East Town Association is excited to announce the return of Bastille Days, Milwaukee’s French festival, taking place Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Cathedral Square Park.
Drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year, Bastille Days is one of the largest French-themed celebrations in North America. In 2025, the festival welcomed more than 100,000 visitors over four days. The event featured 27 on-site restaurants, 64 marketplace vendors, and more than 100 performances, showcasing hundreds of individual artists across multiple stages.
The festival’s signature run/walk, Storm the Bastille 5K, also saw its biggest turnout yet, with 5,252 registered runners racing through Downtown Milwaukee. In 2026, East Town Association will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Storm the Bastille, marking four decades of this opening night tradition.
“As we look ahead to 2026, our nonprofit is thrilled to continue bringing free programming to the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown and celebrating with the community that makes Bastille Days such a special summer tradition,” said Eddie Sturkey, executive director of East Town Association. “Each year, we see the event continue to grow, and we look forward to building on that momentum next summer.”
Bastille Days will include four days of live entertainment, French and international fare, and family-friendly programming in Cathedral Square Park. Additional event information, including vendor applications and entertainment lineups, will be available in the coming months at easttown.com and on East Town Association’s social media channels.
To help keep these iconic Milwaukee events thriving, East Town Association appreciates community support in the form of memberships and donations. Individuals and businesses can join for as little as $30 per year. To learn more or become a member, visit easttown.com/membership.