The summer of 2026 is dry in the High Vosges, and it shows in the programmes. Several events have been cancelled within days, while others are running unchanged. Here is the position, source by source, as of 5 August.
What is banned, and until when
A prefectural order dated 30 July 2026 extends the ban that had been in force since 10 July. From 1 August at 8 am to 1 September at 8 am, the following are prohibited across the department, in public and private open-air spaces alike:
- transporting category F2 and F3 fireworks;
- using any pyrotechnic article;
- firework displays and pyrotechnic shows;
- bonfires and camp fires.
In the massif, wild camping is also banned, as is the use of fire or cigarettes within 200 metres of forest areas. Since 2 August, the mountain gendarmerie unit has been patrolling the forest at the request of the emergency services to check compliance.
Water use has moved up a notch. Announced on 15 July 2026 and effective on 16 July with the publication of the prefectural orders, the move of every Vosges river basin to the crise level, the highest step of the French drought scale, bans or sharply limits non-priority uses: watering private gardens and golf courses, washing vehicles, filling and emptying swimming pools and basins, watering building sites, and agricultural spray irrigation. The measure runs until 30 September 2026 unless the hydrological situation improves. The restrictions that apply in each commune can be checked on Vigieau and on the Vosges state services website.
Municipal decisions add to the prefectural order. By an order of the mayor dated 31 July 2026, Éloyes has closed five of its forest massifs to motor vehicles: Le Fossard, Le Haut des Cuveaux, La Peute Pierre, Les Grandes Haies and La Pierre Huguenot. Access, movement and parking are banned there on all roads, tracks and paths until 15 August 2026 inclusive, on the grounds of a severe fire risk. Public service vehicles (emergency, security, ONF) and people reaching their own property are exempt, and walking is not covered. The starting point of the Tête des Cuveaux hike is affected.
Our guide to forest fire prevention in the Vosges sets out the habits to adopt and the numbers to call if a fire starts.
What is cancelled
The 14 August fireworks in Gérardmer. The town announced this on 30 July, citing drought conditions and fire risk. The municipal calendar now shows a cancellation notice on that date. On 3 August the Société des fêtes cancelled the whole Jonqui fête in turn: the free afternoon activities, the evening DJ sets and the seated-ticket sales. Tickets are refunded automatically to the card used. The detail is on our page about the 14 August fireworks in Gérardmer.
The Bastille Day displays in several Vosges towns had already gone under the first order. In Remiremont, the ceremony was held without a parade and without a ball.
The Schlittage festival in Sapois, due on 2 August, was cancelled.
The 33rd Barbey-Séroux International Popular Walk, due on Sunday 2 August at Granges-Aumontzey in the Vologne valley, was cancelled too. On 31 July the organisers announced a cancellation imposed by the authorities: a prefectural order banned the event from going ahead, as the persistent drought and the very high fire risk in the forest massifs no longer allowed the safety of walkers and volunteers to be assured. No replacement date has been announced.
A late-summer replacement was mentioned by the town of Gérardmer when it made its announcement, but no date has been confirmed so far.
What has been postponed
The 34th Course dans la Boue mud race in Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle. On 21 July 2026 the Moto Club RN 66 announced that the meeting due on 25 and 26 July has been moved to 26 and 27 September 2026, the ground being too dry for the race to run properly. Around 160 riders are expected across 9 categories. Prices are unchanged: 8 euros on Saturday, 10 euros on Sunday, 15 euros for the weekend pass, free for under-12s. Racing runs on Saturday from 2.30 pm to 7 pm, followed by a concert and a country supper at 7.30 pm by prior booking, then on Sunday from 8.15 am to 11.30 am and from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm.
What is going ahead
Not everything has stopped, and that is the part the cancellation notices tend to hide. These events were re-checked on 4 August with their organisers:
| Event | Date | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gérardmer Singing Week | 15 to 22 August | The course is for registered singers, but the two concerts by the 330 singers on 21 August at Saint-Barthélémy church are open and free |
| Lumberjack Festival | 15 August | Announced from 2 pm in Xonrupt-Longemer |
| Gérardmer Triathlon | 5 and 6 September | XL on Saturday at 8.45 am, Olympic distance on Sunday at 1.30 pm |
| Transhumance Festival | 13 September | Parade at 4 pm in Munster, marcaire meal by prior booking |
Our verified calendar lists these dates with their official source and the date they were last checked.
What the drought does not change
Walking on your own is still possible and activity sites are operating normally. The departmental restrictions target the use of fire, and the Éloyes order of 31 July 2026 additionally closes five communal massifs to motor vehicles until 15 August 2026 inclusive. Organised events in the forest are a separate matter: they can be banned by prefectural order, as the Barbey-Séroux walk of 2 August 2026 was. The waterfalls around La Bresse remain accessible, even if the flow of some of them is very low this season, and the summer events in La Bresse are running to plan.
Two adjustments are worth knowing: start early in the morning during the hottest spells, and carry more water than usual, as trailside springs are often dry in August.
Checking before you set out
Three channels settle it on the day: the Vosges state services website for the orders in force, the calendar of the town concerned for a specific event, and the organiser’s page for the practical terms. A cancellation can come late, as Jonqui fête did, eleven days before the date.
The position on 5 August 2026: fires banned until 1 September, the department at the crise drought level for water until 30 September, the 14 August fireworks and Jonqui fête cancelled, the Saint-Maurice-sur-Moselle mud race moved to 26 and 27 September, and the major late-summer events going ahead.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you set off fireworks in the Vosges in August 2026?
No. A prefectural order dated 30 July 2026 bans, from 1 August at 8 am to 1 September at 8 am, the transport of category F2 and F3 fireworks, the use of any pyrotechnic article, firework and pyrotechnic displays, and bonfires or camp fires. It applies across the department, in public and private open-air spaces alike.
Are the 14 August fireworks in Gérardmer going ahead?
No. The town announced the cancellation on 30 July 2026, and on 3 August the Société des fêtes cancelled the whole Jonqui fête day, entertainment and seated-ticket sales included. Tickets already bought are refunded automatically to the card used.
Is wild camping allowed in the massif this summer?
No. Festive fires, wild camping and the use of fire or cigarettes within 200 metres of forest areas are banned across the massif. Mountain gendarmerie patrols have been checking compliance since early August.
Are hikes and summer activities cancelled?
Walking on your own is still possible and activity sites are operating. The departmental restrictions target the use of fire. Organised events in the forest, on the other hand, can be banned by prefectural order: the 33rd Barbey-Séroux International Popular Walk of 2 August 2026 was cancelled on those grounds. In Éloyes, an order of the mayor dated 31 July 2026 also closes five communal forest massifs to motor vehicles until 15 August 2026 inclusive. The events still running are listed further down this page.
How long do these restrictions last?
The fire ban runs until 1 September 2026 at 8 am. For water use, the prefect placed every river basin in the department at the highest drought level, called crise, under orders that took effect on 16 July 2026 and apply until 30 September 2026. Both dates can be extended if conditions do not improve.