The snowmobile freestyle x games competition is roaring back into one of America’s most iconic winter action sports showcases as athletes and fans gather on Colorado’s Buttermilk Mountain for the 25th edition of Winter X Games Aspen 2026. After a multi-year absence, snowmobile events including freestyle and speed & style have been officially reinstated, bringing fresh energy to the X Games lineup and putting the spotlight back on some of the most daring riders in the world.
Winter X Games Aspen 2026 is being held from January 23 through January 25 in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado. The return of snowmobile disciplines has become one of the most talked-about developments of this year’s event, drawing renewed attention from fans, sponsors, and elite athletes eager to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Snowmobile Freestyle Makes Its Long-Awaited Comeback
Snowmobile competition last appeared at the Winter X Games in 2021. Its absence left a noticeable gap in the program, particularly for fans of motorized winter sports. In 2026, organizers brought back both Snowmobile Freestyle and Snowmobile Speed & Style, restoring a key pillar of the X Games identity.
The decision reflects the continued growth and popularity of freestyle snowmobiling in North America. Riders have continued to progress in technique and creativity over the past several years, and the return of a global stage allows that evolution to be showcased in front of millions of viewers.
Upgraded Course Design and Bigger Air
The snowmobile freestyle course at Aspen 2026 has been completely reworked to meet the demands of modern riding. The new layout features larger takeoff ramps, extended landing zones, and longer gaps that allow athletes to generate more airtime and perform higher-difficulty tricks.
Each rider is given two runs, each lasting 75 seconds. Judges score based on overall impression, trick difficulty, execution, variety, and use of the entire course. Only the highest-scoring run counts, pushing competitors to take calculated risks and deliver their most technical performance under pressure.
Elite Riders in the Field
The 2026 Winter X Games features an invitation-only roster of 150 of the world’s top action sports athletes across skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. The snowmobile field includes past X Games medalists and rising stars who have earned their place through international competition and professional rankings.
Veteran freestyle champions and podium regulars are joined by younger riders known for double backflips, off-axis rotations, and complex grab combinations. The mix of experience and innovation sets the stage for one of the most competitive snowmobile freestyle finals in recent history.
Speed & Style Adds Head-to-Head Drama
Alongside freestyle, Snowmobile Speed & Style also returns in 2026. This format combines racing with technical trick execution, as two riders go head-to-head on a mirrored course featuring jumps, rhythm sections, and a freestyle feature.
Athletes are judged on both finish time and trick quality, with style points playing a decisive role. The event delivers fast-paced, bracket-style competition that brings an added level of intensity and unpredictability to the snowmobile program.
National Broadcast and Massive Audience
In the United States, Winter X Games Aspen 2026 is being broadcast live across major television and streaming platforms, ensuring nationwide access to snowmobile freestyle and speed & style competitions. Prime-time coverage and digital replays are giving snowmobile athletes unprecedented exposure, helping the sport reach new audiences beyond traditional motorsports fans.
The return of snowmobile events has also boosted on-site attendance, with fans gathering along the course to witness high-flying tricks and close-quarters racing in person.
Aspen’s Role in X Games History
Aspen Snowmass has hosted the Winter X Games continuously since 2002, making it the longest-running venue in event history. The terrain of Buttermilk Mountain allows for large-scale course construction while maintaining close spectator viewing, creating an arena-style atmosphere unique in winter sports.
The 25th edition in 2026 carries added significance, marking a milestone year that blends tradition with renewed innovation. The reintroduction of snowmobile competition reinforces Aspen’s role as the central stage for progression in winter action sports.
What a Medal Means at the X Games
An X Games medal remains one of the highest honors in action sports. For snowmobile athletes, podium finishes in Aspen carry career-defining weight, influencing sponsorships, professional rankings, and international recognition.
With Olympic winter sports also preparing for the next global cycle, the X Games serve as a proving ground where athletes test new tricks, refine competition strategies, and measure themselves against the world’s best under live-broadcast pressure.
Xbox Games Showcase 2025
The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 was a major digital event where Microsoft revealed upcoming Xbox games, first-party titles, and new projects from its global studio partners. The presentation featured world premieres, gameplay trailers, release windows, and updates on highly anticipated franchises, giving fans a clear look at what’s coming next for Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass in the year ahead.
X Games Aspen 2026 Schedule
X Games Aspen 2026 will take place from January 23 to January 25, 2026, at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, featuring three days of elite snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobile competitions.
Friday, January 23, 2026
Events include Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Women’s Ski Knuckle Huck, Women’s Snowboard SuperPipe, Women’s Ski SuperPipe, Men’s Ski Big Air, and Snowmobile Freestyle & Speed and Style.
Saturday, January 24, 2026
The schedule features Men’s Ski Slopestyle, Women’s Ski Big Air, Women’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck, Snowmobile Speed and Style Seeding, Women’s Snowboard Big Air, Men’s Snowboard Big Air, Men’s Ski Knuckle Huck, and Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Final-day events include Women’s Ski Slopestyle, Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle, Snowmobile Speed and Style Finals, Men’s Snowboard Knuckle Huck, and Men’s Ski SuperPipe.
How to Watch X Games Aspen 2026
Fans can watch X Games Aspen 2026 live on ESPN and ABC in the United States, with full event coverage also available through streaming platforms such as ESPN+ and The Roku Channel. Viewers who prefer online access can follow live streams, full replays, and highlight clips on the official X Games website and YouTube channel. International audiences can tune in through digital partners and social media platforms, ensuring global access to all major competitions, athlete performances, and medal moments throughout the event.
A New Era for Snowmobile Freestyle
The return of snowmobile freestyle and speed & style signals a renewed commitment to motorized disciplines within the Winter X Games. Enhanced course design, deeper talent pools, and expanded media coverage have elevated the sport’s profile and set the stage for continued growth in the years ahead.
From massive backflips and technical rotations to high-speed battles down mirrored tracks, the snowmobile competitions at Aspen 2026 are once again delivering the intensity, creativity, and spectacle that define the X Games brand.
Share your favorite moments from the snowmobile freestyle finals and stay tuned as the Winter X Games continue to deliver unforgettable action.