BAM 2026: the travel tribe gets back in the saddle
WORDS → Emanuele Castiglione
DATE → 2026-06-03
From June 5 to 7, Villa Contarini hosts the Bicycle Adventure Meeting: three days of bikepacking, art, stories, and sustainable mobility.
It’s often hard to explain to those who don’t know. Cycling and outdoor culture isn’t just about sport: it’s above all about community. Few things in the world bring people together like sharing an adventure. BAM, or the Bicycle Adventure Meeting—Europe’s largest gathering of cyclists—was born from the idea of coming together to share a passion for cycling and the outdoors. It will be hosted again by the Veneto region next weekend, from June 5 to 7 at Villa Contarini, in Piazzola sul Brenta (PD). Some have already started their adventure in the last few days, right as you read this article; hundreds of cycle travelers are already crossing Northern Italy with a common destination: Villa Contarini, Veneto. They’ve set off from far and wide: Milan, Bergamo, Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Valsugana. Or even further, like the two cycle-traveling artists Jule Borths and Arkadij Blinov, who have been traveling across Europe for weeks on an adventure combining cycling and art. They will exhibit the works produced during this month of riding at BAM, at the destination.
This is one of the characteristics that has made BAM a unique event on the European scene over the years: more than just an outdoor festival, it’s a cultural and social phenomenon on the move, where the journey itself becomes an integral part of the experience. For three days, Piazzola sul Brenta will transform into an international meeting point for the world of bikepacking, cycle touring, adventure, and contemporary exploration, with thousands of participants expected from all over Europe.
Over the years, BAM has significantly contributed to spreading the culture of bicycle travel in Italy, reaching an increasingly diverse audience that today includes not only athletes and ultracyclists, but also families, creators, photographers, outdoor communities, travelers, and people who see the bicycle as a tool for freedom, connection, and discovering the territory. The 2026 program confirms this evolution with three days of talks, workshops, rides, cinema, music, and meetings dedicated to the world of travel and contemporary outdoors. Expected guests include Nelson Trees, founder of the famous Silk Road Mountain Race and Atlas Mountain Race, Sofiane Sehili, one of the most influential ultracyclists of recent years, Pietro Franzese, Dino Lanzaretti, Ilaria Fiorillo, Monica Consolini, Sisa Vottero, Claudio Piani, and numerous international storytellers, explorers, and collectives. Great attention is also paid to sustainability: BAM continues to stand out as one of the few large European events reached by thousands of people mainly by bike or using train+bike, generating a real impact in promoting cycle tourism and slow mobility infrastructure. There will also be the musical and cultural component that has expanded the festival’s audience over the years. On Saturday evening, the park of Villa Contarini will host a free concert by Saturnino, a long-time collaborator of Jovanotti and an artist who has always been close to the world of independent creativity, along with a DJ set by Dj Aladyn. With thousands of attendees expected, BAM confirms its role as one of the main European events dedicated to bicycle travel and contemporary outdoor culture, helping to position Veneto as a key destination for international cycle tourism.
