The highly anticipated X Games action sports competition is set to take place in Calgary in February next year. The event will be held at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park over a three-day period starting on Feb. 19, featuring performances by international musical acts Levity and Steve Aoki.
This marks the first time in the 31-year history of the X Games that Canada will host the competition. Alisha Reynolds, president and CEO of Tourism Calgary, expressed excitement about Calgary being chosen as the host city, emphasizing the city’s perfect fit for such an electrifying event.
Top skiers and snowboarders from around the world will compete in various events like Big Air, Knuckle Huck, Slopestyle, and Superpipe. Organizers anticipate an attendance of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 spectators over the course of the competition, with an expected economic boost of around $25 million for Calgary.
Local freestyle skier Brendan Mackay, a member of Team Canada, shared his enthusiasm for hosting the event in his hometown. Mackay highlighted the significance of his past X Games achievements and expressed hope that hosting the event in Calgary will inspire and impact the next generation of athletes.
Canadian snowboarder Craig McMorris, who attributes his success to training at Canada Olympic Park, also expressed excitement over the X Games coming to Canada, emphasizing the country’s rich talent pool in action sports.
In a new initiative, the X Games introduced a league format in 2026 where athletes will compete individually while earning points for club teams, creating a championship race for fans to engage with. During the X Games Calgary media event, CEO Jeremy Bloom announced the four clubs for the winter league, with X Games Club Whistler among them, giving Canadians a club to support.