Posted by: Julie Block
New kids’ races, speed climbing additions, historic drone show, and more
The Vail Valley Foundation’s GoPro Mountain Games will return to Vail June 4-7, 2026, with significant expansions across youth programming, competitive events, and more. Athlete registration is open now, with early bird pricing available through April 1.
The GoPro Mountain Games is the biggest celebration of adventure sports, mountain lifestyle, music, and art, featuring 35+ competitions across 11 disciplines, including running, climbing, whitewater, biking, canine competitions, and more. Over $140,000 in cash prizes will be distributed to podium finishers, and the event is 100% free to spectate.
This year’s festival features additional opportunities for young athletes, expansions of events that debuted in 2025, multiple course enhancements, a celebratory drone show, an expansive Mountains of Music concert lineup, and much more.
Expanded Youth Programming
Youth participation continues to be the fastest-growing category at the Mountain Games. The 2026 event introduces several new opportunities for young athletes:
- NEW Kids Mini Dash is a kids’ running race for ages 6-12, featuring both long (approximately 2K) and short (approximately 1K) course options.
- Additional waves in the Lucid Kids Bike Race, including another wave for the 6-and-under crowd, allowing an additional 70 kids to participate.
- NEW Beginner U14 category in the Lucid XC Mountain Bike, offering an entry-level option for riders 14 and under on a shorter course, while other Sport and Expert categories are available for experienced junior competitors.
- Kids Weekend Bundle, offering 10% savings when registering for both the Kids Mini Dash (Friday), and the Lucid Kids Bike Race (Sunday).
“The growth we’ve seen in youth participation has been unbelievable, and we’re excited to expand opportunities for young mountain athletes,” said Dave Dressman, Event Director for the GoPro Mountain Games. “From the Mini Dash to the additional Kids Bike waves and the U14 Beginner category in the XC Mountain Bike, we’re creating more entry points for younger athletes of all abilities. These additions reflect our commitment to evolving the Mountain Games while continuing to ensure the festival remains accessible and welcoming to everyone.”
Speed Climbing Returns with New Offerings
Following last year’s historic debut of speed climbing at the Mountain Games, all speed climbing events are returning for 2026, with one exciting addition:
- NEW Try Speed Climbing, allowing climbers ages 12 and up with climbing experience to test their skills on the speed wall. The event welcomes anyone with climbing experience, whether in bouldering, sport climbing, or other disciplines, to test their skills on the speed wall.
Enhanced Competition Formats, Schedules, and Courses
Several events feature improvements and updates for 2026:
- GoPro Dual Slalom and Jump Jam bike events move to Friday/Saturday (formerly Thursday/Friday) with course improvements.
- Pro Plan Try DockDogs is expanding to include Saturday in addition to Thursday and Friday, giving dog owners more opportunities to discover if their pup has what it takes to compete.
- adidas TERREX Sunday Funday 5K will debut a brand-new course, while the 10K and 20K races will feature improved race formats to enhance the competitive experience.
- Garmin Disc Golf features updated formats, new courses, and the introduction of the “Maloit Monster”—an 18-hole super course for finals.
- Road Bike Hill Climb (formerly Road Bike Time Trial) features new rules and a new name while maintaining the same challenging course.
Pacifico Kayak Cross Returns as OKC Qualifier
After a successful first year in 2025, Kayak Cross returns to the Mountain Games in 2026 with higher stakes. The Mountain Games Pacifico Kayak Cross will serve as a qualifying event for the Kayak Cross at the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City July 20-25, 2026. Kayak Cross made its Olympic debut at Paris 2024 and will return for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Beyond the Competitions: Music, Drone Show, Art, and Entertainment
On top of the athletic competitions, the Mountain Games offers nonstop entertainment for all ages:
- Mountains of Music features headliner concerts at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater along with a robust lineup of free daytime concerts in Vail Village and Golden Peak. The full Mountains of Music lineup will be announced on March 17.
- A drone show will take place at dusk on Saturday, June 6 in Vail Village over Pepis Face. Presented in partnership with Discover Vail, the State of Colorado and Brightflight Drone Shows, the event will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Town of Vail, the 150th anniversary of the State of Colorado, and the 250th anniversary of the United States. This historic anniversary is known as the Sesquisemiquincentennial.
- Returning for its fourth year, the CoLab Creator Stage, located in Solaris Plaza, will once again showcase some of the world’s top creators, musicians, athletes, and outdoor personalities. The full CoLab schedule will be announced soon.
The official Mountain Games mobile app allows eventgoers to build personalized schedules, navigate the event with ease, and receive real-time updates. Download the app from the Apple or Google Play Stores to start planning your adventure.
Athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and adventure-seekers of all skill levels are encouraged to secure their spots early. Register before April 2 at mountaingames.com for the best prices. Media registration is also open at mountaingames.com/media-registration.
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