The cancellation of the 10th edition, announced by the CASE of Nice, alters the programming of the boules season. This revocation, whose nature has not been specified, comes amid a highly turbulent local political context in recent days.
The International Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur will not be held in June 2026. The CASE of Nice, the organizing structure, confirmed the decision via a message posted on social media. The club president, Patrick Bailet, mentioned there “a huge heartbreak” and stated that the team is forced to cancel the 10th edition scheduled for June 13 and 14.
This announcement ends several weeks of anticipation regarding the summer schedule. The event held a recognized place in the season, with a fixed date and a stable location in the city center for the past three years. The disappearance of this stop changes the structure of the national circuit and imposes a reorganization for the teams involved in the June competitions.
The local institutional context has certainly played a predominant role. The municipal elections led to a change of majority in Nice, embodied by Eric Ciotti. The new municipal team has presented its orientations for the coming term. This change occurs as the organizers were finalizing the preparation for the 2026 edition, creating a different environment for an event dependent on logistical and institutional support.
The International of Nice benefited from a special arrangement. The fields set up on the Promenade des Anglais offered a broad and accessible space. The honor square at Place Masséna provided significant visibility for the final phases. This format contributed to the identity of the tournament and its anchoring in the local sports scene. The cancellation deprives the city of an event that brought together players, spectators, and economic actors from the city center.
A direct impact on the circuit and competitors
The competition attracted high-level teams. The last edition was won by the triplet composed of Dylan Rocher, Diego Rizzi, and Stéphane Robineau. The presence of experienced teams confirmed the sporting interest of this stage. The International also figured in the calendar of the Passion Pétanque Française circuit. The points awarded counted in the race for qualifications for the Masters de Pétanque. The removal of this date thus alters the strategies of many players involved in the season.
The impact also concerns local activity. The event generated a steady flow of visitors on the Promenade des Anglais and in the adjacent streets. Businesses and accommodations benefited from this attendance. The cancellation, therefore, reduces the planned activity in the city center during this time of the year, which will nonetheless remain bustling in terms of tourist attendance!
The organizers have not communicated about a possible resumption in 2027. The boules community now awaits further details on the future of the tournament. Institutional conditions, partnerships, and logistical resources will be key to considering a new edition, which will be discussed at the highest levels of the Métropole.
