Key highlights
- India Bike Week 2025 (IBW 2025) has moved its venue from Goa’s Vagator to Dubash Airfield in Panchgani, Maharashtra.
- The dates remain unchanged: December 19–20, 2025.
- Tickets already purchased for Goa are valid for Panchgani; full refunds are available until December 3 for riders who can’t make the new venue.
What started as plans for a December 12–13 festival in Vagator, Goa, for the 12th edition of IBW shifted gears late November. Organisers cited scheduling conflicts triggered by Zilla Parishad elections in Goa. The dates were first postponed. Then the venue was changed and Panchgani was chosen as the new host.
Reason?
The official explanation referenced the election schedule overlapping with the original plan. The organisers wanted to avoid hassles and ensure smooth hosting, so they identified Dubash Airfield in Panchgani nestled near the Western Ghats as the new venue.
What changes? And what stays the same?
Despite the location shift, IBW 2025 keeps the core of what makes it a must-attend for bikers:
- The festival dates: December 19–20 remain unchanged.
- Concerts, custom-bike showcases, overland-ride meetups, brand stalls, and motorcycle launches, all stay intact.
- Tickets already sold for Vagator now work for Panchgani. Organisers have also offered a full refund option until December 3 for those unable to make the ride.
So if you booked early, no re-booking required. Show your pass at the gate and you’re good to go.
What this shift means for riders and the biking scene
Moving from coastal Goa to the Maharashtrian hill station of Panchgani gives IBW an altogether new vibe. The twisty ghat roads, misty hills, and scenic hillsides near Mahabaleshwar could offer a fresh backdrop, especially for group rides from Pune, Mumbai or Goa itself. It might turn into part festival, part weekend escape.
On the logistical side, some riders will appreciate the closer proximity (for many cities it’s shorter than reaching Goa). Others, especially those who planned Goa-style beach holidays might need to adjust. But in raw biking and camaraderie terms, Panchgani might turn out to be a wild card win.
Also, a calmer, alpine-like setting could make night shows, music and motorcycles feel more like a riders’ retreat than a festival. More jackets, less humidity. Less chaos, more crisp air.
Our thoughts
Honestly, I dig this shake-up. IBW has always been about the ride just as much as the festival. Moving it to Panchgani feels like IBW is finally giving the two-wheeler community a festival that’s as much about the journey as the destination. No crowds of beach tourists. No sand in your clutch. Maybe a foggy morning ride through ghats, bikes roaring, lights cutting through mist.
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