By Arianna Kaplan
Rat’s Cup is a three-day surf-and-skate festival in September that helps champion the historic Basque Country region of France and Spain
Surfing the waves in Biarritz. Pixabay. CC0.
When it comes to coastal destinations in France, it’s time to put the Basque Region (le Pays Basque) on your radar, on par with famous destinations like the French Riviera. Especially for those interested in surfing, beach hopping or skateboarding, the city of Biarritz is a global hub that draws thousands of visitors yearly with its staggeringly blue water, Art Deco architecture and annual Rat’s Cup surf festival.
In the fall of 2025, I was studying abroad in Paris. My cohort took a five-day excursion to Biarritz, where we serendipitously arrived on night one of three of Rat’s Cup. Each day, after long hours spent exploring the religious sites, visiting neighboring cities and swimming in the ocean, we departed the hotel for a night of partying, and then we did it all again the next day, and the day after that. It was a blast, and I hope to impress upon you why you should also go to Biarritz and swing by Rat’s Cup when you go. Bonus points if you simply stumble upon it as we did.
The Rat’s Cup was created in 2003 by the ALC Elkartea association, made by a group of friends who stem from a long legacy of surfers and aim to keep grassroots surf culture alive. The group has been dubbed “the last punks of French surfing,” and their organization was created to enrich surf culture in Biarritz and around the globe. Today, the attendance for their events has grown to several thousand strong, and has helped maintain Biarritz’s reputation as a global surf destination. Especially when combined with musical artists, such as La Femme and other DJs, Rat’s Cup is an event that you do not want to miss.
Festivalgoers attending Rat’s Cup. Arianna Kaplan.
The festival was created for surfers, by surfers, combining the frenetic energy of a three-day surf and skateboarding event with the tranquility of the Basque way of life. Biarritz is located just 22 miles north of Spain and profited from fishing and whaling for centuries. Its seaside charm lends itself to a relaxed way of life and emphasis on joie de vivre. Rat’s Cup honors this ancient connection to the sea with three days of celebration, which the festival markets as a way to bring together international and local visitors alike.
Rat’s Cup takes place on the Cote des Basques beach and combines high-level surfing competitions, skateboard demonstrations and live concerts. The festival can be experienced across a packed weekend in early September for an accessible price: Fridays and Saturdays go for 15 euros (about $17) per night, while Sunday’s celebrations are free. Tickets can be reserved online and in advance for 10 euros (about $12). The festival begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 1 a.m. each day, boasting a massive stage, food stands and, of course, the beach. The languages spoken in the venue are varied; the festival attendees aren’t just festivalgoers but also surfers and skaters ranging from beginner to professional levels from all over the world, along with visitors and local Biarritz residents. The Rat’s Cup isn’t a typical tourist destination. It emphasizes the grassroots Basque surf culture and the unique Basque pride, which claims its independence from France and Spain with its own dialects, genetics, geography and cultural history.
For those looking to compete in the festival for either surfing or skateboarding, you have to reach out to ALC Elkartea directly. The event is organized as a “surf invitational,” and as such, there is no public sign-up form or open qualification bracket. However, have no fear: You can reach out to ALC Elkartea via their official Instagram account, alc_biarritz. If you don’t want to reach out to the organizers, the charm of Biarritz is its grassroots surf culture. The beaches of Biarritz are filled with surfers of all levels, along with resort-goers, vacationers and locals alike, but not ever so crowded that you can’t catch a wave on your own time.
If you need a break from the festivities, poke around the rest of Biarritz and admire the architecture. My study abroad cohort had nearly a week in the city, and I never once felt as though I had seen enough. Biarritz has a fascinating history of aristocracy visiting its scenic beaches and sandstone streets, contributing to its gorgeous architecture of a variety of periods, with combinations of imperial elegance, Belle Epoque villas, Art Deco influences and Neo-Basque architecture. Names such as Queen Victoria, Alfonso XIII, King Edward VII, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra are just some of the figures who have become associated with the city.
Flash Invader on the Cote des Basques beach. Arianna Kaplan.
There is also the famous Casino Barriere Biarritz, along with no shortage of restaurants, clubs, hotels and bars to choose from. Travel to other cities is also extremely accessible by bus or car; my study abroad group went on a tour of L'Atelier du Chocolat in the nearby city of Bayonne, and we also visited nearby wineries. The Pyrenees Mountains are just a short drive away, and because of the proximity to Spain’s border, it is easy to get to cities such as Hondarribia and San Sebastian before returning to Biarritz for the evening’s festivities.
My personal favorite tourist activity was going on a Flash Invader hunt, found in dozens of cities in France (and all over the world). Flash Invaders, for those unfamiliar, are mosaics done by the French-based street artist who goes by the moniker Invader. His work has reached global levels, with 87 territories covered and counting. His work is especially prevalent in Western Europe, namely France, and there’s an app you can download called “Flash Invaders” where you can take pictures of all of the Invaders that you see and get points for the different ones you collect. It’s a great way to have some friendly competition among friends or travel companions and mark the places you’ve explored on your worldly travels. Here’s a hint: there’s a massive Flash Invader on the Cote des Basques beach.
Arianna Kaplan
Arianna is in her final year at Scripps College, part of The Claremont Colleges in the Los Angeles area. She writes in a variety of genres but most enjoys creative nonfiction and place-rooted narrative. Arianna currently resides in New York, where she won’t rest until she’s walked down every street and peeked into every alley. Writing at Catalyst, along with The Student Life Newspaper and The {C} Magazine, offers a perfect outlet for her zest for life and discovery, and she’s beyond excited to be here. In the future, she plans on pursuing a career in journalism.