The mayor of Nice, Eric Ciotti spoke on RTL about the concert planned for October 31, 2026 at the Palais Nikaia in Nice, while several investigations targeting Patrick Bruel are fueling public debate around the continuation of the tour.
The concert by Patrick Bruel scheduled for October 31, 2026 at the Palais Nikaia continues to provoke political and media reactions. Invited on RTL, Eric Ciotti took a position on a possible cancellation of the Nice performance.
The deputy first mentioned the legal proceedings targeting the singer. “I read the legal developments concerning Patrick Bruel. I have respect for the victims who are filing complaints. Now justice must take its course, I hope it will do so with transparency and speed.”
According to Eric Ciotti, the decision to cancel the concert is not the responsibility of the municipality. “Tickets have been purchased by people. It’s up to Patrick Bruel to make his decision if he wants to cancel his concert, it’s not up to the mayor of Nice to cancel a concert.”
The city official also mentioned the financial consequences of a cancellation. “It’s not the Nice taxpayer who will pay if we cancel the concert, that means we would have to reimburse. I won’t go to the concert.”
A tour maintained on the French Riviera despite the controversy
Despite debates about maintaining certain concerts, Patrick Bruel’s tour continues to be organized in the Alpes-Maritimes region. An outdoor concert was notably announced in Saint-Laurent-du-Var on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
The singer is to perform on Cousteau Beach as part of the Beach Sport Festival. The city and organizers officially confirmed this date several months before the event. Ticket sales open at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025.
This announcement comes as several French mayors have called on Patrick Bruel to cancel his own performances, particularly in Paris, Marseille, and Brest.
Several cities facing the question of refunds
The situation differs depending on the status of the concert halls. In Paris, the singer is to perform at the Paris Zenith, a venue operated by a private organization. Municipalities therefore do not have direct power over programming.
In Nice, the Palais Nikaia belongs to the city. The same situation applies in Brest with the Brest Arena, which is owned by the metropolis. A cancellation could then result in ticket refunds by the local authorities concerned.
Mayors can, however, invoke a security risk and ask the prefect to prohibit a performance. This procedure has been used in the past against Dieudonné.
Three investigations opened in France and Belgium
The accusations targeting Patrick Bruel concern alleged acts of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault. Three investigations are currently underway in Paris, Saint-Malo, and Belgium.
Through his lawyers, Patrick Bruel disputes the accusations and denies any “violence,” “brutality,” or “coercion.”
The testimonies reference alleged acts spanning nearly thirty years. The oldest accusations date back to 1991, with the complaint with civil party status filed by Flavie Flament for rape against the singer.
The question of the statute of limitations for the oldest acts is now part of the issues raised in the various legal proceedings underway.
