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🪁 Europe · France

Dieppe International Kite Festival

USE/observe giant kites by international makers; fly your own on the seafront lawns.

Watch & buy localUse local gear
11–19 Sep 2027Next date
None listedNext deadline / key date
September (biennial)Usual timing
Dieppe, Normandy, FranceWhere
01 · How to take part

Your way in

Attend free; bring/buy a kite. Workshops not verified.

Watch & buy local

Watch giant kites by international makers

Entry is free. The festival is biennial; the next edition is in September 2027.

Use local gear

Fly your own on the seafront lawns

Bring or buy a kite and fly it on the seafront lawns. Workshops are not verified.

You build or use
USE/observe giant kites by international makers; fly your own on the seafront lawns
Participation
Spectator+ / Use
Entry and deadlines
None (free entry)
Where
Dieppe, Normandy, France
02 · Dates

Dates and deadlines, Jan 2026 to Dec 2027

Usual timing: September (biennial). Dates are only shown where a source publishes them; everything else is marked TBC.

  • 11–19 Sep 2027Dieppe International Kite Festival 2027Normandy Tourism. A third-party site's Oct 2026 claim is treated as unreliable. · sourceWatch & buy local

See it on the calendar →

03 · Skills you'll need

Skills you'll need

What to learn and practise before you go. Each resource is marked Official or Community-accepted and names its publisher. Difficulty and prep time are our estimate.

Core skill

Flying your own single-line kite on a busy seafront lawn

Also useful:

  • Kite-field etiquette around giant show kites and international teams
  • Optional: the festival's free kite-building and guided flying workshops (official site; 2027 programme not yet published)
Difficulty our estimateBeginner
Prep time our estimate1–2 practice sessions

Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures.

Refresher

  1. Pick a kite that suits a seaside breeze: a tail or a stable sled or delta copes with gusts better than a light-wind kite.
  2. Launch with your back to the wind; let line out and pull in as the kite points up; walk towards anyone you tangle with instead of yanking.
  3. Give the demonstration arenas and big show kites a wide berth; fly only in public flying areas.
  4. Wear gloves if your kite pulls hard; sunglasses and sunscreen on the open seafront.
  5. The official site says the festival runs free workshops in kite-building and supervised flying sessions; check the next edition's programme on arrival.

Practise before you go

  • Fly a sled or delta kite on a breezy Indian beach (Goa, Kovalam or Marina) to get used to gusty sea wind.
  • Build a simple kite at home using AKA's starter guidance.
  • Learn basic French kite words (cerf-volant, ligne, atelier) for workshops.

Safety notes

  • Stay out of demonstration arenas; keep clear of big-kite lines.
  • Wear gloves with pulling kites; protect against sun and wind.

Resources

Officialofficial event site (French)

Festival International de Cerf-Volant de Dieppe – le festival

The organiser describes free building workshops and professional-led flying sessions open to all.

Publisher: Festival International de Cerf-Volant de Dieppe (organiser)

Officialofficial tourism-board page

Festival International de Cerfs-Volants – Dieppe-Normandie Tourisme

Tourist-office listing with the festival format (biennial; next in Sept 2027).

Publisher: Office de Tourisme Dieppe-Normandie

Officialofficial tourism-board page (French)

Festival international de cerf-volant – Seine-Maritime Tourisme

Département tourism board's summary of the event.

Publisher: Seine-Maritime Attractivité (departmental tourism board)

Officialofficial guide (national association)

How To Fly A Kite

Launch, wind and correction basics for your own kite.

Publisher: American Kitefliers Association (AKA), US national kite association

Officialofficial safety page (national association)

Kite Safety

Courtesy and safety rules for shared fields.

Publisher: American Kitefliers Association (AKA), US national kite association

Note

The 2027 workshop programme isn't published yet.

See also the skills guide: Kite basics → · All skills guides

04 · Check before you go

What we could and couldn't confirm

Before you book

  • CONFLICT: a third-party site claims 12–20 Oct 2026; it looks unofficial. We follow the tourist office (Sept 2027).
  • Costs are not listed on Nomad. Check them, and the latest dates, on the official site.
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