Entries are now open for the inaugural explorr Festival, a new outdoor endurance festival in Banchory, Scotland that will feature a spectacular one-day gravel stage race set in the foothills of the Cairngorms National Park.
Taking place from 28–30 August 2026, explorr aims to become one of the UK’s most exciting new endurance events, combining competitive sport with a vibrant festival atmosphere on the banks of the River Dee.
At the heart of the weekend is the explorr Gravel Stage Race, a one-day race made up of four timed stages that will take riders through the rugged forest tracks, quiet backroads and expansive landscapes surrounding Banchory and Royal Deeside.
Rather than a traditional single-stage gravel race, the format challenges riders across four iconic stages, with cumulative times determining the overall result. The course is designed to reward both endurance and tactical racing, creating multiple opportunities for riders to shape the outcome throughout the day.
Riders will compete for a range of classifications including the General Classification, alongside Mountain and Sprint challenges across designated climbs and sprint segments throughout the stages.
The race will cover 120km in total, with 76km of timed racing across the four stages. Between stages, riders transition along open sections of the route before tackling the next competitive segment, creating a unique race format that blends endurance, strategy and explosive efforts.
The event is organised by Red On Sports, the team behind The Gralloch, the UK’s first UCI Gravel World Series race, which has quickly established Scotland as a global destination for gravel racing. Drawing on that experience, the team is bringing its gravel racing expertise to create a new and accessible stage race format designed to appeal to both competitive racers and ambitious amateurs.
Beyond the racing, explorr is designed as a three-day outdoor festival celebrating gravel cycling, running and outdoor culture. The Event Village in Banchory will host live music, athlete talks, film screenings and a curated outdoor expo throughout the weekend.
Additional highlights include a Charity Night Hike, kids races and community activities that bring together riders, runners and outdoor enthusiasts.
Early-bird entries for explorr Festival 2026 are now available. Full event information can be found at: www.explorr.co.uk
