The largest German-language trade event for off-road cycling is thus returning to Baden-Württemberg exactly ten years later—a state known for its active scene and wide range of offerings for mountain bike and gravel enthusiasts.

The three-day program is aimed at both established experts and newcomers to the world of mountain biking. The goal of the Mountain Bike Congress Germany is to further advance sustainable development in mountain biking, benefit from the mutual exchange of experiences among different regions, and impart concrete practical knowledge. To this end, interdisciplinary expert presentations will be combined with hands-on workshops and networking opportunities.

New features in the concept: Focus on practice and dialogue

For the 2026 edition, the organizers have further developed the congress concept. Under the motto “More exchange, more practice, more togetherness,” targeted field trips are on the agenda for the first time. In addition, the new program devotes significantly more space to moderated dialogue among participants.

The industry’s economic conditions are also being taken into account: To ensure that stakeholders from the public sector—such as those from tourism or local government—can participate in the event despite tight budget constraints, early-bird ticket prices have been specifically reduced. This is intended to promote the broadest possible transfer of knowledge into the local administrative practices of the various regions.

Ride editor Thomas Giger will be attending the conference and delivering a keynote presentation on the current direction of mountain biking. He will also address points he raised in a recently published and hotly debated blog post. His keynote address will kick off a larger panel discussion on the same topic.

The detailed conference program is available on the conference website: kongress.bike/programm

Ride strongly encourages everyone involved in mountain bike tourism to attend, as events like this are exactly what help advance the sport as a whole. Even though the congress bears Germany’s name, many of the topics discussed are also relevant for Switzerland or Austria.