The xgames 2026 aspen schedule is now officially set, confirming three days of world-class winter sports action at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, from January 23 to January 25, 2026. The landmark event marks the 25th anniversary of X Games Aspen and brings together elite skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobile athletes for a packed program of medal competitions, night finals, and live entertainment.
This year’s edition blends tradition with progression, celebrating a quarter century of innovation in freestyle winter sports while showcasing the next wave of talent pushing technical boundaries in the SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Knuckle Huck, and Snowmobile disciplines.
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A Quarter Century at Buttermilk Mountain
Aspen has been the permanent winter home of the X Games for more than two decades, and the 2026 edition represents a major milestone. Since the event’s arrival in Colorado in the early 2000s, Buttermilk Mountain has evolved into one of the most recognizable venues in action sports, known for its towering halfpipe walls, perfectly sculpted jump lines, and spectator-friendly layout.
The 25th anniversary celebration is expected to draw a full roster of Olympic medalists, defending champions, and emerging stars. For athletes, a podium finish at Aspen remains one of the most prestigious accomplishments in freestyle skiing and snowboarding. For fans, the combination of competition and festival atmosphere has become a signature winter tradition.
Daily Competition Lineup
All times listed are Mountain Time.
Friday, January 23, 2026 – Opening Day Showdowns
The first day sets the pace with technical events and high-energy finals under the lights.
- 10:45 AM – Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle
- 1:45 PM – Women’s Ski Knuckle Huck
- 4:45 PM – Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe
- 6:15 PM – Women’s Ski SuperPipe
- 7:30 PM – Men’s Ski Big Air
- 8:35 PM – Snowmobile Freestyle Finals
Friday blends creativity and power, moving from rail-heavy slopestyle runs to massive aerial tricks in Big Air and the return of snowmobile freestyle to the main stage.
Saturday, January 24, 2026 – The Busiest Day of Competition
Saturday delivers nonstop action from morning through night, featuring many of the weekend’s most anticipated medal events.
- 10:30 AM – Men’s Ski Slopestyle
- 12:45 PM – Women’s Ski Big Air
- 2:30 PM – Women’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck
- 4:30 PM – Snowmobile Speed & Style Seeding
- 5:45 PM – Women’s Snowboard Big Air
- 6:45 PM – Men’s Snowboard Big Air
- 7:45 PM – Men’s Ski Knuckle Huck
- 8:30 PM – Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe
The evening sessions place the spotlight on Big Air and the snowboard SuperPipe, traditionally among the most watched events of the entire weekend.
Sunday, January 25, 2026 – Championship Sunday
The final day crowns champions across slopestyle, snowmobile, and pipe disciplines, concluding the anniversary celebration.
- 10:30 AM – Women’s Ski Slopestyle
- 12:00 PM – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle
- 4:00 PM – Snowmobile Speed & Style Finals
- 5:15 PM – Men’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck
- 6:00 PM – Men’s Ski SuperPipe
The men’s ski SuperPipe final closes the event, often delivering the highest scores and most progressive runs of the weekend.
Key Disciplines to Watch
SuperPipe
The SuperPipe remains the centerpiece of X Games Aspen. Its size allows athletes to generate extreme height, linking multiple rotations and technical grabs in single runs. Both ski and snowboard divisions are expected to feature record-level difficulty as riders attempt never-before-seen combinations.
Slopestyle
Slopestyle courses reward precision, flow, and creativity. A mix of rails, transitions, and large jumps challenges competitors to balance technical execution with overall style. The event often produces the most diverse trick selection of the weekend.
Big Air
Big Air focuses on one massive takeoff, giving athletes the chance to attempt their biggest tricks. The format encourages progression, and it is common to see new variations of spins and flips unveiled in Aspen.
Knuckle Huck
Knuckle Huck has become a fan favorite due to its free-form approach. Instead of a traditional judged run, athletes perform multiple attempts, highlighting originality, risk, and crowd response.
Snowmobile Freestyle and Speed & Style
Snowmobile events add a unique dimension to the Winter X Games. Freestyle emphasizes aerial control and trick variety, while Speed & Style combines racing with technical jumps, creating head-to-head battles that are both fast and visually dramatic.
Music and Nighttime Atmosphere
X Games Aspen is as much a cultural event as a sporting one. Evening finals are paired with live music performances from internationally recognized electronic and alternative artists, transforming the venue into a winter festival. Between competition sessions, DJ sets and on-site entertainment maintain energy levels and create a continuous, immersive experience for spectators.
How the Event Reaches a National Audience
For viewers across the United States, the Winter X Games are broadcast on major sports networks with live daytime coverage and prime-time finals. Digital platforms provide streaming access, replays, and highlight packages, ensuring fans can follow every medal run, record attempt, and breakthrough performance throughout the three-day program.
Why the 25th Anniversary Matters
The 2026 edition represents more than another stop on the competitive calendar. It reflects how far winter action sports have progressed in 25 years. Early X Games competitions featured double and triple rotations that were once considered groundbreaking. Today, athletes routinely land quadruple spins, complex grab variations, and technical rail sequences that redefine what is possible on snow.
Generations of riders have built their careers on the Aspen stage. Many current competitors grew up watching these events and now arrive as medal contenders themselves, continuing the cycle of innovation that defines the X Games legacy.
Planning an Aspen X Games Weekend
Fans attending in person can expect a mix of free daytime viewing and ticketed evening sessions. The Buttermilk Mountain layout allows spectators to move between venues easily, with clear sightlines of the SuperPipe, slopestyle course, and Big Air jump. The surrounding Aspen Snowmass area offers a full winter resort experience, from skiing and snowboarding to dining and nightlife, making the event a centerpiece of the January calendar.
The Importance of the Competition Calendar
With a clearly defined timetable, athletes can prepare for peak performance windows, while fans can plan travel, viewing schedules, and prime-time watch parties around the most anticipated finals. From the opening slopestyle rounds to the closing SuperPipe showdown, the structure of the weekend builds momentum toward a dramatic conclusion.
The confirmed xgames 2026 aspen schedule ensures that each discipline receives its own spotlight while maintaining a steady flow of action across all three days, reinforcing Aspen’s status as the premier destination for winter freestyle competition.
