Marking its 12th year, The Big Bike Film Night 2026 is set to ignite the passion of cycling enthusiasts, rolling into Whakatāne on Monday, February 23.

Big Bike Film Night also takes place in Tauranga on Tuesday, February 24, and Rotorua on Thursday, March 5.

This much-loved film festival promises “a feast of short films devised and designed for the two-wheel devotee” celebrating the fun, adventure, and inspiration that only bikes can bring.

From humble beginnings in 2015, The Big Bike Film Night has grown into an international phenomenon that brings a love of cycling to cinemas, presenting an array of New Zealand and international movies curated by Taupō-based “Film Pedlar” Brett Cotter.

“Stories are at the heart of everything, and our dazzling 2026 collection features nine mesmerising films; each as are as dynamic and diverse as you could hope for.

“Audiences will be transported from backyard adventures in New Zealand to the breathtaking landscapes of Norway, to the lush forests of the Canadian West Coast, and we’ll crown things off on the slopes of the punishing Mont Ventoux, in Southern France,” said Cotter.

A highlight of this year’s programme is the world premiere of Queen of the Mountain, which is set in the stunning surrounds of Queenstown.

This documentary follows Annie Ford, an adventure activist, as she attempts to break the 24-hour Guinness World Record in downhill mountain biking – all to raise funds for reforesting the foothills in the Queenstown basin.

Big Bike Film Night
■ Where: Whakamax
■ When: Monday, February 23 at 6.30pm
■ Tickets: www. bigbikefilmnight.nz