The Golden Age Gym Festival adventure
Organised for the 50+ gymnasts, this festival is conceived to raise awareness among the senior generation of the 50 European Gymnastics National Federation members to the diversity of the physical efforts. Along the festival, physical activities permitting to preserve and find the mobility are organised. A week placed under the sign of friendship, combining gymnastics, physical activities, meetings and cultural discoveries.
Every two years, a new touristic destination is propose, joining the festival to fun. In 2005, the first edition is organised in Maspalomas (Spain), gathering 1 300 people from 20 countries. The first official Golden Age Gym Festival happens in 2008, once again in Maspalomas. In 2026, the event will celebrate its 10th edition in Les Sables d’Olonne.
The 10th edition
The 10th edition will be organised from 4th to 9th October 2026, in Les Sables d’Olonne, in France.
To find out more about the 10th edition of the Golden Age Gym Festival, including details of the event’s main venue, the Atlantes Congress Centre, the schedule and public transport options, click below.
Highlights
Parade and opening ceremony
All participants will walk with the official clothes during the parade and enjoy the opening ceremony show.
Workshops
The groups participate to workshops which allow them to discover various choreographic and acrobatic activities or practice local sports adapted to seniors.
City performances
Each group presents a show on stages located all around the host city.
Gala and closing ceremony
The host federation will propose a choreography which will permit to every group to participate. All gymnasts can participate to the show built with the city performances choreographies.
Dr Farid Gayibov
President of European Gymnastics
January 2026
Dear Gymnastics Friends,
The preparations for hosting the Golden Age Gym Festival in France on October 4-9, 2026 are now progressing at full capacity.
It is especially meaningful that this 10th edition takes place in Les Sables d’Olonne. Located on the Atlantic coast and internationally recognized
as the home of the legendary Vendée Globe solo sailing race, Les Sables d’Olonne is a city shaped by endurance, resilience, courage, and a lifelong spirit of adventure – values that resonate deeply with the philosophy of the Golden Age Gym Festival.
The Golden Age Gym Festival offers a unique opportunity for people aged 50 and over to demonstrate their abilities, share their passion for physical activity, and inspire others to embrace exercise regardless of age or physical appearance. It is a powerful reminder that movement knows no age limits, and that Gymnastics for All is rooted in inclusion, wellbeing, and the joy of participation rather than competition.
The growing enthusiasm for this festival is already evident, as the registration of interest for the 2026 edition shows a clear increase in numbers of both countries and participants compared with previous festivals, reflecting an expanding commitment to Gymnastics for All across Europe and beyond.
At this stage, the French Gymnastics Federation, together with its Local Organizing Committee, is working closely with European Gymnastics to
deliver an exceptional festival, providing a warm, inspiring, and flawlessly organized experience for all participants and gymnastics fans.
I look forward to seeing friendships renewed, new ones formed, and to witnessing once again how gymnastics can inspire, empower, and unite people at every age.
Dominique Mérieux
President of the French Federation of Gymnastics
January 2026
Dear participants,
As the 10th edition of the Golden Age Gym Festival gets closer, the preparation is moving on with some noticeable dynamism and enthusiasm.
The organizing teams are fully committed to plan an event respecting the highest values of the French Federation of Gymnastics.
The Local Organizing Committee, closely linked with the French Federation and European Gymnastics, works every day to guarantee an optimal organization to welcome you in the best conditions possible from 4th to 9th October 2026. The program is becoming more precise, so the ceremonies, workshops, city performances and excursions already promise a rich full of sharing, discoveries and conviviality.
This edition already plans to be exceptional, with 25 countries expected – a record for the Golden Age Gym Festival – and about 1,900 participants gathered around a same passion. We are looking forward to welcome these delegations coming from all over Europe to give them the opportunity to discover the French culture and its patrimony, across the seaside city of Les Sables d’Olonne and a schedule mixing sport experiences, meetings and parties. These international exchanges fully illustrate the spirit of the Golden Age Gym Festival, built on sharing, well-being and pleasure de move together.
I want to warmly thank, once again, the Local Organizing Committee, the services of the French Federation, the volunteers and the partners for their strong commitment. Their mobilisation is essential to make this anniversary edition a success. I also thank European Gymnastics for the renewed trust to organize a second edition of the Golden Age Gym Festival in France.
See you on October 4th, to open together this big party of gymnastics, placed under the symbol of conviviality, health and joy to meet-up.
See you soon for this beautiful edition in Les Sables d’Olonne!
Ricardo Lima
President of the European Gymnastics
Gymnastics For All Technical Committee
January 2026
Dear Friends,
It is with great joy and excitement that we welcome you to the second official bulletin for the Golden Age Gym Festival 2026. As we draw closer to our gathering in the stunning seaside town of Les Sables d’Olonne, the expectations continues to grow.
Located right on the edge of the majestic Atlantic Ocean, Les Sables d’Olonne offers more than just a place; it provides a breathtaking backdrop
of sandy beaches and refreshing sea breezes. The Local Organizing Committee is working tirelessly, pouring heart and soul into every detail to ensure that this event is truly memorable for every participant.
The Golden Age Gym Festival has always been about more than just movement and gymnastics. It is a vibrant celebration of friendship, a platform for sharing life experiences, and an opportunity for deep cultural adventure. To help you make the most of your stay, their will be prepared a variety of sightseeing opportunities and excursions, allowing you to discover the unique charm and heritage of the Pays de la Loire region.
We are thrilled to share that expectations are high for this edition! We anticipate an increase in the number of participants compared to previous years. It is inspiring to see our community grow, proving that the passion for gymnastics and active living knows no bounds.
We invite you to dive into the details of this bulletin and start dreaming of the Atlantic coast. We are waiting for you with the best of French hospitality!
See you in Les Sables d’Olonne!
Luc Le Roy
President of the Local Organizing Committee
January 2026
Dear participants,
Thank you for the record attendance you have given us with 25 nations and nearly 1900 participants for this 2026 Golden Age Gym Festival in Les Sables d’Olonne. We are looking forward to welcoming you to this Vendée coast where the ocean, the light, and human energy come together to create a unique setting. You are here to celebrate what unites us: movement, curiosity, conviviality, and this wonderful desire to share new experiences.
The Golden Age Gym Festival is not just a sporting event. It’s a time when cultures meet, traditions are discovered, and everyone brings a little bit of their own country and leaves enriched by the cultures of others. For this edition, we wanted France and the Vendée region to be in the heart of this encounter.
Sporting workshops rooted in the local area
You will have the opportunity to discover disciplines that tell our story and our identity:
• Sport from the Vendée region, originating in our villages and along coastline,
• Emblematic French practices,
• And workshops designed to let you experience the local spirit, combining authenticity, enjoyment, and sharing.
These workshops are an invitation to move differently, to explore new methods, and to feel the strength of a region that has always made sport a way of life.
Gastronomy that speaks to the heart
Because an event like this is also best enjoyed at the table, we have imagined a catering service that highlights the richness of French and Vendée cuisine.
As you browse through the menus, you will discover:
• Seafood and local produce,
• Traditional recipes with a twist,
• Flavors that tell the story of our terroir with simplicity and generosity.
We hope that each meal will be a moment of discovery, pleasure, and conviviality for you.
A European Celebration
Your presence, coming from all corners of Europe, gives this edition a profoundly human dimension. You bring your languages, your cultures, your stories, and together, we compose a mosaic that makes up the beauty of the Golden Age Gym Festival.
May this week in Les Sables d’Olonne be a source of inspiration, encounters, and joy for you.
May you go back with bright memories, new friendships and the willing to come back.
Wishing everyone a wonderful 2026 edition!