2026 is rushing towards us at breakneck speed, so stop whatever you’re doing, dig out your favourite calendar/year planner/diary and start adding in some important dates! Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, tax deadlines and insurance renewals can all wait. Your main priority is to get some gravel events added into your plans and luckily for you, we’re here to help with another dollop of gravelly inspiration.
Aurora Gravel Rally Series - 9th -13th March – Cyprus
The Aurora Gravel Series is new for 2026 and includes three races – Cyprus, Switzerland and Portugal. Cyprus is the first up and is being held on the 9-13th March. The organisers say the event includes “ includes a prologue, followed by 4 stages, including a queen stage where you'll discover the meaning of the word Aurora. Our trails will take you on a loop around the west of the island, with 4 starts from different locations.” Participants will cover 400 km and climb nearly 8000m across the different stages.
The event includes fully signposted timed sections (two or three per stage) and non-timed liaison (linking) stages where participants follow a GPX-based route. Event participant receives the following as part of the entry fee:
- State-of-the-art organisation
- Timed sector markers
- Accommodation in minimum 4-star hotels with full board for 6 nights (in shared rooms)
- Full board (with choice of diet)
- Starter kit
- Timing
- GPS tracker with real-time position display
- Feed zones
- Mechanical assistance stand
- Bike wash station
- Secure storage space for bicycles
- Medical staff (paramedics)
- Chill zones
- Luggage transfers between each stage (in case of hotel change)
- Bike box transfers (Tochni to Paphos)
- Finisher's medal
- After party with live music, food and drink tickets
If you sign up before 8/1/2026 the entry price is €2249 and after that it goes up to €2399. Full details can be found at the event website.
The Gralloch - 15-17th May – Dumfries & Galloway, UK
The Gralloch is described by organisers as “Britain’s premier gravel cycling festival, celebrating endurance, adventure and world-class riding in the heart of Scotland.” The event is a full-on gravel festival and includes a UCI Gravel World Series race, a 330-kilometre ultra-distance event and a non-competitive gravel sportive. It’s not just about the riding though, as participants will also be able to find “shakeout rides, panel talks, live music, local food, craft beer and a buzzing Event Village in the heart of Gatehouse of Fleet.”
The event organisers have laid on a suite of optional extras including a hospitality package (food, drinks, luxury showers, secure bike storage, changing facilities etc), a bottle delivery service for anyone taking part in the UCI race, camp pitches for tent/campervan/motorhome and GPS tracker loan so that you can keep tabs on your loved ones all weekend!
Entry to the gravel festival is free and then participants can choose which paid add-on activities they want to participate in. Prices range from £59.50 for the short-course gravel sportive up to £130 for the ultra-distance event. You can find all the details for The Gralloch at their website.
Grinduro Scotland - 26-28th June – Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfries & Galloway, UK
Described by organisers as “a muckle dram of two-wheeled fun in a laid-back atmosphere finished off with a rocking party of Type 1 fun,” Grinduro Scotland is back for 2026. Located in the grounds of Drumlanrig Castle Estate and featuring riding in Ae Forest and the rolling Galloway glens, Grinduro offers the perfect gravelly weekend – part race, part party.
Grinduro weekends can be considered the OG of gravel festivals and are a combination of a “gravel road race + mountain bike-style enduro in one long loop of pavement and dirt, where finishing times aren’t based on overall loop time, but four timed segments (each roughly five-to-ten minutes).” But, say the organisers “Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, camping and a festival atmosphere.”
Grinduro Scotland will be part of the South Scotland Outdoor Festival in 2026 which means anyone who signs up for a Grinduro place also gets “unlimited access to inspiring talks, adventure films, skills workshops, demos and panel sessions, all hosted within the festival village at Drumlanrig Castle.”
Grinduro Scotland costs from £86 to enter and you can find all the details at the event website.
Race across Czechia 2026 - 9th July - Brod nad Tichou, Czechia
Event organisers describe the Race across Czechia as “ a 1100 km bikepacking challenge across the Czech Republic, with a fixed route for gravel riders. For the 2026 edition we decided to include also a shortened variant "Finisher 800“, with a finish line at RP3.” They go on to say that “The fifth edition of RACZ will start from Karolína campsite near Planá and its route will lead through wild areas of Český Les, Šumava, Novohradské Mountains, Česká Kanada, Vysočina, Podyjí, Lednice-Valtice Area and the Bílé Karpaty. As a finish line we have chosen mountain hut Holubyho chata, just under iconic mount Velká Javořina.”
