Kite enthusiasts gathered on the beach at Portiragnes-Plage in southern France this weekend for the 11th edition of the Festival du Vent (Festival of Wind), an annual event celebrating creative kite design and flying skill. The festival, held in the Occitanie region, drew large crowds who watched an array of imaginative kites take to the skies alongside more conventional beachgoers enjoying the last of the summer sun.

The display featured kites shaped as manta rays, teddy bears, spaceships, a large blue whale and a roaring red dragon, alongside inflatable iguanas, crocodiles and gorillas. A "heroes village" of land-based inflatables included giant figures of Deadpool, Spider-Man, Captain America and Batman towering over children, while a competition recognised flyers for technical skill, creativity and mastery. The event also included sand sculpture displays, a rotating "wind garden" of smaller kites, acrobatic performances, workshops and water sports.