The Best Way to Spend a Weekend Mountain Biking on Vancouver Island
BC Bike Fest, a brand-new three-day mountain bike festival brought to you by the organizers of BC Bike Race, is coming to Vancouver Island May 29–31, 2026, with multiple stand-alone, concurrent races across XC, Enduro, Downhill, Adaptive XC, and eMTB.
Registration Opens February 16
Bcbikefest.com
BC Bike Fest Schedule
- BCBR Rolling Thunder XC + Adaptive XC - Race Saturday, May 30
- BCBR Enduro: Practice, Saturday, May 30 | Race, Sunday, May 31
- BCBR DownHill: Pre-ride Friday, May 29 | Qualifiers Saturday, May 30 | Finals Sunday, May 31
What Is BC Bike Fest?
BC Bike Fest features top-tier racing on some of the world's best singletrack, centered around a main festival vibe with the best aprés activities in mountain biking you'll ever come across.
The Festival HQ is located at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds, in the center of three diverse trail networks: Maple Mountain (XC), Mount Tzouhalem (Enduro), and Mount Prevost (DH). This location offers riders quick access to a wide range of trails from one main hub. Aside from world-class racing and riding, the event features live music, bike demos, and lively side events such as the Rambo Bike Relay and Bike Toss. Participants race during the day, then kick back and chill, and enjoy the festival atmosphere. Organized by the team behind BC Bike Race, a summer camp for adults and bike nerds, BC Bike Fest provides everything needed for an epic mountain biking weekend.
Dave Silver
The 2026 BC Bike Fest Race Lineup
Rolling Thunder XC
When: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Presented by Transition Bicycle Company A short-format, all-mountain XC race built for riders who want fast trails, technical bursts, and signature BCBR flow, delivering the spirit of stage racing in a single-day format.
Rolling Thunder Adaptive XC
When: Saturday, May 30
Developed in close collaboration with adaptive riders, this event represents an important step forward in accessible mountain bike racing. Adaptive participation is growing, and BC Bike Fest is designed to grow with it.
BCBR Enduro
When
Practice: Saturday, May 30
Race: Sunday, May 31
Presented by Orbea, this one-day enduro showcases Mount Tzouhalem’s dynamic blend of flow, technical terrain, and classic Vancouver Island character.
BCBR DH
Natalie Carriere
When
Pre-ride: Friday, May 29
Qualifiers: Saturday, May 30
Finals: Sunday, May 31
A brand-new downhill race hosted on the legendary Mount Prevost, and presented by Stereo Racing. This event sends riders down Vancouver Island’s premier DH venue and a globally respected proving ground made famous by Stevie Smith.
Registration for all BC Bike Fest races opens February 19, 2026
Margus Riga
What About the BC Bike Race?
BCBR
The BC Bike Race stage race continues to be the core of BCBR, focused on providing racers worldwide with an exceptional singletrack experience. In 2026, the multi-day race will return to Vancouver Island from May 23 to 29, concluding on the opening day of the festival. Sponsored by Shimano and Rocky Mountain Bicycles, the 2026 BC Bike Race gives riders a final opportunity to enjoy the complete seven-day route before the race undergoes changes in 2027.
Registration is open at bcbikerace.com.
What is the MegaVolt?
MegaVolt is a 3-day eMTB event that takes place alongside BC Bike Fest from Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31, 2026. Powered by Bosch, it offers a carefully selected lineup of guided rides, the Trailforks Adventure Challenge, eMTB XC racing, and eEnduro racing. These activities are designed and organized by the team behind BC Bike Race. Created by riders, guides, and race organizers with extensive eMTB experience, MegaVolt is tailored to reflect how eMTBs are actually used. The event operates independently, with its own registration, schedule, and program.