NeuFest in Pas de la Casa draws ~500; 2026 edition confirmed

Organisers said the inaugural NeuFest at Pas de la Casa closed the weekend with approximately 500 registered participants and confirmed a second edition for 2026 on similar dates between the Puríssima and Christmas. Officials reported more than 200 sign‑ups early on Saturday, about 400 by the end of that day and totals rising to nearly 500 on Sunday; the municipal councillor for Economic Reactivation, Nino Marot, later put registrations above 500, reflecting slightly different counts from organisers and local authorities.

The festival, promoted by the Comú d’Encamp together with local traders and Grandvalira, brought more than 20 international ski and snowboard brands to the foot of the slopes. There were 22 tents on site—20 run by equipment manufacturers—and a Grandvalira‑prepared testing area. The programme combined equipment demos and on‑snow ski tests with a freestyle zone, giant‑slalom and parallel courses, skills circuits, training and maintenance demonstrations, live music, free hot broth for visitors and a torchlight descent on Saturday evening.

Organisers presented NeuFest as an initiative to revitalise commerce at the foot of the slopes and raise the village’s visibility ahead of the winter season. Marot underlined the wider economic importance of snow‑related activity to Andorra, noting figures that place it at roughly 20% of the country’s GDP.

Attendance was partially affected by roadblocks on the French side linked to farmers’ protests over contagious nodular dermatitis in Ariège. Organisers said at least one coach of 44 people—a ski club from Bordeaux—had to turn back and that tourist coaches were broadly blocked, although some private vehicles could gain access via the Pimorent pass. Promoters and officials said the disruption reduced the expected French turnout; Marot lamented that they “missed the 100% of French tourists we expected.” One organiser suggested visitor numbers could have exceeded 1,000 had the cross‑border restrictions not occurred.

Local traders and exhibitors nonetheless gave positive assessments. Fabrice Dupré and Maxime Bony, two of the festival’s promoters, said the presence of public and brands met expectations and generated direct sales opportunities for Pas de la Casa shops. Grandvalira’s business director, Xavier Salinas, highlighted the value of cooperation between the resort, the commune and local traders in encouraging visitors to come up to the resort and stay.

Representatives of participating brands welcomed the format. Cristina Sau of Rossignol Andorra said mobility issues limited numbers compared with hopes but that feedback from domestic visitors was good. Joan Enric Ferrer of Blizzard Tecnica and the ISAR group described the festival as “very positive,” praising the chance for consumers to try current‑season equipment and complete purchases locally. Organisers said most exhibitors had already indicated a desire to return next year and that contacts to secure participation for 2026 are under way.

Overall, organisers judged the first NeuFest a success despite the French traffic disruptions and said they will build on the debut to further promote tourism and local commerce in Pas de la Casa.