Entries have opened for the inaugural Explorr festival, a new outdoor endurance event weekend based in Banchory, Scotland. The festival will feature a one–day gravel race set in the foothills of the Cairngorms National Park.
Taking place from August 28–30, 2026, the event aims to combine competitive sport with a festival atmosphere on the banks of the River Dee.
At the centre of the weekend is the explorr Gravel Stage Race. The format consists of four timed stages covering rugged forest tracks, backroads, and the landscapes of Royal Deeside. Unlike traditional single–stage gravel events, cumulative times from the four stages will determine the overall results.
The race will cover a total of 120km, including 76km of timed racing. Between competitive segments, riders will use neutral transition sections along open parts of the route. Participants will compete for various classifications, including the General Classification and specific Mountain and Sprint challenges.
The event is organised by Red On Sports, the team responsible for The Gralloch, which was the first UCI Gravel World Series race held in the UK. Red On Sports itself is a sports event management company specialising in endurance and off-road cycling experiences.
Maximilian Wussler, at Red On Sports, said “Explorr is a new outdoor endurance festival… bringing together running, gravel cycling and outdoor adventure with a vibrant festival atmosphere.”
In addition to the gravel racing, the three–day festival includes running events across 5km, 10km, half marathon, and marathon distances. The programme also features a Charity Night Hike to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK, Breast Cancer UK, and Banchory Outdoor and Active.
An event village in Banchory will host live music, athlete talks, film screenings, and an outdoor expo throughout the weekend. Activities for children and various community events are also scheduled.
Early–bird entries for the 2026 edition are currently available through the event website.
www.explorr.co.uk
www.redonsports.com