Festival Vélo Annecy

Cycling in All Its Forms in Annecy

Created in 2024 by the association Les Étoiles dans le Guidon, the Festival Vélo Annecy is the first festival entirely dedicated to cycling in the Annecy area. Located on the Place Chorus in Cran-Gevrier, a delegated commune of Annecy, the festival offers a discovery of cycling in all its forms: road cycling, mountain biking, gravel, urban cycling, cargo bikes, bikepacking, trial, BMX freestyle, and electric bikes.

An Exhibitor Village and Activities

The heart of the festival is an exhibitor village bringing together about sixty stands: bicycle and equipment manufacturers, custom frame builders, specialized shops, cycling associations, collectives, and local initiatives. Around this village, a multitude of activities punctuate the day: conferences on bike travel, film screenings at the La Turbine cinema, demonstrations of trial and BMX freestyle, workshops on bikepacking and mechanics, sports challenges, an interactive pedal-powered carousel for children, and DJ sets in the evening.

Art Serving Cycling

The Festival Vélo Annecy stands out for its artistic component. The exhibition “L'Échappée” — which became “L'Échappée #2” for the 2026 edition — celebrates cycling as a symbol of movement, freedom, and creativity, values shared by urban art and cycling culture. Works by artists are exhibited in the Art by Friends gallery and in public spaces, creating a dialogue between art and cycling.

The opening evening features a film-conference at the La Turbine cinema with directors and cycling adventurers. In 2025, freeride mountain bike champion Kilian Bron presented his documentary Mandala in preview to a full house.

An Exceptional Cycling Territory

The festival showcases the richness of the Annecy region for cycling: 132 kilometers of cycling facilities, dozens of mythical mountain passes, a sumptuous lake, greenways, and a network of paths between the lake and the mountains. The Festival Vélo Annecy contributes to strengthening the city's cycling identity and promoting soft mobility to all audiences.