BIKE Festival Willingen
Germany's largest MTB and E-MTB Outdoor Trade Fair – 40,000 visitors, 130 exhibitors, Marathon and Downhill Cup
2026
About BIKE Festival Willingen
BIKE Festival Willingen — edition 2026
Three days of mountain bike trade fair and race weekend in the Willinger Upland. Admission to the expo is free. The classic races BIKE Marathon, iXS Downhill Cup, and Scott Enduro, along with ten side events, form the sporting backbone of the festival.
Highlights BIKE Festival Willingen 2026
- ~40,000 visitors, ~130 exhibitors
- Over 1,000 free test bikes
- Premiere of the German E-Enduro Championship
- BIKE Marathon with 3 distances
- iXS Downhill Cup Finale and Scott Enduro
- Premiere of the Gravel discipline on its own course
Programme BIKE Festival Willingen 2026
Friday, May 29, 2026 — Festival Kick-off
- Expo and Test Course Opening
- Bike Test Area Opening (over 1,000 test bikes)
- Show Program and Family Activities
- Guided Tours into the Willinger Upland
Saturday, May 30, 2026 — Marathon & E-Enduro
- BIKE Marathon over 33.7 / 71.8 / 110 km
- Premiere: German E-Enduro Championship
- Other Side Events: EMTB Challenge, Kids Cup, Junior Trophy
- Show Program and Industry Talks
Sunday, May 31, 2026 — Enduro & Downhill Cup Finale
- Scott Enduro with 6 stages
- iXS Downhill Cup Finale
- Last Day of the Expo and Test Courses
- Award Ceremonies
Three Test Courses
- MTB/EMTB Course with flowing turns
- Gravel Route through the Aartal valley
- Road Bike Course through the Willinger Upland
Prices BIKE Festival Willingen 2026
Admission to the expo is free. Registration fees for the Marathon, Enduro, Downhill, etc., vary depending on the discipline and registration date. Register via event.delius-klasing.de and bike-magazin.de.
Practical information — BIKE Festival Willingen
Getting There
By car: Take the A44 (Dortmund–Kassel) motorway, exit at Diemelstadt, then follow the B251 towards Willingen. By train: Willingen (Upland) station, accessible via regional express from Korbach. Shuttle buses to the festival grounds are often available during the festival period.
Admission and Race Registration
Admission to the expo is free. Race registrations for the Marathon, Enduro, Downhill, etc., are available via the festival website (event.delius-klasing.de). Marathon registration is via bike-magazin.de.
Tip
The main crowd arrives on Saturday and Sunday – if you want to test bikes in peace, arrive on Friday or early in the weekend. Accommodation prices in the Sauerland region increase significantly during the festival period – book early.
Germany's Largest Mountain Bike Trade Fair
The BIKE Festival Willingen is the must-attend event for the German-speaking MTB scene. For its 28th edition, from May 29th to 31st, 2026, it expects around 40,000 visitors and approximately 130 exhibitors across the vast festival grounds in the heart of Hesse's Sauerland region. The event is supported by Delius Klasing Verlag, publishers of BIKE Magazine, among others.
Three Test Courses – Premiere for Gravel
In 2026, the festival introduces three dedicated test courses:
- MTB/EMTB Course featuring flowing turns and playful sections on local trails
- Gravel Route through the picturesque Aartal valley with varied terrain
- Road Bike Course through the Willinger Upland, including climbs and descents
Over 1,000 test bikes will be available free of charge – a showcase of the bike industry for you to try yourself.
Race Highlights – Marathon and Downhill
The festival is not just a trade fair, but also one of Europe's biggest MTB race weekends:
- Saturday, May 30th: BIKE Marathon over 33.7 / 71.8 / 110 km
- Saturday: German E-Enduro Championship (Premiere)
- Sunday, May 31st: Scott Enduro with 6 stages
- Sunday: iXS Downhill Cup Finale
- EMTB Challenge, Kids Cup, Junior Trophy – a total of 10 side events
Sponsors and Media Partners
Main sponsors of the BIKE Festival 2026: Scott, Orbea, Bosch. Media partner: BIKE Magazine. The brand hierarchy reflects the event's top-tier industry significance – anyone who's anyone in the MTB industry will be here.
Willingen as an Outdoor Hotspot
Willingen (Upland), located in the Waldeck-Frankenberg district, is Hesse's outdoor capital, boasting the Bike Park Willingen, the Mühlenkopfschanze (World Cup ski jumping hill), and an extensive network of hiking trails. The BIKE Festival fits seamlessly into this identity.
Where it takes place BIKE Festival Willingen
BIKE Festival Willingen at a glance
History of BIKE Festival Willingen
Edition 2025 May 2025Festivals similar to BIKE Festival Willingen
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