If you happen to be in Italy this week: from 15 to 18 May the Biker Fest International returns with a packed program and special guests such as MotoGP and Superbike legends Marco Melandri and Ruben Xaus. Lignano Sabbiadoro again becomes the “Daytona of Europe”.
With 38 editions and more than 240,000 participants in 2024, Biker Fest International’s largest motor rally is in third place worldwide, after the iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Daytona Bike Week. Since 1987 it has been a free event for motorcyclists and motorcycle enthusiasts, which has grown over time into a true feast of motorbikes, music and adrenaline on the Adriatic coast.
The 2025 edition takes place from 15-18 May in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine, Italy), which again becomes the engine capital of Europe for a weekend full of adrenaline. The festival seizes five large areas (Luna Park, Stadio-Demo Ride, Mercato, Off-Road and Palapineta), with a program that is full of. Here you will find ten (plus one …) things that you just can’t miss on this 39th edition!
1) Performance dredger show with Ruben Xaus – Built to Travel, Prepped to Battle: Inspired by the explosive popularity of racing dredgers in the US, this trend is also gaining ground among European enthusiasts. Visitors get the chance to admire the best sports and racing tuned dredgers during the 1st Performance Bagger Show, which takes place on Saturday 17 May in the Luna Park Area. Special guest Ruben Xaus- former MotoGP and WSBK star- shows his Race-Spec Harley-Davidson Road Glide. The Catalaan is also the brain behind the dredger Racing European Cup, a new championship dedicated to these great machines. The makers of the three most striking entries of the competition, together with their motorcycle, are invited to the Italian round on the Cremona circuit from 23 to 25 May.
2) US Car Reunion: 30th birthday – Italy’s largest meeting for American cars will be thirty years! Since the first edition in 1995, the passion for V8 power has only grown. The US Car Reunion is now a striking “event within the event” and in 2024 attracted 537 vehicles, with teams from all over Europe. The 30th anniversary edition introduces a new location: the market area of ​​Lignano Sabbiadoro (in addition to the Teghil stadium), which also serves as a starting point for the iconic Sunday morning parade by the “Avenues” of the seaside resort. The festivities are concluded in the afternoon with an award ceremony for the most beautiful and most iconic vehicles, presented by Cruisin ‘Magazine and Old School Garage Club.
3) 50cc Fever Fest feat. Marco Melandri – Prepare for the sweet scent of burning oil and the metallic buzz of classic 50cc mopeds on the Market Area, under the flag of 50cc Fever Fest. After the success of 2024, the spicy two -stroke audience is back with competitions, exchange fairs and dynosessions. The guests belong to racing legend Marco Melandri – World Champion 250cc 2002 and former MotoGP/SBK driver. As a passionate music lover and DJ since his youth, “Macho” will be behind the turntables of the Biker Fest on Saturday at 4 p.m. and run tracks on the Market Area.
4) Saturday light fever: parade time! – Bright lights, roaring engines, dazzling colors: the Saturday Light Fever is one of Europe’s most spectacular motor carades. It is an exciting and fascinating parade for both riders and spectators who are looking at the apparent endless column of thousands of engines that rage past at sunset in the streets of Lignano. The Parade is organized by Motoclub Morena FMI with the support of the local police. The ride starts on Saturday, May 17 at 7 pm from the parking lot of Luna Park!
5) Helicopter flights: Fly over Lignano – Ever seen Lignano from above? If not, Biker Fest is the perfect time to change that, thanks to helicopter flights in collaboration with Elifriulia. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, experienced pilots will bring you high above the coastline, with a breathtaking view of the sea and the pine forests. It is a unique perspective – plus a punch of adrenaline that you will not soon forget!
6) Off Road Madness – The Group Eat The Dust from Veneto presents one of the most exciting spectacles in the festival: expected wild stunts from APE Cross Machines – animals on three wheels powered by Superbikes – and garden tractor sessions at full speed. Expect action, collisions and pure chaos between modified lawn mowers and off-road samples!
7) 39th Custom Bike Show: Specials Duel – Unique Constructions, Stunning Specials, Stunning Technology: The Biker Fest has been the battlefield for the best custom builders in Europe for almost four decades. It is the host of the last round of the Italian Motorcycle Championship (IMC) and the only Italian stage of the AMD World Championship or Custom Bike Building. With € 10,000 in prices in eight categories and the coveted “Best in Show” crown at the game, the competition will be fierce.
8) Demo Ride & E -Mobility Village: Test the latter – with more than 30 official manufacturers, hundreds of models and more than 5,000 test drives alone in 2024, the Biker Fest Demo Ride Area is one of the largest in Europe. It is in front of the G. Teghil Stadium and is the place for free test drives with the newest two -wheelers. Honda also organizes his Young Riders School, a free training course for everyone from the age of 16. Yamaha entertains the smallest riders with his Junior Moto School. And in E-Mobility Village, visitors can experience the future themselves by trying out the latest electric and hybrid vehicles for free.
9) Area 4×4: Let’s Get Dirty – No Biker Fest is complete without dirt, mud and the sensation of off -road driving. The Dirty Area 4×4 has a special course with different levels of difficulty, from extreme segments to beginners -friendly paths. Off-road enthusiasts can test both their vehicles and their skills on obstacles and dunes set up by Jes (Jeepers East Coast Side) in collaboration with Eventi 4×4.
10) Kustom & Classic: Old School on four wheels – The 39th BFI welcomes Kustom & Classic, a Car Meet for classic and adapted vehicles from before 1999. The event takes place in the Market Area from 10 am on Saturday 17 May and is organized by Kustom behind World Magazine and the club from Goriza and the club and the club and the club from Goriza and the club and the club from Goriza and the club from Goriza and the club from Goriza and the club from Gorizia ‘Racenlow’, who has attracted more than 500 cars in recent years. The team will be present from Friday with stands, sponsors and demonstration cars.
11) The magic of Europe’s Biggest Biker Rally – Words do not do justice – you have to experience it. The Biker Fest is more than a rally: it is an atmosphere, a feeling, a meeting where the two -wheeler community celebrates the arrival of the summer. Four unforgettable days with highlights such as the Pin Up Contest, supervised mototours through Friuli-Venezia Giulia and adventures such as the 300 km long enduro ride ‘Cavalcata Tassellata’, which breathes the Old-School Off-Road atmosphere. Expect rock concerts, worldwide street food with 15 ethnic kitchens and even a brand new space for books and culture – everything is accessible for free.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.