The organisers say the route will be “the wildest in our history, with long sections in deep nature, outside big cities. On the contrary, the route will be the fastest of the previous gravel editions in terms of elevation and off-road sections.”
The 1100 km version of the event includes 13-14,000m of climbing and the 800 km variant includes 11-12,000m of climbing. The terrain is described as being “approx. 50% asphalted forest roads and cycle paths, 25% paved forest roads, approx. 23% lower-class roads, approx. 2% MTB sections.” Then organisers recommend participants use a “gravel bike with tyres at least 36mm+, preferably 40mm+” The route has been designed to include three ‘RestPoints’ which will “help you break up the 1100km route and make our event more enjoyable. You will be able to take some food and refreshments, meet other riders and organizers, and also stay overnight at all RPs.
- RP1 – Hostinec U Michala, Prášily, 185.km
- RP2 – Holanský Dvůr; 550.km
- RP3/FIN 800 – Rouchovany campsite; 800.km
The entry fee for the event is 3500 CZK / 150 EUR for the 1100 km variant and 3000 CZK / 130 EUR for the 800km version. Prices rise by €20 for anyone entering after 1/4/2026. The entry fee includes – GPX files with the route, GPS tracker rental, vouchers for drinks/soup at RestPoints and at the finish (to the value of 250/150 CZK), transportation of package from start to finish, starting number, stickers, brevet card, medal, diploma, small snacks at Refreshment Stations and RestPoints and the Route Itinerary in Excel.
You can find all the details and sign-up at the event website.
Lost Horizons - 19-24 July - Soria, Spain
Lost Horizons is described by the event organisers as a “Pure adventure cycling through forgotten parts of Spain where rural traditions and history are palpable. Challenging terrain, breathtaking views, and lost horizons.” The event is 830 km long, includes 13,000m of elevation gain and has a 60/40 gravel/road split. The organisers say the event will “will test your limits and transform your experience of gravel riding.”
Lost Horizons kicks off with a social ride on the 18/7/2026 with “a relaxed group ride and drinks to meet fellow riders and get familiar with the terrain.” Riders depart on the 19/7 and have until 18.00 on the 24/7 to make it safely to the finish line. The organisers are laying on a “mobile Gravel x Gastronomy station on day 1 at 140 - 160 km from start, where riders can refuel with delicious local food.” There will be a finisher’s party from 20.00 on the 24/7.
Entry numbers are limited to 100 people and you can sign-up as a solo rider or as part of a pair. Early bird solo entries cost €219 and pairs entries are €199 pp, but if you're a Gravel Union member, you can get a €10 discount by adding the code GRAVELUNION10 at checkout! You can find all the details and sign up at the event website.
Heathland Gravel - 7-9th August – Maasmechelen, Belgium.
Heathland Gravel has a unique claim to fame in that it’s Europe's only official Unbound Gravel qualifier. There are 50 guaranteed places for Unbound 2027 up for grabs from a mixture of race results and lottery. Participants will get to race through “the beautiful Terhills in Maasmechelen for some of the best gravel roads of Flanders.“ Heathland Gravel is described as “A three-day event, including social rides, a unique gravel atmosphere, live music and of course a fantastic race right through Hoge Kempen National Park on the final day, awaits on the Terhills domain.” The organisers also say “There is also plenty for those who are not looking for an American gravel adventure, but just want to enjoy the best gravel paths that Limburg has to offer. In addition to the qualifier distance (160 km), courses of 110 km and 70 km will also be offered.”
Anyone who signs up, gets the following included in their entry fee:
- GPX route file
- Frame sticker with the route
- Bib number with timing chip for your bike
- Mechanical assistance on the route on Sunday
- Complimentary parking during the event
The organisers want to keep everyone’s energy levels topped up, so have arranged the following food and drinks:
- Paella & Prosecco Party on Friday
- Coffee and pancakes on Saturday morning
- Coffee on Sunday morning
- Extensive refreshments on the route on Sunday
- Hamburger Fest on Sunday
The organisers are doing their best to make sure there’s a full weekend of activities, not just the Unbound qualifier race:
- Hill Climb Challenge on Friday
- Movie nights on Friday and Saturday
- Recon Ride & Social Ride Out on Saturday
- Bike Expo all weekend
- Local kids race on Saturday
- Surplace Challenge on Saturday
- Live gravel podcast / pro rider interview on Saturday
- Music and good vibes after the race on Sunday
- Ceremony and lottery after the race on Sunday
- Goodies from our partners during the event
- Free T-shirt and finisher medal at the finish line on Sunday
Tickets for the 160 km Unbound Qualified event cost €79.95 and are available from the event website.