Palace of the Popes hosts Candlelight concerts on 9 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 12:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Palace of the Popes in Avignon will host Candlelight concerts from 9 to 10 October 2026, bringing a programme of tribute performances to the historic monument. The first evening features Coldplay and Imagine Dragons at 7pm, followed by a Queen tribute at 9pm.
The concerts form part of a wider Candlelight programme listed for the venue through February 2027. The event listing identifies the building as the Palais des Papes and places the concerts at Place du Palais des Papes in Avignon.
Candlelight concerts begin at the Palace of the Popes on 9 October
On Friday 9 October 2026, the schedule gives visitors two performances. Coldplay and Imagine Dragons are listed for 7pm, while a Queen tribute is scheduled for 9pm. On Saturday 10 October 2026, Queen versus ABBA is planned for 7pm, followed by a Céline Dion tribute at 9pm.
The programme is presented as a cultural concert event, with classical music artists and orchestras performing music by well-known composers or artists. The organisers describe the format as performances surrounded by hundreds of candles. The Avignon concert listing confirms both the October dates and the venue.
The Palace of the Popes gives the concerts a Gothic setting
The venue is a monumental residence associated with the pontiffs and the influence of the Church on the Christian West in the fourteenth century. Avignon Tourisme describes it as the largest Gothic palace in the world, giving the October concerts a setting built around medieval ecclesiastical power rather than a modern concert hall.
The building is also undergoing a broader visitor transformation for 2026 and 2027. The official monument information says that new interpretive narratives and rooms not previously shown to the public were introduced on 1 May 2026, while further work is planned through spring 2027. The 2026 visitor information sets that change alongside the monument's established history.
Visiting Palace of the Popes: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Candlelight programme at the Palace of the Popes runs from Friday 9 October to Saturday 10 October 2026, with performances scheduled at 7pm and 9pm.
- The concerts take place at Place du Palais des Papes in Avignon. The event listing states that wheelchair access is not available for these performances.
- The 9 October programme pairs Coldplay and Imagine Dragons with a Queen tribute. The 10 October programme pairs Queen versus ABBA with a Céline Dion tribute.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and late arrivals will not be admitted according to the event information.
- The monument stands in central Avignon at Place du Palais des Papes, the same address given for the concerts.
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Frequently asked questions about Palace of the Popes
When do Candlelight concerts take place at the Palace of the Popes?
The first October performances are scheduled for 9 and 10 October 2026, at 7pm and 9pm. The programme continues with further listed dates from 13 November 2026.
What is the Palace of the Popes?
It is a monumental residence of the pontiffs associated with the Church's influence in the Christian West during the fourteenth century. Avignon Tourisme describes it as the largest Gothic palace in the world.
Where is the Palace of the Popes and how do you get there?
The monument and the concerts are at Place du Palais des Papes in Avignon, France. The event listing gives the same address for the venue.
