An evening honouring the heroes of the Vendée Globe

The Vendée Globe skippers parade along the embankment of Les Sables d'Olonnes © Jean-Louis Carli / Alea / Vendee Arctique

On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate the epic journey of the Vendée Globe and pay tribute to the skippers of the 2024 edition, during a spectacular evening filled with emotion and festivity.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., the legendary channel will burst into life with a grand nautical parade: a true sound and light show on the water, featuring 64 boats adorned with music and lights, parading in an enchanting atmosphere. At the heart of this procession, the forty race skippers will be cheered as the heroes of an extraordinary adventure, surrounded by a fleet of iconic vessels symbolising the region's maritime spirit. Throughout the evening, a high-energy artistic program will electrify the ambiance: fiery percussion, choreographed performances, DJ sets, and visual shows will dazzle the crowd in a whirlwind of energy and colour.

At 10:30 p.m., the magic will reach its peak with a breathtaking aerial show: a thousand drones will light up the sky in a hypnotic light ballet, followed by a monumental fireworks display. This grand evening will celebrate the symbolic power of the Vendée Globe: an extraordinary human and maritime odyssey, marked by self-transcendence, a spirit of adventure, and a boundless passion for the oceans.

A grand nautical fresco celebrating 40 years of legend

To mark the 10th anniversary edition of the Vendée Globe, a one-of-a-kind nautical parade orchestrated by the Maindron Production team will unfold in the channel of Les Sables d’Olonne. A true living show on the water, it will invite the public to relive the greatest moments of this unique human and maritime adventure. Ten floating stages will follow one another like moving chapters of an epic tale, blending emotions, achievements, discoveries, and reunions. From memories of the early editions to the race’s most intense moments, through the universality of the challenge, the solitude of the seas, the richness of distant horizons, and the triumphant return of the sailors — each scene will carry a piece of the legend. Sound, lights, music, and stage atmospheres will enhance this artistic procession, offering an immersive sensory experience at the heart of the Vendée Globe universe.

A tribute on the water and in the air

The forty skippers of the 2024 edition will be honoured at the centre of an evocative flotilla, made up of traditional Vendée boats, sailboats from Les Sables d’Olonne sailing school, SNSM rescue launches, and race RIBs. The celebration will be accompanied by festive and spectacular performances from DJ Fanou, Et Vogue la Galère, Kris Too Queen and her artists, Les Bidons de l’An Fer, and Banda Couak On Joue: a true whirlwind of sound, rhythm, and light. At 10:30 p.m., the sky will in turn light up with a drone ballet of 1,000 drones, retracing highlights from the first ten editions, followed at 11 p.m. by a monumental fireworks display orchestrated by Jacques Couturier, visible from the beach. The Saint-Nicolas Priory will also be illuminated in a spectacular light display — a final nod to this collective odyssey. A must-attend event for all sea lovers, and a moment of communion between the public and the sailors, where the spirit of the Vendée Globe will shine in all its glory: between adventure and challenge, solitude and camaraderie, tradition and modernity.

Practical Information:

Where to stand?

• For the nautical parade: opt for the quays along the channel on the La Chaume or Les Sables side (the jetties will be closed for safety reasons).

• For the nighttime show: settle on the beach, between the Atlantes and Travot Street — the ideal spot to fully enjoy the sound and view of the drones and fireworks.

Traffic & parking:

Check the interactive map to plan your visit with ease.