Coupe Icare

Coupe Icare: Where Free Flight Meets Celebration

Born in May 1974 on the slopes of the Dent de Crolles with just three gliders, the Coupe Icare has grown over half a century into the world's largest event dedicated to free flight and ultralight aerial sports. Held every September between the Plateau des Petites Roches in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet and the landing zone in Lumbin, 700 meters below in the Grésivaudan valley, it attracts nearly 100,000 spectators, 10,000 pilots, and relies on over 1,000 volunteers.

The Icarnaval: The Legendary Costume Flight Show

The highlight of the Coupe Icare is undoubtedly the Icarnaval, the world's largest fancy-dress flying competition. Since 1983, paraglider and hang-glider pilots have launched from the top of the plateau in costumes as extravagant as they are inventive: flying bathtubs, smoke-breathing dragons, airborne trash cans, life-sized Bayeux Tapestries, or little green men. This burlesque and poetic spectacle, blending technical prowess with unbridled humor, has become the emblem of the Coupe Icare and draws participants from all over the globe.

A Multi-Faceted Festival

The Coupe Icare goes far beyond sports competition to offer a rich and varied program:

• Icare Show: Spectacular aerial demonstrations of paragliding, hang-gliding, paramotoring, wingsuiting, hot-air ballooning, kite flying, and aerobatics performed by the world's best pilots.
• Icare Expo: The largest professional free-flight trade show, bringing together manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and distributors from around the world to showcase the latest innovations in wings, harnesses, and instruments.
• Icare Test: Equipment trial sessions allowing pilots to test the latest wings and gear on the market in real-world conditions.
• Icare Cinéma: The International Air Film Festival, created in 1983, features screenings of films and documentaries dedicated to free flight, aerial adventure, and extreme sports.
• Icare Conférences: Meetings and lectures with pilots, adventurers, and professionals from the aviation sector.
• Icare Mômes: A dedicated space for children with workshops, fun activities, and introductions to aerial sports for the youngest attendees.
• Icare Folies: Street performances, brass bands, concerts, and festive entertainment that turn the plateau and the village into one massive public celebration.

An Exceptional Site Between Chartreuse and Grésivaudan

The natural setting of the Coupe Icare is breathtaking. The Plateau des Petites Roches, perched at an altitude of 1,000 meters facing the Belledonne range, offers one of the most beautiful free-flight sites in Europe. Pilots take off from the plateau's launch ramps and glide over the Grésivaudan valley before landing in Lumbin, treating spectators to a grand aerial show against an exceptional alpine backdrop. The historic Saint-Hilaire funicular, one of the steepest in Europe, usually connects the valley to the plateau; damaged by a flash flood in December 2021, it remains out of service, with its reopening announced for late 2027.

A Human Adventure and a Unifying Event

Beyond athletic performance, the Coupe Icare embodies a spirit of conviviality, sharing, and freedom that brings together enthusiasts, families, and the curious in a unique atmosphere. This free event, accessible to all, is a true hymn to the dream of flight, faithful to the legend of Icarus for whom it is named.