An event that has always marked the start of the off-road season and which, year after year, continues to evolve, bringing with it not only races and expos, but also visions of the future of cycling and land management.
Between trails overlooking the lake, high altitude routes and one of the most spectacular natural settings on the continent, Garda Trentino is preparing to welcome riders, companies and enthusiasts for three days of riding, innovation and discussion on the future of the bike industry.
Garda Trentino towards international trail certification
One of the most important innovations concerns the territory itself. Garda Trentino It is in fact the first destination in the world to have reached the final stage of certification International Trail Rating System (ITRS), the system that aims to provide riders with clear and transparent information on the difficulty, exposure, and characteristics of the trails. Past text
For bike destinations, this means being able to plan trail development more strategically, while ensuring sustainable maintenance and a better rider experience.
Great attention is also paid to the theme of inclusiveness: in addition to the traditional colour classification, the system will also use full and empty dots, designed to make the signs understandable even for color-blind bikers.
The new signage system, tested starting in 2022, will be visible on all trails in the area.
ITRS live: workshops and riding experience
The system will also be the protagonist of a B2B event on April 30th, with ITRS managers Mischa Crumbach ed Edward MelchioriDuring the meeting, the certification levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and the advantages for destinations that adopt this system will be presented.
After the workshop, participants will be able to directly test the signage during a session on-bike on Mount Brione.
Saturday 2nd May will be organised instead a guided tour open to festival visitors to discover the system directly on the trails.
Bike Festival Awards 2026: Make Way for Innovation
Looking to the future is also at the centre of the Bike Festival Awards, which in 2026 will be enriched with three new categories:
- Innovation Award
- Sustainability Award
- Start-Up Award
Alongside the traditional categories dedicated to MTB, eMTB and gravel, the goal is to promote the companies and ideas that are changing the world of cycling.
The international jury will be chaired by Uli Stanciu, founder of the Bike Festival, supported by design and innovation experts such as Giampaolo Allocco, Fiorenza Baratti, Marco Menin, Michael Rieder, and Sandra Schuberth. Pasted text
Future Summit: When AI Meets the Outdoors
Among the most interesting events also returns the Bike Festival Future Summit, scheduled for the 30th April at the Hotel Du Lac et Du Parc.
This year's theme will be:
"AI & Outdoors: How the Biker Experience Is Changing"
Industry and tourism experts will discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming:
- route planning
- destination management
- user behavior
An increasingly central theme also for bike destinations, called upon to manage tourist flows and data sustainably.
Networking, expos and media previews
The festival will also be a key meeting point for the entire sector.
Among the new features of 2026 there will be the Special Press Preview, which will allow the media to visit the Expo Area Preview from 9am to 11am on opening day.
Also confirmed Exhibitors' evening on April 30th, this year in a new location, to bring together companies, partners and industry professionals for an informal networking opportunity.
A festival that looks forward
FSA Bike Festival 2026 is not just races, bike tests and an expo area. It's a platform where riding, innovation and sustainability meet, confirming Garda Trentino once again as one of the world's points of reference for mountain bike culture
