsite for an immersive experience or opt for comfort with accommodation in nearby La Foa.

Underground Gourmet 

Underground Gourmet features local chefs and local products with the aim to showcase traditional kanak cooking and culture. The event takes place at Le Meridien Nouméa, Le Meridien Isle of Pines and Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Golf Resort. 

Vanilla Festival, Lifou

Lifou is well known for its vanilla plantations. Throughout the Vanilla Festival visitors can experience choral singing, Kaneka concerts, traditional dancing, vanilla plantation visits and guided hikes on this beautiful island.