If there’s one town that’s ideal for all types of cycling, it’s Brixen. This is where the kilometre-long valley cycle paths along the Rienz and Eisack rivers converge; alpine trails and disused railway lines undulate through the apple orchards and wind their way up through the vineyards – in total, South Tyrol boasts a cycle path network of 550 kilometres. To top it all off, the 2,576-metre-high Plose towers over the town, complete with a cable car, panoramic views of the Dolomites and bike park trails. Even bike-packers can make the journey to the big festival in style, as Brixen lies directly on the two long-distance cycle routes, EuroVelo 7 and Munich–Venice.
bike festa South Tyrol – 4 days of cycling, bikes, passion and visions
From 17 to 20 September, brand partners will be providing test bikes right in the heart of Brixen’s historic cathedral square. The latest bikes in the gravel, road, e-MTB, urban and kids’ bike categories, complete with accessories. The centrepiece of the expo will be a futuristic-looking domed tent: the Innovation Gallery. Here, visitors step into a world of visions – inspiring concepts, prototypes and ideas from developers, designers and start-ups. Mobility concepts of the future? Discussion is not only welcome but encouraged.
One festival, four themed worlds
A historic festival site right in the heart of the city, a vast network of touring routes and bike parks surrounding it, test bikes in all categories, a packed programme for riders of all ages, plenty of opportunities to chat with like-minded people and celebrate whilst enjoying South Tyrolean specialities – these are the four themed areas of the bike festa Südtirol:
Experience the wide variety of cycling – brand festa
Have your dream bike perfectly tailored to your body measurements, take it for a test ride on a designated test circuit, then discuss the technical details directly with the manufacturer and finally compare it with a rival model. Or why not think outside the box and give a gravel bike or road bike a go? The bike festa offers the chance to get a taste of all categories of bikes, components and accessories.
There’ll also be a number of workshops. For example, the team at Ortovox are stopping off in Brixen as part of their ‘Worn to be alive’ tour. They’ll be showing you how to sew your very own hip bag using high-quality offcuts.
Experience South Tyrol up close – ride festa
Four days – that’s plenty of time to clock up some kilometres on the trails. Ideally with one of the guides, who not only know the most beautiful routes through the Eisack and Rienz valleys, but also have stories to tell about the historic spots you’ll come across along the way – and, of course, the best places to stop for a bite to eat. Tours are available at all levels of difficulty. From easy family rides in the valley, to challenging pass climbs on a road bike or e-MTB, right through to extensive gravel rides into the remote corners of the valleys. The only exception is the five bike park lines on the Plose, where no guide is needed. Here, the cable car takes you up into the Dolomite panorama, and signs clearly indicate the direction and difficulty level of the renowned trails.
Celebrating the community – People Festa
MTB, gravel, road bike, city bike – however different these categories may be, they all share a common passion: cycling. Here, the gravel cyclist picks up riding technique tips from the mountain biker, the professional road cyclist gets route tips from the gravel cyclist, and the touring cyclist has the best tricks up their sleeve for transporting bikes on trains. The bike festa South Tyrol aims to foster this exchange amongst like-minded people and help the cycling community flourish. The evening programme, featuring the South Tyrol premiere of the “Bike Film Tour”, and the planned cycling night with music and plenty of good wine should certainly help in this regard.
Taste South Tyrol – gusto festa
The Bike Festa takes place in South Tyrol. Naturally, there’s plenty of good food on offer here – especially as the air is filled with the scent of ripe apples and grapes everywhere in autumn. Dumplings, bacon, cheese and apple strudel are served during the tour at the alpine huts and in the restaurants lining the old town’s narrow streets. But there’ll also be a Gusto Lounge in the Expo Area, featuring South Tyrolean specialities, apple and wine tastings, and coffee from the local roastery, Kuntrawant.
Information about the South Tyrol Bike Festa
Date: 17–20 September 2026
Accommodation: In Brixen, there are many hotels and guesthouses that cater specifically for cyclists. The best ‘Bett + Bike’ accommodation can be found on the following websites suedtirol.info and bikehotels.it
Children's programme: On Domplatz, there will be a pump track and a riding skills course for the little ones. There will also be a Kids Race by Scott on Sunday.
Service: In addition to the exhibitors’ offerings, there will be three service stations on the bike festa site:
- Bike Repair by SPORTLER, offering professional checks and technical support
- A secure bicycle storage facility
- Bike Wash by BikeGroovy
All the details about the event: bikefesta.com
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor