Iconic winter X Games comes to Calgary

A file photo of WinSport's Canada Olympic Park. The X Games will take over the Calgary venue in February 2027. (Dave Gilson/CBC)Social SharingThe iconic X Games action sports competition is coming to Calgary in February next year.

WinSport's Canada Olympic Park will host the three-day competition beginning Feb. 19, and the city will also see international musical acts Levity and Steve Aoki perform as part of the event.

The Calgary stop marks the first time in the 31-year history of the X Games that the competition will be hosted in Canada. 

“X Games is one of those events you dream of hosting in your city,” said Tourism Calgary president and CEO Alisha Reynolds. “There is truly no better city than Calgary to host this electrifying event.” 

The event will see some of the world's top skiers and snowboarders compete in events like Big Air, Knuckle Huck, Slopestyle and Superpipe. 

Officials estimate roughly 15,000 to 20,000 spectators will attend the three days of competition.

Reynolds estimates the event will bring in roughly $25 million for the city’s visitor economy.

Calgarian Brendan Mackay, a freestyle skier with Team Canada, is excited to have the event come to his hometown. Mackay remembers what a podium finish at his first X Games in 2020 meant for his career. 

“That was honestly for me a huge career-defining moment,” said Mackay. “That really set into motion what has been a really great athletic career since then.”

Growing up watching the games on TV inspired Mackay, and he says hosting could have an even bigger impact on the next generation.

Historically Aspen, Colo., has hosted many of the winter X Games events and therefore produced some of the sports' best athletes, says Mackay.

“So I think having that come to Calgary will be so impactful on all the young kids who get to go out and watch it,” he said. 

Professional snowboarder Craig McMorris, who grew up in Saskatchewan and credits monthly trips to Canada Olympic Park for his success, is also excited for the event to finally come to Canada. 

“Canada has exported the best action sports talent in the entire world — full stop,” McMorris said. "It’s finally now our time to host the X Games.”

In 2026, the X Games launched a new league format where athletes compete individually but also earn points for club teams, adding a championship race that fans can follow throughout the season. 

At the X Games Calgary media event on Monday, CEO Jeremy Bloom also unveiled the four clubs for the winter league, which will draft athletes later this week. They include X Games Club Whistler.

“So Canadians will have a club to root for,” Bloom said.