Mark the dates: July 24 to August 2, 2026. For 10 unmissable days, Whistler once again becomes the centre of the mountain bike universe as Crankworx Whistler returns for its 21st edition – the ultimate celebration of mountain biking with higher stakes and impeccable festival vibes for fans looking to ride, race or simply have the best time.
This 10-day festival is back with a full slate of disciplines, the full roster of elite athletes, and a brand-new event closing things out. The world’s best riders are coming home to where it all began, and there’s never been a better time to be in Whistler Village.
A New Era – Higher Stakes at Rhapsody Slopestyle
The format fans love and know is intact: the men’s and women’s pinnacle of the sport, the world’s most progressive riders, and the legendary Whistler Boneyard as the stage. What’s new is the energy and what’s on the line for athletes.
2026 marks the inaugural season of Rhapsody Slopestyle, the Super Bowl of the mountain biking world. The biggest and most storied Slopestyle course on the World Tour circuit, and a pivotal event as the discipline’s best battle for points in the Slopestyle Super League and the Triple Crown Slopestyle.
And Crankworx Whistler isn’t just on the schedule, it’s the final event of the Regular Season, the make-or-break moment that decides which riders punch their ticket straight to the winner-takes-all Finals at Crankworx Mont-Sainte-Anne, who still have to fight for their spot at Crankworx SilverStar, and who will see their 2026 season end right here in the Whistler Boneyard.
What that means: every run in Whistler counts. Every trick matters. Every score reshuffles the leaderboard. For the audience, that means a level of tension and progression you won’t see anywhere else on the circuit.
A Legacy Reborn: Crabapple Hits World Championships
To close out the festival on August 2, Crankworx is bringing back one of Whistler’s most iconic stages with an all-new event.
The Crabapple Hits World Championships is a two-hour, rider-driven freeride jam at the legendary Crabapple Hits jump line. No brackets, no judging panel, no fuss. The riders themselves decide who wins. It’s a return to the heart of what makes Crabapple, well, Crabapple: creativity, progression, and the kind of moments that define a festival.
For more than a decade, this site was home to the iconic Whip-Off World Championships. Now it gets a fresh chapter – one written by the athletes, for the athletes, in front of a crowd that knows exactly what they’re watching.
Ten Days. The Full Festival. No Stone Unturned.
Beyond Slopestyle and Crabapple, the 2026 line-up delivers on every front:
- Downhill: get ready for another big DH line-up with the Canadian Open DH at the legendary 1199 track in Creekside, the OG CDN OPN finishing in the village, and the Air DH on A-Line – arguably the most well-known trail globally
- Enduro: the Canadian Open Enduro takes riders deep into the mountain, opening the festival on July 25-26
- Dual Slalom: head-to-head racing in the heart of the Whistler Boneyard – that’s as fun to watch as it is fierce to ride.
- Bosch eMTB Challenge: register to ride some of your favourite Whistler trails uphill (!) with your friends and have a good time
- Adaptive Mountain Biking (aMTB) is back at Crankworx Whistler with three days of competition and riding built into the festival: aMTB Flow (Saturday, July 25), aMTB Tech (Sunday, July 26), and aMTB First Tracks (Friday, July 31)
- Kidsworx, CWNEXT, and adaptive categories: the full progression pathway, from the next generation to riders of every ability.
- Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries: mountain bike culture under the summer sky at Whistler Olympic Plaza, with the sport’s best photographers and filmmakers showing you the soul of the scene.
- Deep Summer: Tuesday, July 28 at 8 PM
- Dirt Diaries: Thursday, July 30 at 8 PM
Find the full Crankworx Whistler schedule online.
More Ways to Ride, Watch, and Be Part of It
Crankworx 2026 isn’t just for the athletes on the start gate. It’s an invitation to every rider and fan who comes to Whistler, and the participatory side of the festival is leaning in harder than ever:
- LIV A-Line returns as the signature women’s community ride – one of the most-loved experiences in the festival calendar.
- Expanded group rides led by brand ambassadors, pro athletes, and partners – your chance to ride alongside the names you usually watch from the sidelines.
- Demos, workshops, and brand activations spread across the festival site.
- A locally designed merchandise line created in collaboration with local artists, bringing Whistler’s creative community into the heart of the festival’s visual identity.
Best Seats in the House: VIP Tickets On Sale
Want to feel the action at arm’s length? Crankworx VIP tickets are on sale.
Available for both the Slopestyle and the Canadian Open Downhill events, VIP is the ultimate vantage point: unobstructed sightlines positioned right beside the course, a refreshed and more open VIP zone with space and flexibility to elevate your festival experience, plus refreshments and snacks to keep you fuelled through the day.
Plan Your Trip to Whistler
Whistler in Crankworx season is unlike anywhere else: the bike park humming from first chair to last, the village buzzing with athletes, fans, and brands from across the globe, and a festival that’s woven into the fabric of the resort itself. Whether you’re coming to ride, to spectate, or just to soak up the atmosphere, this is a week to be in town. A true celebration of mountain bike culture.
Book your stay, lock in your VIP tickets and get ready for ten days of the world’s best mountain biking, coming home to where it all began.
Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe to the Crankworx newsletter and follow @crankworx on social media.
Stay 3+ Nights and Receive a Free Activity Voucher
Stay longer than a weekend this August and enjoy all Crankworx has to offer. Stay 3+ nights and receive a free $100 Activity Voucher when you enter promo code SUMMER2026 at check-out or call 1.800.944.7853 and mention the offer to one of our Travel Consultants when booking.
Book by June 30. Available only at Whistler.com while quantities last.
This post was written by Teresa Fasch, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications for Crankworx.
