Main Events in Alpe d'Huez: Races, Competitions & Festivals in Alpe d'Huez
also see Events Calendar for Alpe d'Huez: Event Dates in Alpe d'Huez

Events in Alpe d'Huez

There are loads of events in Alpe d'Huez organised year-round. From quirky local events to large scale sporting spectacles there is always something worth a gander. In this section we bring you information about the major annual Alpe d'Huez events in resort and don't forget to check out our calender for the latest updates.

Fete de la Musique21st June

Fête de la Musique is the celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21st June in cities, towns and villages across France. More than a music festival, the Fête de la Musique is a free event that spills out from the bars and restaurants onto the streets and encompasses every type of music imaginable, from local amateur teen bands to professional classical musicians, from club DJ’s to traditional folk bands.

Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry for Culture, the Fete is different from a music festival in that all the concerts and performances are free to the public and none of the artists are paid. The Fete de la Musique is now celebrated all over the world, where it is more commonly refered to as World Music Day.

Fête de la Musique is one of those certain nights throughout the year when the French authorities waive normal licensing laws, allowing the revelry to continue as long as there are people with the stamina to enjoy it – it is definitely one of the not-to-be-missed events of the summer social calendar!

Andros TrophyIce Driving every December

France's most prestigious ice-racing series stages its third race of the season at the French ski resort of Alpe d'Huez. The Andros Trophy has been running since 1990 and attracts the world’s best drivers and car manufacturers. A glamorous and spectacular event, it consists of further races in mountain resorts namely: Val Thorens, Andorra, Isola 2000, Lans en Vercors, Serre Chevalier with a grand finale pitting the leaders against each other in the Stade de France, Paris.

The race is divided into two categories, Elite and Promotion, which are then further split into two individual heats. Each driver and co-pilot team is divided into two groups for the heats and the finals; the winning team being the one with the highest points tally.

The ice tracks are prepared weeks in advance in each of the resorts, habitually and rigorously sprayed with water to ensure an even and stable coating of ice. The unpredictable alpine weather conditions can make for exciting viewing when ice melts or re-forms at unexpected points of the race!

Of course, we like to be where the action is and this is a not-to-be missed day out! 

Alpe d'Huez International Film FestivalComedy Film Festival every January

The International Comedy Film Festival returns to Alpe d'Huez each year with a selection of 8 full-length comedy films and 10 unpublished short films for your viewing pleasure... A unique event in France this festival is one of a kind - and it's free! Arrive early to bag your seat; the films are introduced by members of the cast and crew and this is a very popular event. Many of the films will be in French (some may have English subtitles) but all the films are screened in their original language, so American or English films will be shown with French subtitles.

Ski Dance & DeliriousFebruary

A chance to learn some new moves with Ski Dance & Delirious – a week of salsa, hip hop, Cuban, modern jazz, Bachata, Lambazouk, Ragga Jam, yoga, kizomba, zouk, reggeaton and lots more things that we’ve never heard of but sound like great fun!
Free and open to all: 1 lesson a day, every morning from 9:30 to 10:15 at the Sports Centre (Sunday to Friday, no classes on Wednesday)

Enquire at the Sports Centre or the Tourist Office, or click on the website link below for more details and a full programme of events.

European Gay Ski WeekEnd March

European Gay Ski Week returns to Alpe d'Huez for each year in what never fails to be a great event! There are cocktail parties, masquerade parties, pool parties and more as well as the SnowGaymes - an international gay and lesbian ski and snowboard contest. Some of Europes most famous gay party organisers (for example: Salvation, La Demence, Jungle) are brought onboard to ensure that each European Gay Ski Week is the best ever!

Comic Book FestivalBiannual animated weekend

The world of comics comes to Alpe d'Huez - history, adventure, comedy are some of the themes represented. For both adults and children.

Sarenne Snow BikeDownhill biking with a difference! Every April.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, Alpe d'Huez offers this downhill mountain bike race on the snow covered Sarenne.
The Sarenne Snow Bike event is a non-timed downhill mountain bike descent on the mythical Sarenne, with a descent of 16 kilometers and almost 2000 vertical meters.

International Equestrian EventEvery June

The Horse Endurance Committee of Rhone Alpes organises an annual international race in the Oisans region- 75 miles in 4 laps across varying terrain. Starting from Bourg d’Oisans, the trail passes along the Vénéon valley, over the dikes and the forest paths until the village of Venosc, then to Allemont in the Eau d’Olle valley, and progressively runs up to the village of Oz-en-Oisans and Alpe d’Huez where the horses will arrive on the gallop trail of the high-altitude Horse Riding Training Centre. A phenominal test of stamina for both horse and rider - expect to see a heaving flank or two!

La Marmotte Cycling RaceJuly

The Grand Trophée is a race for truly passionate cyclists who come from all over Europe to take part in one, or all, of the 10 exceptional cycling challenges that are held throughout France over the summer. Open to all, "La Marmotte" stage is the 8th in the series and is also one of the most difficult. With 16,400ft difference in height, 110 miles over fabulous passes; the Croix de Fer, the Telegraph, the Galibier, the Lautaret and then the 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez....it's not for the faint hearted!!

Megavalanche MTB CompetitonEvery July

Alpe d’Huez is rapidly becoming a bit of a Mecca for mountain bikers and the Mégavalanche MTB Competition is now one of the many mountain biking events of the Grandes Rousses summer season. Starting at 3330m on the peak of the Sarenne Glacier, the Mégavalanche is the ultimate in downhill biking contests, over 700 riders will have entered the eliminating rounds and less than 250 will get through so only the hardcore need apply!

For those who didn't make the finals they can still get the chance to hurl themselves down the longest downhill track in the world - they just won't be timed and classified.

Le Tour de France, Alpe d'HuezJuly

Catch a glimpse of France's most revered sporting event as it whizzes through the Alps. The gruelling heights of Alpe d'Huez make up one of the mountain stages of the legendary Tour de France cycling race. You can expect a large turnout of cheering spectators and a great atmosphere in the Alps.

Alpe d'Huez Duathlon & TriathlonJuly

The annual duathlon and triathlon contest puts competitors through their paces as they push themselves to the limits across the varied and high-altutide terrain of Alpe d'Huez. There are 5 events, held over the week, offering a number of different races for varying abilities - there is even a kids mini-triathlon! Races take part between the two neighbouring resorts of Alpe d'Huez and Vaujany.

Supermoto Championships Early August

The French Championships make a noisy arrival in Alpe d’Huez. A high altitude track, located on the Eclose, with a terrain ensuring spectacular jumps and speeds. One for the petrol-heads.

Alpe 21August

Seen it on TV and fancy doing it yourself? Well now is your chance with the "Alpe 21" amateur competition - a timed pedestrian climb of the 21 bends up to Alpe d’Huez. This meeting gathers more than 500 hikers and runners and also includes a 1,2 mile race just for children on the Avenue des Jeux in the very heart of the resort.

Air FestivalMid August

The Dauphine Flying Club take to the skies above Alp d’Huez in a number of classic and modern aircraft to demonstrate mountain flying. This two day festival is a chance for people to try out micro lights, watch air displays and pretend to be “Maverick” in flight simulators.

International Ice Hockey TournementMid August

The Alpe d’Huez Yetis invite Ice Hockey players from Canada, Russia, Switzerland, America, Italy and the Czech Republic to the ice rink for a festival to promote friendship and fair play. The teams will take to the ice for a tournament and to the bars and for parties and shows.