From June 5 to 7, Villa Contarini will host the 12th edition of BAM! – Bicycle Adventure Meeting, one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to bicycle travel and outdoor culture. Over the years, BAM! has shaped an international community of cyclists and travelers, playing a vital role in the growth of modern bikepacking culture.
More than a cycling festival, BAM! is built around a simple idea: the bicycle is not the destination, but the starting point. Over three days, talks, workshops, rides and live events provide an open environment where travelers, riders and curious visitors create their own experience.
Part of the program will be held in English, reflecting the growing international community attending BAM! from across Europe and beyond.
The 2026 program brings voices from the global bikepacking scene together alongside emerging storytellers and artists. International guests include Corina Montero of The W Collective, speaking about cycling and female representation, and Nelson Trees, who presents a documentary connected to his work shaping some of the world’s leading bikepacking events. Fresh from winning the Hellenic Mountain Race, ultra-distance cyclist Max Riese will introduce Wossa, a 567-kilometre EU-funded gravel route exploring the Alpine water cycle and raising awareness about water preservation. Meanwhile, artist duo Juliane Borths and Arkadij Blinow, also known as Athletics of Desire, will present work created while traveling across Italy by bike.
International guests join Italian travelers and cyclists, such as well-known gravel racer Mattia De Marchi, Monica Consolini, who will share her two-year solo trip around the world, and Matteo Stella retraces Marco Polo’s route from Beijing to Venice by bike. Other talks move beyond cycling itself, exploring adventure, friendship and long-term goals through stories from mountaineering, remote travel and exploration.
Inclusivity and community are central to BAM! 2026, with collectives such as Bike Boobs and VaiGine opening conversations around women’s empowerment and representation in cycling culture.
Throughout the weekend, participants can join practical workshops on photography, storytelling, first aid, weather interpretation and mobility, alongside daily rides through the Veneto region. Evenings shift into a festival atmosphere with live music, DJ sets and shared spaces designed to bring people together beyond the daytime program.
The experience extends across the entire venue, with yoga sessions, performances, cycle-powered cinema and activities for families and children.
Over the years, BAM! has grown into more than an event. It is now an international cultural platform where travel becomes a way to rethink how we connect with places, people and time itself.
The full program will be available soon at https://bameurope.it/en/
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BAM! – Bicycle Adventure Meeting is an international gathering dedicated to bicycle travel and outdoor culture. Held annually in Italy, it brings together travelers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through talks, workshops, rides and live events. Open and free to attend, BAM! has become a cultural platform where the bicycle is a starting point for stories, ideas and community.