32nd Bike Festival Riva del Garda: Live highlights from the start of the season on Lake Garda

The festival is underway, let the season begin! The 32nd FSA Bike Festival in Riva del Garda runs from Friday to Sunday, marking the traditional start to the 2026 bike and gravel season. The festival not only aims to celebrate cycling, but also to strengthen the community: Shared experiences, an Italian attitude to life, social responsibility and genuine togetherness are on the programme.

New highlight in advance: Epicnight

Even before the official opening, the Epicnight premièred on Thursday evening. A night-time no-race ride for everyone - with gravel, MTB and e-bikes. Kilometres under the stars, freedom, music and a big closing party by the lake to kick off the bike festival. A highlight even before the official opening of the festival.

The start was shortly before sunset. The route led through the atmospheric heart of the Sarca Valley - accompanied only by the light of your own headlights. There were two routes to choose from, suitable for different levels of ability and ideal for gravel, MTB and e-bikes. The Epicline with a length of around 80 kilometres and the 40-kilometre Easyline. The finish line had a special atmosphere - the lakeside of Torbole became a party mile with a DJ set by AndyLove. Ideal for celebrating the start of the Bike Festival together. No race. No time pressure. Just a communal experience under the stars.

Innovations from the Expo

Bikers Choice Award

This year sees the premiere of an award that will be decided by the biggest and most honest jury of all: The visitors to the festival expo area - and therefore you too! The best brand presentations will be honoured in four categories:

• Best Stand - The stand that convinced you at first sight: Design, energy and presence
• Best Crew - The team that immediately made you feel at home: openness, passion and positive vibes
• Experience Highlight - The activity that really inspired you: Tests, challenges or special moments
• Must have gadget - The gadget you absolutely had to take with you

The winners will be chosen on Sunday - so be sure to vote if you're there!

Bosch e-bike 2026

Just like last year, Bosch is once again using the Bike Festival as a stage for its innovations in the e-bike sector. The big topic is the Performance Upgrade 2.0: this software update will make the Performance CX and CX-R e-MTB motors even more powerful. Up to 120 Newton metres and 600 percent support will be on the data sheet in future. All Bosch news can be experienced live on the Expo site.

In addition to the comprehensive software package, the Swabians have also announced a fast charger which, with 12 amps and 500 watts, should charge three times faster than the classic 4A charger. And it weighs less than a kilo! Another new feature is the open interface, which makes Bosch drives compatible with Garmin-style end devices. Here are all Bosch innovations in detail.

The Bike Festival Awards 2026

To kick off the festival, the Bike Festival Awards will be presented on Friday. The high-calibre jury has selected its favourites in three categories. The award-winning products can of course all be admired throughout the festival on the Expo site. The three categories are

• Gravel
• Innovation
• Sustainability

Of course, you can find out who won directly on our channels.

Why it's worth travelling to Lake Garda

The Bike Festival is an event you can feel. Over 1500 test bikes, the Expo area right on the lake and a programme that ranges from the first pedal stroke to the last party will ensure adrenaline, action and fun in 2026 too. Sporting highlights such as the Bike Marathon, the MAXXIS Gravel Garda Trentino, the Bosch eMTB Challenge and the SCOTT Junior Trophy meet new experience formats: Sunrise and Sunset Rides, Gravel Tours and the new Overnight Bikepacking take the Garda Trentino feeling to a new level. What also makes the festival special is the atmosphere. Whether social rides, skill sessions or guided tours - everyone can find an approach to biking here. "Year after year, the festival brings people together who share the same enthusiasm for cycling and an active lifestyle. This turns the region into a place of encounters, exchange and new inspiration," says Oskar Schwazer, General Manager of the Garda Trentino Tourist Board.

Innovation and responsibility

In addition to action and adventure, the festival will also remain a platform for the future of bike sports. The Bike Festival Award will be expanded to include categories such as gravel innovation, sustainability and ecological, social or economic initiatives, while the Future Summit will focus on the role of AI in the bike and outdoor sector. At the same time, the focus is on sustainable event management and cooperation with regional partners in order to conserve resources and strengthen the region.