On October 18 and 19, 2025, the Europétanque des Alpes-Maritimes returns to the Côte d’Azur Hippodrome in Cagnes-sur-Mer. This event, supported by the Department, will bring together more than 2,000 players from ten nations for two days of competition, conviviality, and passion for pétanque.
The 23rd edition of the Europétanque des Alpes-Maritimes promises to be dense and lively. The event will take place on the expansive site of the Côte d’Azur Hippodrome, between sea and mountains, a few kilometers from Nice. This venue, already accustomed to major competitions, will host 256 specially arranged courts for the occasion.
On October 18 and 19, amateurs and champions will gather to share their passion for pétanque. Nearly 2,000 participants are expected, divided across five major tournaments, including women’s and disabled sports competitions. Delegations from ten different countries will take part in this now-unmissable sports event.
Charles-Ange Ginésy, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, emphasized the popular appeal of this event: “once again, we are hosting an exceptional lineup for an entirely free show that will attract thousands of spectators throughout the weekend. The Europétanque is much more than a tournament; it is, each year, a celebration of sport, conviviality, and sharing, highlighting all the expertise and spirit of pétanque in the Côte d’Azur.”
The competition will be broadcast on the Boulistenaute website, a reference for enthusiasts, and the grand final will be aired on BFM TV, on Sunday, October 19, at 4:15 PM.
Nice and its region, the birthplace of pétanque
Initiated by the Department, the Europétanque has long enlivened the heart of Nice, on the Promenade des Anglais, Place Masséna, and the Henri-Bernard boulodrome. For the past two years, it has been held in Cagnes-sur-Mer, a location deemed more spacious and suited to the scale of the competition. This move has not affected the public’s attachment or the participation of the discipline’s big names.
Among the announced headliners, spectators will be able to watch the likes of Dylan Rocher, Henri Lacroix, Mickaël Bonetto, and Italian Diégo Rizzi. These are familiar figures on the Azur courts, where pétanque remains firmly rooted.
Once again this year, the organization anticipates a full lineup. The teams Bonetto/Feltain/Helfrick, Andriantseheno/Lamberger/Magny, and Rocher/Robineau/Durk are among the favorites. Teams from Monaco, Auvergne, and the southwest of France complete an impressive list.
The events will begin on Saturday, October 18, at 8:30 AM. The following day will feature the women’s and disabled finals starting at 2 PM, followed by the grand final of the Europétanque at 4:15 PM.
For more than twenty years, this event has contributed to showcasing the sport in the Alpes-Maritimes. For the people of Nice and the Côte d’Azur, the Europétanque remains a showcase of the region’s conviviality and sport dynamism.
Pétanque, the ultimate popular sport, finds an ideal setting here, combining competition with sharing. At Cagnes-sur-Mer, facing the sea, players and spectators will enjoy a weekend dedicated to play, pleasure, and encounters.
