Free party near Montpellier gathers around 2,000 people despite prefectural ban

Saturday 06 June 2026 - 11:07

A large unauthorized electronic music gathering took place overnight from Friday to Saturday in the Hérault department, near Montpellier, bringing together around 2,000 people and approximately 600 vehicles, according to local authorities.

The event was set up in the early hours of the morning on a site in the commune of Claret, despite a prefectural order banning all rave-type events across the entire department until the end of 2026.

Authorities reported that the gathering occurred around 3:00 a.m., triggering a rapid response from law enforcement. The gendarmerie deployed a coordinated operation to restrict access to the site, prevent additional arrivals, and monitor all departing vehicles.

The prefecture indicated that surveillance efforts included aerial reconnaissance, which helped estimate the scale of the gathering at several thousand participants.

The operation was carried out under heightened security measures known as the “rave blue plan,” activated due to suspicions of an illegal rave organization in the area.

The event is part of a broader wave of similar gatherings in France, where tensions have increased between authorities and organizers of “free parties,” particularly amid proposed legislation aimed at strengthening penalties for illegal events.

The draft law under discussion would introduce tougher sanctions for organizers and participants, sparking opposition from free party collectives who argue that such measures threaten cultural and alternative music scenes.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as dispersal operations and vehicle checks remain underway in the affected area.