France: resistance steps up to criminalisation of free parties

Protests are taking place throughout France against a proposed new law targeting free parties. Thousands took part in a demonstration in Montpellier yesterday (30 May 2026, pictured here) and more are planned over the next two weeks.

The law is known as RIPOST - 'Réponses immédiates aux phénomènes troublant l’ordre public, la sécurité et la tranquillité de nos concitoyens' (Immediate Responses to Phenomena Disturbing Public Order, Security and Tranquility of Our Fellow Citizens) and also includes measures against 'motorized assemblies' (gatherings of motorbikes and vehicles), nitrous oxide and for more video surveillance.

In terms of unauthorised free parties, the law requires events of more than 250 people to be authorised by local authorities (as opposed to 500 people as at present).  Organisers of parties could be jailed for up to six months, with a very broad definition of an organiser:

'the following constitute participation in the organization of said gathering: setting up the system for disseminating practical information relating to this gathering, participating in the construction of the sound system, transporting sound equipment to or from the site of the gathering, setting up a rest and social area on the occupied land or setting up a food truck there'.

The free party movement has set out a statement/petition against the law: 

'At a time when a large portion of young people have limited purchasing power, and therefore limited social life and access to culture, free parties allow them access to free and unrestricted spaces for socialization...

Furthermore, the free party represents a space for artistic and social experimentation, primarily based on sharing and inclusion. It is a creative refuge that attempts to mitigate the impact of capitalism on our lives. Different techniques and art forms are combined, and skills are pooled: circus arts, sound and lighting technicians, crafts, electronic music, and video projections, among others. It is through these activities and creations that artists, the public, and all other participants can experiment, perform, learn, and develop professionally. This richness must be protected, lest it disappear with the free party movement, without any other scene to re-emerge in.

It is therefore important today to mobilize to defend our movement, our culture, and our values. Free culture defends freedom, sharing, mutual aid, and solidarity'.

The statement has been signed by an impressive range of collectives and sound systems

Collectifs: Collectif Tekno Antirep;  Coordination Nationale des Sons; Collectif IDF;Coordination Rhône-Alpes des Sons; Coordination Occitanie des Sons; -Art et Culture 29

Sounds-systems: Maraudeur.euse, Collectif Eclypsis, Oblyk-Dfroké La Chafouinerie, Déchetterie, KrâneKC, Highnoon Soundsystem, k’rabass, BTPutes, Cabatek, Sonokracie, Hobbitek, skro, gptk, foxakif, Mafia, Dissonant Orchestra , Cptk6tm, insolent.e.s, D-TRA-TEK, Diablo'Core, ZQR, GÉNEZ1S, Amplithorynques, Neuroatypik, Lobotonik, Larsen Actif, Collectif Courtoisie, Armatek, RAR Family, ITF, Sub’Nambule, Adekwatt, Dystopyk Circus, Bondatak, free confits, ABDK, SKS, Otarcik, Fanfarons, Tribal Skankers, Inadekwatt, frénésie sonore, deci’bass 29, BDK, System K, Collectif des Insoumis, SA Free System, ECLE7IK, Dechniller, 46tem, 12H, Baba Punk Monster, MBS, MLK, Tekmanta, Infraktus, collectif MiniBeats, Tikitek, ORB²EAT, albertotek, Guinguette Grooverz, Defazotek, Arketyp, les Anonymes, Riboultek, Mirage, ADSR, An'artschitek, Les Affamés, SNT, Tekno Rokette, D-CenTré, Dubeatatif, 1-SURGÉ, Paradoxeteck, 1konform, OTC, Sonot’Ohm, Signal Sonore, TouTanTeK, Soul6Tem, Arrêt Kardiak, Les Insolents, Hpss, S23, DTR, Raveoltek, Meck.401, 1Trakable, Bivouac Tekno Partisans, RBT, D.A. Vagabond, Acid6'trik, BlackBass, No Limit's, Beausniaq, Symbiotek, AKF, Mushroom-CUBN6, NVC, KMTK

Of course there are similarities here with the 1990s Criminal Justice Act in Britain, and indeed in introducing their Bill, politicians made explicit reference to this: 'These rave parties also affect many other European countries , with varying legal responses. British police can fine organizers of illegal gatherings of more than 30 people, compared to 500 in France, with fines reaching up to €11,600. Since 2022 in Italy, organizing and participating in an illegal rave party constitutes a specific offense, carrying prison sentences ranging from three to six years for organizers and one to four years for participants. A fixed fine is also imposed, along with the confiscation of sound equipment. If our European neighbors manage to toughen their legislation regarding these illegal gatherings, France could do the same'.

'Save a party! Eat the prefecture, capital, the fascists, the system. Nobody likes the smell of gas in the early morning.  Free party in danger. Stomp your feet to fight back!'

Earlier this month, up to 40,000 people attended the unauthorised Teknival on an old military firing range in Cornusse, near Bourges (central France). 

Follow @teknoantirep on insta for updates

See also

Revolt of the Ravers – The Movement against the Criminal Justice Act in Britain 1993-95

'The fight is for life!' - protests against Italian anti-rave law

The far right Italian government is planning to bring in a new law against raves. The law was announced following the recent closing down of a three day Halloween party attended by some 3000 people in Modena.

The  proposed law includes provision to convict 'anyone who organizes and promotes the arbitrary invasion of other people's land or buildings, public or private, in order to organize a musical gathering or gathering for other entertainment purposes', punishable by up to 6 years in prison.

Opposition to the law is growing. The pictures here are of a demonstration against it by hundreds of people in Treviso on 11th November 2022. The march was organised by the Treviso social centre CSO Django and featured a sound system, flares and a large 'No to repression' banner.

CSO Django say that the law is part of a pattern of measures that 'aims to suppress everything that is somehow considered uncomfortable, unpleasant or that expresses radical criticism, in words and in facts, to the model of society we live in.

On Saturday we reiterated clearly that the repression of movements, struggles and social phenomena is one of the forms in which those who exercise power try to leave the model of society we live in unaltered.

Saturday's street parade brought different subjects into communication, who together built a demonstration that went through the city in a colorful and noisy manner, proving that it is possible to work together, within our differences, to build, from the bottom up, different moments of sociality free from market logic, delivering anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-fascist messages...

Against the ideology of profit, the practice of creating resilient and caring communities. We claim the right to be anomaly, to be a grain of sand in the gear of a world in which market logics aim to make everything a consumer product.We claim the right to practice dissent and conflict, as the only engine capable of changing the balance of power and modifying the existing one.

Against the advancing nothingness, the fight is for life!'

Statement and photos from CSO Django on facebook. There is also a report with video footage at La Tribuna di Treviso.

The Italian government is led by Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, with its roots in the fascist movement.