In the Garda Trentino region, Arco is hosting the return of the Rock Master, the climbing festival that attracts athletes, enthusiasts, and curious onlookers from around the world. Over a three-day format, alongside the classic competitions, many activities, experiences, and workshops will be offered to let the audience experience the adrenaline of climbing.
Rock Master returns in October
For its 38th edition, the Rock Master in Arco, Garda Trentino, is back with breathtaking vertical challenges in a new three-day format from October 17 to 19, 2025: a unique opportunity to dive into the world of climbing and experience an engaging adventure. With a rich program designed for a wide audience, this year’s festival — the world’s oldest and longest-running climbing festival — is for everyone.
Competitions, talks, workshops, and experiences will allow enthusiasts and curious visitors to explore different aspects of this sport. From bouldering — climbing short, low blocks without a harness, using powerful and technical movements in brief sequences; to lead climbing — rope climbing on longer routes, where athletes secure themselves with quickdraws along the ascent; and speed climbing — timed races on a standardized route, where two athletes race to climb as quickly as possible.
Among the unmissable events will be encounters with champions such as Adam Ondra, a local athlete in Garda Trentino and the official ambassador of the 2025 edition, Janja Garnbret, and Stefano Ghisolfi.
There will also be live music, a village area with food trucks, and an expo area showcasing the latest innovations in the sector. For kids, there will be a new Kids Area featuring a custom bouldering wall and various zones to play, have fun, and try out activities like slacklining, skateboarding, and more to develop balance and coordination under the guidance of expert instructors.
Entrance is free, with registration required on the dedicated page.
The activities
Among the many novelties are the Rock Adventures, designed for all ages and skill levels.
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Crag Calling – Experience for beginners: takes participants, thanks to the sustainable mobility service Bus&Go, to a historic crag in the Sarca Valley.
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Mini Climber Maxi Fun! – Experience for kids: begins with warm-ups in the Kids Area, then moves on to the Massi di Prabi under Mount Colodri, finishing with a snack and a little surprise to remember the day.
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Climbing with the Champ: participants will have the chance to climb alongside Stefano Ghisolfi, a world champion in lead climbing.
After all that adrenaline, there’s nothing better than regaining balance and relaxing with yoga sessions for climbers, led by two exceptional instructors.
This year presents an extraordinary opportunity: for the first time, everyone can climb where world champions normally compete, inside the legendary Climbing Stadium. A place steeped in challenge and legend, ready to welcome anyone who wants to experience the thrill of touching the same holds as the greats. This will be made possible by The Fun Bloc powered by AutoIndustriale, a non-competitive gathering for those who want to try their hand at bouldering. No pressure: just the pure joy of moving on the blocks, testing yourself, and sharing the experience with climbers from all over Europe.
Thanks to a category system tailored to every skill level, anyone can be part of this unique opportunity to experience climbing in its most authentic spirit. Fun, challenge, and community under the lights of a stadium that has witnessed the writing of history.
And to pump up the adrenaline even more, the Speed U19 and U17 FASI Chronos Clash competitions will feature vertical duels, where emerging talents compete at supersonic speeds. Here, the only goal is to reach the finish line as quickly as possible, surpassing oneself in an explosion of power, precision, and courage.
Additionally, the Rock Master Village will offer an expo area to explore the best the market has to offer, with products such as holds, ropes, harnesses, technical clothing, climbing shoes, and carabiners, all focused on technique and innovation. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or someone new to the sport, visitors will have the chance to interact with professionals, industry experts, and athletes, exchanging tips and insights, or testing out new equipment and getting inspired by emerging trends. There will also be a food corner offering tasty moments of respite, featuring local Trentino specialties.
Classic events
The traditional events are not to be missed either: the classic Lead Duel and KO Boulder, real open-air spectacles featuring eight male and eight female athletes, among the world’s strongest.
The Boulder competition takes place on the new wall of the Climbing Stadium, after a day of open trials for the public. The event consists of four successive challenges, building the excitement as the athletes have three attempts per challenge to reach the top in an elimination system that will eventually see three finalists face off.
The Lead Duel takes place on the iconic Lead Wall of the Climbing Stadium. In this thrilling mix of speed and difficulty, athletes compete on two identical, high-difficulty routes, side by side in an elimination format. They have just over a minute to overcome 25 meters of overhang and reach the top.
Fun facts
With 731 equipped routes, Garda Trentino is a true vertical paradise, and Arco is its undisputed capital. It was here, on the rock of its Castle, that the first Rock Master festival was held in 1987. The following year, the Climbing Stadium was built in Arco, which continues to be the venue for the event and has been the FASI training center since the 2000s. Between 2024 and 2025, the center was renovated and expanded with the construction of a new outdoor bouldering wall and indoor walls for winter training for the national Olympic team.
Photo Credits: Garda Dolomiti Spa Archive
