From miki to The Cure: new discoveries and familiar favourites heard at this iconic Paris music festival.
Photo: Louis Comar
Rock en Seine 2026 took place from 26th to 30th August at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud near Paris.
My summer soundtracks tend to be dictated by the concerts or festivals I have lined up each year. I save a bunch of songs to a mega playlist and listen in anticipation of the artists I am particularly keen to see. However, one thing I especially love about festivals is being introduced to groups that were not previously on my radar.
While whirling between the various stages at Rock en Seine 2026, I found myself stopping to make a note of several standout songs. From DJ sets to pop rock divas, some 175,000 festivalgoers were spoiled with a fantastic lineup of over 70 artists.
With that in mind, here are 10 tunes played at Rock en Seine this year that made their way onto my Summer ‘26 playlist, in no particular order.
Kingfishr — Shadow
This Irish folk track gives me late-summer-on-the-cusp-of-autumn vibes - which is pretty fitting for the current season. It gradually builds, with isolated vocals creating a delayed drop into the bouncy banjo trills of the chorus. Hearing this one in a festival environment was truly a peak listening experience.
miki — Particule
I can’t get enough of the electro pop vibe that Miki brings to the table. The melodic rise and fall of Particule (one of her most popular songs) creates an overall dreamy, fairy-like impression. The quick, slick, tongue-twisting lyrics are equally as fun and have had me listening on loop.
Franz Ferdinand — Audacious
The atmosphere throughout Franz Ferdinand’s set was electric. I was less familiar with Audacious but I really liked the slight switch in styles and tempo between the verses and chorus. For me, it stands out as having a bit of a more sunshiney, laid-back feel. It almost has echoes of The Beatles, if they had Scottish accents and released a track in the early 2000s.
La Flemme — Laissez-Moi Tranquille
La Flemme loosely translates as ‘can’t be arsed’, but this four-piece from Marseille was full of beans and more than invested in bringing a party atmosphere to the festival. The driving bass throughout Laissez-Moi Tranquille (literally: ‘leave me alone’) and repetitive vocals were verging on hypnotic. Before I knew it, the song had been favourited.
Magi Merlin — SpiceKick
The summer playlist would be incomplete without the ethereal queen that is Magi Merlin. The persistent bass loop and electro buzz in SpiceKick made it stand out from the rest of her soulful Rock en Seine setlist. I can see it being a good one to listen to before a night out.
Tyler Ballgame — Got A New Car
Time for a shift in mood with this great track by Tyler Ballgame, a new discovery for me. I really enjoyed the call-and-response structure of the verses and the fun use of percussion. It is another song that makes me think of late summer evenings, the sun setting, rolling hills and cruising along country roads (in a new car, perhaps).
The Cure — Friday, I’m in Love
Friday, I’m in Love is a pure nostalgia hit that almost feels like a rediscovery, as I seem to have been listening to it so much this summer. The lyrics still trip off the tongue, engraved in my memory from when I used to sing along as a child when it played on the radio. I think this one could get me up and dancing in just about any circumstance.
sombr — we never dated
I wasn’t too familiar with this sombr track, but now I often find the chorus echoing around my head. I love the twangy guitar sounds while the smooth, soaring vocal lines feel somewhat haunting. Unrequited love captured in a song.
Biffy Clyro — A Hunger In Your Haunt
If you were looking for some rock at Rock en Seine, the Biffy set was the place to be. This tune is extremely generous with guitar riffs, cymbal crashes and angsty lyrics. Seeing the instrumental section played live, jam-packed with the time changes and syncopated rhythms, blew me away. The crowd literally went wild.
It is safe to say that I headed home from Rock en Seine 2026 with a nicely stuffed playlist of new tunes, rediscovered hits, and familiar favourites.
And so, while the festival season has come to an end for this year, I will be exploiting music’s time-travelling powers and using this lovely list of songs to transport me back to the muddy grounds of Saint-Cloud when in the depths of winter.
Rock en Seine will return in 2027. Keep an eye on the festival’s website for ticket announcements.
