Largest Motorcycle Festival in Europe celebrates the 120 years of Harley-Davidson

The Harley-Davidson returned to the amazing stage of Faaker See, in Carinthia, Austria, from September 5 to 10, 2023, in what was a truly iconic year for the European Bike Week. Approximately 100,000 people and over 70,000 motorcycles gathered at the festival in the Austrian village of Faak am See to celebrate Harley-Davidson in a stunning alpine setting at a free event open to all riders. The European Bike Week in 2023 was a special celebration that marked three significant anniversaries for the American motorcycle brand. It was a major highlight of the 120th anniversary celebrations of Harley-Davidson and also marked the 40th anniversary of the Harley Owners Group and the 25th anniversary of the first Harley-Davidson European Bike Week event in Faaker See in 1999.The future of this iconic event was sealed during this European Bike Week as well as the special relationship of the brand with the Carinthia region. Harley-Davidson is pleased to announce that it will formally extend its direct partnership with the region to continue hosting the European Bike Week annually until 2030. This commitment ensures that motorcycle customers and fans can continue to experience the largest European motorcycle gathering in the beautiful south of Austria every September. As a sign of Harley-Davidson’s ongoing commitment to the city, and to leverage its already strong presence in the area, a new Harley Boulevard was inaugurated in honor of the longstanding relationship. This new location adds to the existing landmarks of Harley-Davidson, including the iconic “Harleywood” sign by the lake and the legendary motorcyclist sculpture on the main road in Villach. Participants of the festival had the opportunity to explore the heart of the celebrations at the Harley Village – a site of about 40,000 m2 – filled with authorized Harley-Davidson dealers from across Europe, as well as a variety of other accessory and clothing vendors. Those looking for entertainment didn’t have to go far, as the festive atmosphere was felt everywhere, including at the newly designed Saloon Bar and Harley Bar, as well as two stages featuring 25 international artists. 

The Harley-Davidson EXPO showcased the latest motorcycles from the iconic brand, including the newly launched CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide, the most technologically advanced Harley-Davidson Grand American Touring motorcycles ever produced, which attracted a large and enthusiastic crowd. The H-D Demo Zone was packed throughout the festival, with over 1,700 riders having the opportunity to test the latest models. A real highlight for many was the Pan America Adventure Zone, a technical off-road area with Dakar legends Joan Pedrero (Spain) and Mick Extance (UK) and off-road expert and instructor Ralf Wiesenfeller (Germany) who performed demonstrations, dynamic displays, driving lessons, and off-road tutorials.

On Friday, the Custom Bike Show sponsored by Metzeler was held. Around 78 custom creations were entered in six categories, with trophies awarded in the Best in Category, Best in Show, and People’s Choice categories. The Best in Show award was unanimously granted by the panel of judges to Mirko Perugini from Italy for his creation incorporating a very old V-Twin engine. Continuing with the awards, on Saturday night participant Boris Zanki from Split, Croatia, won a Sportster S and was on stage in front of a huge crowd at the H-D square.

10,000 motorcyclists rode the roads around Carinthia from Lake Faak, Villach, and Finkenstein during Saturday’s parade, making it one of the largest and most celebrated motorcycle parades in Europe.

Kolja Rebstock, Vice President of Harley-Davidson for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, states: “The European Bike Week is one of our biggest events of the year and we are pleased to confirm our commitment to hosting this magical event until 2030. Providing lifestyle experiences like the European Bike Week to our customers and motorcycle fans is what makes our brand so unique.”

The Harley-Davidson celebrations continue next year with the 30th edition of the Annual European H.O.G. Rally, a free event open to all riders taking place in the historic city of Senigallia, Italy, from June 6 to 9, 2024. The excellent location is less than two hours from Bologna and features iconic Renaissance architecture, a stunning coastline surrounded by rolling hills, and winding roads, making it a perfect location to plan a trip in 2024.

The European Bike Week will return to Faak am See from September 3 to 8, 2024.