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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

French rap festival bans smoking to prevent fire risks

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • A French rap festival, Golden Coast, near Dijon will ban smoking to prevent fire risks.
  • The ban, effective from August 28-30, is due to weather conditions and drought, as the festival site is a protected natural area.
  • Organizers will enforce the smoking ban with security and surveillance, aiming to protect the surrounding forests after several fires this summer.

The Golden Coast rap festival, one of France's largest, will implement a smoking ban for its upcoming edition from August 28-30. This measure, announced by organizers, aims to mitigate fire risks in the natural park area near Dijon where the event is held. The prefecture of Côte d'Or issued an order on June 15, 2026, citing weather conditions and drought as reasons for the prohibition.

The festival grounds are located in the Parc de la Combe à la Serpent, a protected natural space surrounded by forests. This region has experienced several fires this summer, underscoring the need for preventative measures. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, approximately 69,473 hectares have burned in France since the beginning of the year.

Organizers have agreed with the prefecture to prohibit smoking across the entire festival site for the three days of performances. Security teams and video surveillance will monitor compliance. The festival, launched in 2024 and dedicated to urban music, will feature artists such as Damso, Aya Nakamura, Niska, Disiz, and Macklemore.

We count on your cooperation and your kindness throughout the festival.

— organization's statementThe organizers concluded their statement regarding the smoking ban with a call for attendee cooperation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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