Soap Box Derby 2026 — A Wild Afternoon on Place New-York

A Beloved Street Race Returns to the Heart of Angoulême

If you happen to be staying in Angoulême on Saturday, 12 September 2026, you're in for a real treat. The 2nd edition of the Soap Box Race (Course de Caisses à Savon) takes over Place New-York for a full afternoon and evening of street-racing fun. Organised by the local association Les amis du 41 de la Charente, the event is open to everyone — and entry is completely free.

The first contraptions roll downhill from 3:30 pm, with runs continuing throughout the afternoon on the city-centre course.

What's On Throughout the Day

The Races

Homemade, engine-free vehicles take on the city-centre track one run at a time, all afternoon long. The highlight comes at 8:30 pm with the closing parade — the final official descent of the day, and traditionally one of the most festive moments of the whole event.

Food on Site

There's no need to wander far: food stalls will be set up within the event perimeter, so you can grab a bite between runs without missing a thing.

Free Evening Concert

Once the last soapbox has crossed the finish line, the party carries on with a free concert held on site. A great way to stretch a lively afternoon well into the evening.

Traffic and Parking Disruptions to Keep in Mind

As with any city-centre event of this scale, several streets around the course will be closed to traffic and parking, starting as early as Friday, 11 September at 10 pm through to the end of the event on the 12th. Rue Corderant is among the affected streets.

If you're driving into the centre that weekend, it's worth checking the full list of restrictions in advance on angouleme.fr, or calling Allô Mairie on 05 45 38 92 89.

Quick-Reference Summary

Details	Info
Date	Saturday, 12 September 2026
Venue	Place New-York, Angoulême
First race	3:30 pm
Closing parade	8:30 pm
Entry	Free
Food	On site
Evening concert	Free
Organiser	Les amis du 41 de la Charente