Gravel riders of all flavours, grab your calendars and circle May 8–10, 2026. That’s when the Marly Grav Festival rolls back into Valkenburg in the south of the Netherlands. Expect a full-on weekend of social rides, hands-on workshops, an overnight bikepacking adventure, kids’ races, a buzzing bike expo and one of Europe’s biggest UCI gravel races. In short: it’s going to be a big one.
Valkenburg in the south of the Netherlands is the ideal location for a gravel event. It has the perfect combination of great scenery, an enormous network of gravel trails and plenty of accommodation and eating-out options. It’s also the home of the Shimano Experience Centre, so Marly Grav has the perfect base for a long weekend of gravelly fun. If you're after a weekend of scenic gravel vibes, then nothing will beat rolling through the beautiful green hills in the south of the Netherlands.
Marly Grav is described by the organisers as “Europe’s most complete gravel weekend!” and they’ve certainly fitted a lot into the schedule:
Marly Grav Experience
9-10th May – Marly Grav Experience – a two-day gravel adventure, taking riders from Valkenburg on a 90km gravel route to Hellenthal in the Eifel National Park. Riders spend the night at Wildbach Camping and for those of you who are new to bikepacking, you have the option of having your luggage transferred to the overnight location to save you from carrying everything with you on the bike.
The entry fee includes the use of a tent and mattress at Wildbach, so you don’t need to bring your own. Participants receive a packing list and “an online road book with useful points such as bike shops, restaurants and supermarkets.” Tickets cost €115. You can find full details and sign up here.
Marly Grav Fest
According the organisers, “Marly Grav Fest is the gravel party of the Netherlands!” Held on Saturday 9th May, participants have a choice of 50km, 85km, 100km or 135km routes through the beautiful South Limburg countryside. Although the routes are self-guided (using the provided GPX route files), the organisers make sure everyone is well looked after with “a free coffee before the ride, extensive refreshment stations and a free Kwaremont beer afterwards”. There is also medical assistance and mechanical back-up too, courtesy of event sponsors Shimano and CyclOn. After the ride, participants can clean their bikes at a bike wash area “powered by CyclOn”.
The post-ride party is a big part of the Marly Grav experience and this year there will be a tombola “where you have a chance to win beautiful prizes, made possible by our partners.” Tickets cost from €44.95 per person. You can find out more details and sign up at the event website.
Marly Grav Race
The Marly Grav Race is perhaps the highlight of the whole weekend. Many thousands of Europe’s most passionate gravel racers will line up on the start line on Sunday 10th May, hoping to finish in the top 25% of their age group and so be eligible for one of the coveted places at the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships and the UEC European Gravel Championships.
Racers trying to qualify for a place at the UCI European Champs or World Champs will need to race in one of the following categories/distances:
- Elite Men - 150 km distance
- Women 19-49 years - 150 km distance
- Men 19-59 years - 150 km distance
- Women 50+ & Men 60+ - 104 km distance
Entry into the Marly Grav Race costs €99. You can find all the details and sign up at the event website.
If you’re looking for the ultimate mix of gravel riding, high-speed race action, partying and laid-back vibes, Marly Grav 2026 is exactly where you need to be. Big rides, big smiles, unforgettable moments — don’t miss it. See you there!