France and Spain are bracing for a heatwave expected to last into Wednesday, July 29th, 2026, which could exacerbate ongoing wildfires in both countries. The fires have already forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, with the worst-affected area in France being the Gironde region, including the historic city of Bordeaux.

Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated on Tuesday, July 28th, 2026, from tourist sites in the Lacanau area of Gironde, bringing the total number of evacuees in the region to over a quarter of a million. Sophie Brocas, the prefect of Gironde, has banned all sporting and cultural events until August 8th as a precaution.

In Spain, 116,000 people have been displaced since the wildfires began, although some have been able to return home. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that people “can be a little more at ease” following progress overnight in controlling the blazes, which are mostly concentrated in central Spain near Madrid.

French President Emmanuel Macron convened a crisis meeting of the French Cabinet as the fire approached Bordeaux. Authorities in both countries remain vigilant as the heatwave threatens to spread existing fires and ignite new ones.

Sources