All Images : Courtesy of X Games | Skier: Mac Forhand
Simply put, there is no more iconic event for Roaring Fork Valley locals, global freeski competitors or Front Range weekend warriors each January than the X Games. It’s everyone’s perfect excuse to hit Aspen and its four associated mountains for at least one epic weekend every winter. And that tradition is staying alive as X Games announced today the return of its premier winter event to Aspen Snowmass for the 25th consecutive year, marking a milestone in action-sports history.
And while the melee used to back up to Outdoor Retailer and SIA industry trade shows in Denver, that’s no longer a problem, and consumer-friendly events like the X Games (and Sea Otter in the bike world) have taken center stage post-COVID.
X Games Aspen 2026 will take place January 23–25, 2026, at Buttermilk Mountain, celebrating a quarter-century partnership of genre-defining performances and emotional moments each winter in the Aspen valley, along with the return of live music.
General admission tickets will be available with a variety of hospitality upgrades offering enhanced experiences and premium viewing options. Ticket and music lineup details will be forthcoming but fans eager to be the first to grab tickets and catch the full entertainment lineup can sign up for the X Games Aspen 2026 ticket waitlist at xgames.com.
The Summer X Games began in 1995 in Rhode Island (originally called the “Extreme Games”). ESPN launched the inaugural Winter X Games in 1997 at Snow Summit, California, featuring primarily snowboarding events alongside niche competitions like ice climbing and snow mountain biking. The evolution of freeskiing within the X Games began when the event moved to Crested Butte, Colorado, for 1998-99, introducing freeski disciplines and welcoming pioneering athletes like Denis Rey, Kent Kreitler, and Chris Davenport in the first Skier X competition. J.F. Cusson made history in 1999 when he edged out Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley to win the first-ever Ski Big Air, while Enak Gavaggio bested the legendary Shane McConkey in Skier X.
After a brief stint at Vermont’s Mount Snow (2000-2001), the Winter X Games found its permanent home in Aspen in 2002, where it expanded to include Ski Slopestyle and SuperPipe, won by Tanner Hall and Jon Olsson respectively. Since first arriving in Aspen in 2002, X Games has grown into a global winter tradition rooted in the unique energy and terrain of Buttermilk. Through technological advancements, evolving disciplines, and several generations of athletes pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on skis, the X Games has remained the premier showcase for freeskiing innovation and progression—a legacy that will continue with its milestone celebration in 2026.
X Games features five key freeski disciplines: SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, Knuckle Huck, and Street Style. SuperPipe utilizes a halfpipe with 22-foot walls where athletes chain together technical tricks; Slopestyle combines rail sections with jump features; Big Air focuses on single, progressive tricks off one massive jump; Knuckle Huck showcases creative tricks off the rollover of jumps; and Street Style brings urban-inspired features to the mountain setting.
Unlike FIS World Cup events, X Games doesn’t serve as an Olympic qualifier but maintains its position as freeskiing’s premier invitation-only event. The competition operates independently from the FIS qualification system, selecting approximately 100 elite athletes across all disciplines rather than using an open qualification format. Despite lacking Olympic implications, X Games medals carry immense prestige within the freeski community, with many athletes considering them equal to or more significant than Olympic hardware.
The event has consistently pushed progression in freeskiing, often introducing new disciplines years before their adoption into the Olympic program or World Cup circuit. Its ESPN broadcast platform provides unparalleled exposure compared to standard World Cup events, making X Games particularly valuable for athletes’ sponsor relationships and career trajectory. The competition has become such a cultural cornerstone that top competitors frequently prioritize X Games over conflicting World Cup events, illustrating its unique standing in the sport despite operating outside the Olympic qualification pathway.
X Games Aspen 2026 will bring the world’s top ski athletes to compete in disciplines across men’s and women’s events. Miro Tabanelli (Men’s Ski Big Air) wowed crowds by landing the first-ever 2340 in competition last year, adding to the anticipation around what will be achieved at X Games Aspen 2026. The X Games’ partnership with Aspen Snowmass has led to a spectacular celebration of snow sports, progression, world-class athletes, culture, music, and art that continues to draw audiences in from around the world, and the brand says that the 25th anniversary will honor the legacy of past competitions while spotlighting the innovation and excitement still to come.
X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom said the brand, now with summer and winter events in Salt Lake City, Osaka, Japan, and Aspen, is hyped to continue building on its legacy and bring X Games fans and athletes together for an unforgettable experience in 2026. “For 25 years Aspen’s been where winter sports legends are made and boundaries are unlimited,” he said. Since its inception in 1995, X Games has been the leading action sports competition and lifestyle brand, spotlighting the world’s best athletes against the backdrop of iconic host cities. Over the past 30 years, X Games has hosted world-class events around the globe, paired with top-tier music acts and immersive fan experiences across all platforms.
Additional updates and information for X Games Aspen 2026 will be available at xgames.com.
