Oléron Ukulele Festival 2026

Description

MAY 14 to 17, 2026 - 5th edition of the Oléron Ukulele Festival For this fifth edition, the festival takes place in the exceptional site of the Citadelle of Château d'Oléron, where the adventure of the Oléron Ukulele Social Klub began 17 years ago in the town where the Motu was born. Three evening concerts on May 14, 15 and 16, and the Arsenal building will host exhibitors, a traveling ukulele museum and master-classes. Weather permitting, the open stage will take place on an outdoor stage or in the Arsenal building on May 14/15/16 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Refreshments and snacks on site. THURSDAY MAY 14 - Masterclasses 11:00/12:30 and 15:00/16:00 - Open stage 14:00/18:00 - Exhibitors and Little Museum 14:00/19:00 - Aperitif concert Ouskband 18:30 CONCERTS 20:30 - Salle de l'Arsenal - UKULELE UFF TRIO a trio from Great Britain for a repertoire of swing standards and traditional Hawaiian and 20s with one of the virtuosos of the instrument."Ukulele Uff is without doubt the best ukulele player currently on the circuit...Superb playing, superb arrangements, sweet vocal harmonies..." Ukulelezaza - UKULELE BOBOYS Rediscover cult tunes with the sound of two ukuleles, four boots, a sampler and a few effects. Caramba: "Led Zeppelin's unleashed guitars, Balavoine's vocals, the velvety smoothness of the Bee Gees, they seem to know how to do it all, from Gainsbourg to Britney Spears."FRIDAY MAY 15 - Masterclass 11:00/12:30 and 15:00/16:00 - Open stage 14:00/18:00 - Exhibitors and Small Museum 14:00/19:00 - Aperitif concert Olé Uke & Co 18:30 CONCERTS 20:30 - Salle de l'Arsenal - PARIS PLAGE D'HAWAII Island songs and music, but not only, performed by Dutch musician Fay Lovsky (ukuleles, musical saw, theremin, percussion, vocals), Venetian musician GP Cremonini (double bass, vocals) and two Parisians Dominique Cravic (ukuleles, vocals), Claire Elzière (vocals). The repertoire includes Hawaiian and Javanese tunes, sambas, comic songs, instrumental passages, original compositions and old hits - NICO'O AND THE KAPIOLANI BOYZ Nico'O is considered one of Europe's finest ukulele players. He was the first European ever to be invited to the Honolulu Ukulele Festival. After a six-year absence, he's back together with new musicians to form Nico'O and the Kapiolani Boyz for the Oleron festival!



SATURDAY MAY 16 - Masterclass 11:00/12:30 and 15:00/16:00 - Open Stage 14:00/18:00 - Exhibitors and Small Museum 14:00/19:00 - Tombola Draw 19:00 CONCERTS - Salle de l'Arsenal 18:00 - CYNTHIA LIN Cynthia Lin is a singer-songwriter and creative community leader based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Thanks to her hugely popular YouTube channel (over 65 million views) and accessible teaching style, Cynthia has introduced a new generation of fans to the joys of the ukulele.

8:30pm - UKE@ Discover a unique instrumental duo that transforms the ukulele into a true concert instrument. Adrien Janiak on tenor ukulele and Charly Baruz on bass ukulele invite you on a musical journey that crosses styles and tells stories with rare elegance - LES JODA ROBERT Twenty-four years ago, a group of friends discovered a version of "Siffler sur la colline" played on ukulele by the Tahitian group "Té ava piti". Add to the ukulele an accordion and a double contrabassoon, and you've got the authentic, festive spirit of the balls of yesteryear blending with the quirky side of these instruments, SUNDAY MAY 17 - 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM MUSICAL BOWL AND CLOSING OF THE FESTIVAL - parking des Cabanes de Créateurs in front of the Case à Ukes with closing drink and Spanish inn RATES :

CONCERTS PASS MAY 14/15/16 (Excluding Cynthia Lin) 60€ CONCERTS MAY 14/15/16 (Excluding Cynthia Lin) :presale 22€ /on site 24€ - free for children under 12 . CYNTHIA LIN : presale 16€ /on place 18€ ATTENTION : Number of places limited Masterclass 12€ This fifth edition is dedicated to the memory of Sharon Gibbs WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF CHÂTEAU D'OLÉRON, THE COMMUNAUTÉ DE COMMUNES DE L'ILE D'OLÉRON, PRIVATE SPONSORS AND LA CASE À UKES