About Durance Festival

The Durance Festival is a festive and sporting gathering dedicated to lovers of the river and paddle sports, organized every summer in Châteauroux-les-Alpes at the New Rabioux campsite. Kayak, canoe, stand up paddle, raft and packraft come together for a weekend of competitions, equipment testing, clinics, open-air cinema and concerts. Entry is free and the atmosphere is friendly, combining sport, sharing and good cheer by the Durance river.

The river sports festival in the Hautes-Alpes

Born in 2016, the Durance Festival is a unique event in France that brings together all paddle sports enthusiasts on the banks of the Durance river, in Châteauroux-les-Alpes. Held at the New Rabioux campsite, a famous whitewater spot, the festival offers a weekend of sports competitions, discoveries, and conviviality, in an exceptional natural setting between Lake Serre-Ponçon and the Gorges du Guil.

Competitions and water activities

The Durance Festival's sports program is rich and varied. Competitions include a creek race in the Gorges de Château-Queyras, a packrafting event, a run & ride rally, a river SUP race, and the spectacular Rabioux Freestyle Showdown — a freestyle and big tricks contest. On Sunday, the Grande Descente (Great Descent) brings all participants together for a collective multi-boat descent on the Durance. A "testival" allows you to try out equipment from the brands present, while clinics (technical workshops) are offered by experts.

Open-air cinema and concerts

Beyond sport, the Durance Festival cultivates a festive and relaxed atmosphere. On Friday evening, an open-air cinema screens adventure and river sports films. On Saturday evening, a concert livens up the campsite. The exhibitor village hosts brands and artisans from the world of kayaking and outdoor sports. Everything is free and open access, in the spirit of sharing dear to the paddling community.

Rabioux, a legendary whitewater spot

The New Rabioux campsite is an iconic whitewater location in France. Situated at the confluence of the Durance and the Guil rivers, it offers direct access to some of the most beautiful kayaking routes in the southern Alps. The Durance Festival takes advantage of this exceptional environment to offer an authentic event, supported by the magazine Kayak Session and partners like NRS. The festival grows year by year, attracting paddlers from all over Europe.