Since its creation in 2010, the Open Canoe Festival has worked to make touring canoe culture accessible to as many people as possible, in a spirit of sharing and friendship.

For our 15th edition, from 8 to 11 April 2027, we have had to make a decision we would rather have avoided: raising the early registration fee from €150 to €170 (for registrations made by 28 February 2027). Here is why.

Rising costs, shrinking public funding

Organising OCF now involves a budget of nearly €110,000: six months of preparation, almost 600 participants, 35 international instructors, catering, shuttles, accommodation for the teams, large structures and technical equipment…

Like everyone else, we face inflation and regular price increases from our suppliers. At the same time, national budget pressures are affecting local authorities and, in turn, the grants available to events like ours. Some have been reduced; others have remained unchanged for years, while our budget has more than tripled since 2013.

Protecting the quality of the festival

For several years, OCF has recorded deficits, which we have covered by drawing on our association’s reserves. We have also invested in improving the participant experience, notably by creating a one-of-a-kind online workshop booking system that has eliminated the long queues. An improvement we are proud of!

We now need to restore a sustainable financial balance without sacrificing what makes the festival special: high-quality workshops, international encounters and a friendly atmosphere.

The actual cost of a participant’s place is estimated at around €275. By keeping the early rate at €170, we continue to cover a substantial share of that cost thanks to our private partners and the limited public grants we receive.

We also know that rising fuel prices add to the travel costs faced by many participants. This is another challenge we share when organising the festival.

A change to our cancellation policy

Cancellations remain relatively rare, but their financial impact is significant because many expenses are committed several weeks before the festival.

To protect our financial balance, participants can now take out cancellation insurance offered through our ticketing platform. Without this insurance, registration fees cannot be refunded if a participant withdraws, in accordance with our terms and conditions.

Thank you for your understanding!

Our ambition remains unchanged!

To keep offering four exceptional days dedicated to touring canoeing, at a price that is as accessible as possible. Thank you all for your loyalty and support!