Campaign for municipal elections, Tour de France, elections to the Chamber of Agriculture… the events which will make the year 2025 in Aude

Policy

Campaign for municipal elections

While the municipal elections will be held in the spring of 2026, the year 2025 will see an acceleration on the political question, while the campaign should officially start next September, six months before the first round vote.

In Carcassonne, several candidates have already made themselves known: Isabelle Chesa, current first deputy to the mayor of Carcassonne Gérard Larrat, and Christophe Barthès, National Rally deputy for the first constituency of Aude, nominated by the party to run for Carcassonne mayor. That's it for the officials. On the left, no name has yet emerged with certainty, even if the president of the Agglo Régis Banquet, and Tamara Rivel, opposition municipal councilor of Carcassonne are expected to represent the PS. LFI is still in preparation, with two options studied: being able to bring together 43 names to produce an in-house list or, more realistically, working on a union of the left. In the center, François Mourad, who joined the Horizons party, is working on a broad rally from the center left to the traditional right, for the moment without an official candidacy. The great unknown in Carcassonne remains, and it should be like this until next September, the following question: will Mayor Gérard Larrat run for a new term?

In Narbonne, the current mayor has already announced that he would be a candidate for his own succession, but will be facing the polls for the first time. The deputy Frédéric Falcon will also be a candidate on an RN list. But where? If he had initially said that he would not be head of the list, this statement is ultimately no longer so clear-cut and the question now arises.

Agriculture

Elections to the Chamber of Agriculture

At the beginning of next February, the results of the elections to the Chamber of Agriculture of Aude will be known, while voters have until January 31 to vote. A high-stakes election for the department at a time when agriculture is going through a particularly serious crisis, between drought, uprooting of vines and government instability, which is delaying the actions to be taken to support the different sectors.

In Aude, voters have the choice between three lists: the FDSEA-JA, the Peasant Confederation, the Rural Coordination which had respectively, during the last elections in 2019, collected 56.03%, 24.6% and 19. 37% of the votes.

Fiesta Vino and the Agricultural Show return to Narbonne

In November 2025, for sure, Fiesta Vino will celebrate its second edition. Once again, the Narbonne Arena will welcome those who still believe in the powers of the vine and winegrowers whose intoxication goes well beyond the bottle. Then, from December 14 to 16, the Greater Narbonne Agricultural Show will open its doors for the second time at the Exhibition Center. Despite a few “misses” due to a first where nothing is ever perfect, the agglomeration will once again put our local farmers in the spotlight and perhaps even better and even more. Allowing everyone to meet our feeders is a source of pride for all lovers of the territory.

Urban planning

Narbonne-Plage: renovation completed

The inauguration of the new Terrasses de la mer in Narbonne-Plage is scheduled for July 5. Phase 2 of the major renovation project in the heart of the coastal district will then have ended and the seaside resort will be able to benefit from a completely new face in its center.

Culture

The Carcassonne Festival in the City

An unmissable summer event, the Carcassonne festival is one of the major events which will take place in 2025 in the Aude capital. This year, the Gojira group, which caused a sensation during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, will be there. The Festival continued its metal momentum, with the announcement of the lineup of the group Judas Priest. Other concerts not to be missed: M, Soprano, Alanis Morissette, Santa and even Ben Harper. One of the dates is already sold out, with the Gims concert on July 24.

As for Narbonne, we do not yet know the program for either Elizik, the Narbonne-Plage festival from July 8 to 12, or Barques en scène from August 21 to 23.

The Limoux carnival

It is the longest carnival in the world. From January 25 and until April 6, the Limoux carnival will take place in the Blanquetière city. Every Saturday and Sunday during this period, several highlights will take place. Traditionally, the 11 o'clock outing brings together the bands which, on a theme chosen from the news, will parade from the Place de la République. Another event not to be missed is at 10 p.m., when carnival participants parade in the light of the entorches. In Narbonne, it will be March 2.

Sport

Tour de France

In 2025, the Tour de France will pass through Carcassonne for the third time in five years, after visits in 2021 and 2022. Last year, the Tour also stopped at Gruissan. On July 20, the runners of the Great Loop will set off from Muret, for a little less than 170 km and 2,400 meters of elevation gain before arriving in the Aude prefecture. Each time, the event was a celebration, and it should be no different for this 2025 edition.

National rugby union finals

It is on May 25, in Narbonne, that the national rugby union finals will be played. We are at the beginning of January only at the end of the first leg phases. The ranking in Elite 1 is as follows: 1. Carcassonne, 2. Albi, 3. Saint-Estève, 4. Pia, 5. Villefranche, 6. Limoux, 7. Villeneuve, 8. Lézignan, 9. Saint-Gaudens, 10. Avignon and 11. Toulouse. It is therefore a safe bet that the Aude prefecture will be there next May, in Narbonne. Facing whom? With what outcome?

The anniversary of the football district and the stars of France 98?

On June 21, the Aude football district will celebrate its 80th anniversary. The same day, a meeting is organized between former professional players from the region and the legendary team of the French international club. All for the benefit of the association “A jersey for life”. If we do not yet know who will be the selected legends of the French international club, we can expect to see stars of the France 98 team set foot on the Albert-Domec lawn. On the occasion of this anniversary weekend for the Aude football District, June 21, 2025, all the cup finals, from seniors to young people, will take place at Domec for a great football celebration.

The fight for promotion to Pro D2

Will Narbonne or Carcassonne access the Pro D2 this year? For the moment, the RCN is the best placed, since in second place in the ranking, with 57 points. And the rise has been a clearly stated objective for the club since the start of the season. Last year, it came close, with a one-point defeat during the access match against Montauban. For Carcassonne, the dream of a climb ended during the semi-final of the championship, against the Narbonnais. Currently in 5th place in the ranking with 51 points, the yellow and black will have to intensify their efforts to achieve their objective of Top 2 by the end of the season and be able to hope to attempt a move to Pro D2.