For over 10 years, Annecy has hosted an unmissable ski event. The High Five Festival is the must-attend event ahead of the season. In addition to offering numerous films to the public, it provides the opportunity to meet international athletes.
The High Five Festival, meeting place for skiers
If there is one event that skiers from Haute-Savoie and beyond would not miss for anything in the world, it is the High Five Festival. The multiple films screened at the Pathé cinema in Annecy give a taste of the upcoming season, while the brand village allows you to win many prizes and find what you need to gear up for winter.
Headliners at the event
The High Five is also an opportunity to mingle with professional skiers for a weekend and think about booking your ski trip for the February holidays. The signing sessions follow one another, and you could certainly run into some Olympic medalists like Kévin Rolland and Martin Fourcade or the double world champion in giant slalom Tessa Worley. The key is to keep your eyes wide open, whether you are in the brand village, in a cinema, or at night. We therefore recommend bringing a notebook and a pen or not forgetting your helmet if you want to have it signed.
The High Five Festival in numbers
Since its creation in 2010, the High Five Festival has continued to grow. Today, around 600 cinema seats are sold and 850 industry professionals are present in Annecy on the first weekend of October. More than 25,000 festival-goers are expected each year and over 3,500 people at the evening events. As for the master class students, they number 200.
Practical information for the High Five
The doors of the High Five Festival open at 12 noon on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, it is possible to access it from 10 a.m. The festivities take place in three main locations:
-
- The Pâquier.
- The Imperial beach.
- The Pathé cinema.
Throughout the weekend, many activities are offered. And while it is possible to access the High Five World and the High Five Street Food Festival with your dog, we still recommend not bringing it with you if you want to make the most of it.
Getting to the High Five Festival
We would suggest you get to Annecy by dog sled or by cross-country skiing, but the snow has decided it is still too early to show up. Rest assured, there are alternatives to these options. Biking, for example, will allow you to avoid the traffic jams in the city center and not spend too long looking for a parking space. The train is another solution that will allow you to enjoy Annecy and its Old Town peacefully. And if you plan to come with friends, carpooling can be a good alternative. This way, you can extend the day by participating in the evening events.
The 2026 edition of the High Five
The High Five Festival 2026 awaits you in Annecy from October 2 to 4 for a 16th edition mixing cinema, meetings, activities, and evening events. For three days, more than 70 films will be screened in preview, with a new presentation of the High Five Awards to distinguish the most remarkable works and photographs of the festival.
Beyond the screenings, the program will extend to several locations in the city. The Stomp House will become the event’s headquarters with games, activities, a refreshment stand, conferences, and masterclasses. A short walk away, on Place François-de-Menthon, the Partner Village will bring together stands, activities, and several food trucks.
The atmosphere will continue in the evening with warm-ups organized at the Novotel, while the rapper NeS will perform in concert on Friday at 8:30 p.m. on the Brise Glace stage.
Past editions
The 2025 edition
The High Five Festival returned to Annecy from October 3 to 5, 2025.
On the program: 93 films, 21 screenings, and about ten disciplines, including six sessions dedicated to skiing. In three days, the festival brought together 20,000 people and offered 6,000 cinema seats. Located on Place François-Menthon, the new High Five Village also kept its promises with activities, partners, and a kids’ zone.
The 2024 edition
The 2024 edition of the High Five refocused on its essentials due to strong budget constraints. That year, the event did not take place on the Pâquier and adopted a modified format.
From September 27 to 29, despite the absence of concerts and the brand village, the festival offered screenings of ski, snowboard, and outdoor films at the Pathé Gaumont, as well as masterclasses, conferences, and activities.
The 2023 edition
The High Five 2023 took place from September 29 to October 1 with a rich program: a village of 70 outdoor brands, the Mont-Job village bringing together 25 exhibitors such as ski resorts and hotel groups, and a kids’ village for introductions.
The event also offered outdoor cinema screenings, a giant 400 m² skatepark, food trucks, as well as activities and concerts on Friday and Saturday.
The 2022 edition
The 2022 edition of the High Five Festival took place from September 30 to October 2. The event revolved around five universes, spread between the Pathé cinema, the Pâquier, and the Imperial Palace.
A major novelty for that year: the ski festival turned towards the four seasons, including new sports in the screenings such as mountain biking, trail running, and paragliding in addition to skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor sports.
The 2021 edition
The 2021 edition of the High Five was an opportunity to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event. An anniversary that was initially supposed to take place in 2020.
As every year, screenings of free-ski and snowboard films were held at the Pathé cinema in Annecy. A giant screen was also set up in the gardens of the Imperial Palace for outdoor screenings, along with 150 deck chairs for everyone’s comfort.
The 2020 edition
Due to the health crisis, the High Five 2020 was canceled.
The event, which usually marks the beginning of the winter season, was postponed to 2021. A tough blow for the Like That agency, which has been running the High Five for 10 years. But in light of the epidemic, it was not possible to protect the thousands of festival-goers. The 10th anniversary of the festival was therefore postponed to 2021 to be celebrated under the best conditions.
Where to stay in Annecy for the High Five Festival?
The ideal when attending the High Five Festival is to stay in close proximity to the event. This way, you won’t have to take the car again and can fully enjoy the evenings organized throughout this weekend dedicated to skiing.
HI France Youth Hostel
The HI France youth hostel is located less than a kilometer from the Château d’Annecy. You can easily access the ski festival by walking. The terrace will also offer a nice view of the lake.
Allobroges Park Hotel
This 3-star establishment is located in the city center of Annecy. It has parking and its reception is open continuously. A positive point since you can return at any time you wish.
Hotel de Savoie Annecy
The Hotel de Savoie is located in the heart of the Old Town, in a building dating from the 17th century. Less than 100 meters from Lake Annecy, it will allow you to easily access the Pâquier, the cinema, and the beach of the Imperial.
